topic Re: Calculated item without format? in SAS Visual Analytics

Calculated item without format?

andypandy_swe — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 08:29:29 GMT

I have a table (simplified) with three columns:
id

group

value

unit

I'd like a barchart which shows value per group when i select 'id' from a dropdown list.

Unit can have the values '%' or 'amount'.

So I'd like the graph to show the value as a percentage (multiplied by 100 and with a percent-sign) if unit='%' and as the original value if unit='amount'.

I created a calculated item called value_pct that takes value and multiplies by 100.
I then create another calculated item called SWITCH that checks the value of Unit and if it's '%' it returns value_pct, otherwise it returns value. Switch has the format comma12.2

I then use SWITCH in the graph.
This works but I'm not getting a percent sign of course...

If I instead define value_pct only as the variable 'value' but with a percent format. Then the SWITCH item won't work in the graph.

Presumably because The format of SWITCH overrides the percent format of value_pct...

Is there a way around this? Create switch without a format? Or is there a completely different, better way to do what I want?

Re: Calculated item without format?

Sam_SAS — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:48:12 GMT

Hello,

It's always easier to get help if you post a screen capture and some sample data.

If I understand correctly, you want to graph a numeric variable where some values have a percent format and some values are just plain numerics. Is that right?

I don't know if that is possible. In something like a table you could display the numbers and percentages as character values, but I don't know if that would be helpful. What kind of graph did you want to create?

Possibly you could work around the issue by making a dual-axis chart.

Sam

Re: Calculated item without format?

FredrikE — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 09:57:16 GMT

Hi!

I think it only works if the two measures have the same format. When I use your method i usualy try to make it very clear what is shown in the graph. In some reports I added a textobject "on the graph" showing the parameter value 🙂

Another way of solving this could be to use a stacked(tabbed)-container with one tab for value and another for %.

I think data is loaded for each tab directly so it is very fast when changing tab. I use it a lot.

Fredrik

Re: Calculated item without format?

andypandy_swe — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:55:00 GMT

It's a barchart so the percent sign would be on the axis label (and possibly the tooltip).
I've been unable to solve it so my workaround is have a textbox with a parameter holding the type of value (% or index) above the graph.
Far from perfect but I think it's the best one can do in this version of VA.

I think a dual axis would only be confusing...

Re: Calculated item without format?

andypandy_swe — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:59:38 GMT

The user will have no way of knowing if it's a percent graph or an index graph so they'd have to klick the tabs to find the graph after making the selection...
This was considered but rejected.

We went with displaying the unit in the graph name using a textbox with a parameter instead. Not perfect but it's something.

Thinking about sending in a feature request to SAS so that you can allow a calculated object to inherit the format (and also sort order) of another object...