Visual Analytics: Use a time variable as a measure

[Nigel_Pain]

I collect usage data for a server, including the amount of CPU time used by processes. I'd like to analyse this in Visual Analytics, using the CPU time as a measure. Currently, the only way to do this is to create a calculated item where the time is converted to a number of seconds, as date and time variables are only treated as categories. This makes sense for discrete dates and times, but not elapsed times.

It would be really good to allow elapsed times as measures.

[AnnaBrown]

This is possible in VA if you turn the date into a number, and then format the number as an elapsed time.

[Nigel_Pain]

Hi @AnnaBrown, how do I format a numeric value as an elapsed time? When I look at the properties in Report Designer, I only see Comma, various Currency types, Float, Numeric and Percent. I'm currently using VA 7.4 (non-distributed) with SAS 9.4M5, hopefully soon to upgrade to M6 and VA 7.5.

[Madelyn_SAS]

You will need to create a new calculated data item and use the TreatAs operator. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see a description of the TreatAs operator. 

[Nigel_Pain]

Hi @Madelyn_SAS 

Thanks for that. I tried it but just ended up with another category variable.

[Madelyn_SAS]

Please try these steps. 

1. Select to create a new calculated item.
2. Under Operators, from the Numeric (advanced) category, drag over TreatAs.
3. In the formula, select _Datetime_ from the drop-down list
4. From the list of Data Items, drag the numeric data item over to the formula.
5. Name and save the new data item.

[Nigel_Pain]

Sorry, it still doesn't work!

[Nigel_Pain]

I'm sure I added in a couple of screenshots to my previous posting. Here's another try, hopefully showing the definition of the calculated item and where it appears:

[Madelyn_SAS]

I apologize. For the calculation, you need to select Time and not Datetime. When you select Time, one of the format options should be Elapsed Time. 

[Nigel_Pain]

It's still coming up as a category rather than a measure. It would appear that this is what's happened in your screenshot too. Is this something which is fixed in 7.5 maybe? In which case I'll have to hold on until we're able to upgrade (all system changes frozen at the moment)