Managing Data Properties

Overview of Managing Data Properties

At any time after you have loaded a data source for your visual exploration, you can modify the properties of the data items. The changes that you make are stored as part of the visual exploration, but do not affect the original data source.
You can manage the data properties for all of your data items by using the Data Properties window.
You can manage the data properties for individual data items by using the Data pane.

Manage Data Properties by Using the Data Properties Window

To access the Data Properties window, select Datathen selectData Properties from the menu bar.
For each of your data items, you can specify the following properties:
Name
specifies the name of the data item
Role
specifies whether the data item is a category, a measure, or a geography data item.
Model Type
specifies the data model for a measure or for a category with datetime data. Select whether the data model is continuous or discrete.
The model type that you specify determines the type of data filters that you can create for the data item.
Format
specifies the data format for the data item.
See Select a Numeric Format and Select a Datetime Format for details about specifying formats.
Aggregation (measures only)
specifies the method that is used to aggregate values for the measure. Select one of the following aggregation types:
Sum
provides the sum of the values in the measure.
Average
provides the average of the values in the measure.
Maximum
provides the maximum value in the measure.
Minimum
provides the minimum value in the measure.

Manage Data Properties By Using the Data Pane

You can manage data properties for a specific data item by selecting the data item in the Data pane and then interacting with the properties table at the bottom of the Data pane.
For the selected data item, you can specify the following properties:
Name
specifies the name of the data item
Role
specifies whether the data item is a category, a measure, or a geography data item.
Model Type
specifies the data model for a measure or for a category with datetime data. Select whether the data model is continuous or discrete.
The model type that you specify determines the type of data filters that you can create for the data item.
Format
specifies the data format for the data item.
See Select a Numeric Format and Select a Datetime Format for details about specifying formats.
Aggregation (measures only)
specifies the method that is used to aggregate values for the measure. Select one of the following aggregation types:
Sum
provides the sum of the values in the measure.
Average
provides the average of the values in the measure.
Maximum
provides the maximum value in the measure.
Minimum
provides the minimum value in the measure.

Select a Numeric Format

To select a numeric format:
  1. In the Data Properties window or the property table in the Data pane, click the format for the data item that you want to manage. A window appears.
  2. Select the basic format type from the Format Type list.
  3. For the Numeric and Float formats, specify the Width parameter for the format. The width of the format specifies the maximum number of characters that a value can contain, including decimal points.
    A preview of your format appears in the Sample field.
  4. Specify the number of Decimals for the format. The decimals value specifies the number of digits that appear to the right of the decimal place.
    A preview of your format appears in the Sample field.
  5. Click OK to apply your format.

Select a Datetime Format

To select a datetime format:
  1. In the Data Properties window or the property table in the Data pane, click the format for the data item that you want to manage. A window appears.
  2. Select the basic format type from the Format Type list.
  3. If necessary, select a more specific format from the Format list. The format names also represent sample values for the format.
  4. Click OK to apply your format.
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