Using Other Object Types in Reports :: SAS(R) Visual Analytics 6.2: User's Guide

Overview of the Other Object Types

About Text Objects

Text objects display static text. You can use text to include company standards, such as text that indicates confidentiality, in your reports. You can have hyperlinks in text. You can also use text to annotate other objects in a report. For more information, see Insert Text into a Report.

About Images

You can use images to include your corporate logo or other graphics in your reports. You can insert images from a repository or from your local machine. If you select an image from your local machine, it is saved to the repository. You can also add tooltip text to an image. For more information, see Insert an Image into a Report.

About Stored Processes

A stored process is a SAS program that is stored on a server and that can be executed as requested by client applications such as SAS Visual Analytics. The embedded SAS code can contain instructions for displaying report elements that include queries, prompted filters, titles, images, and statistical analyses. For more information, see Insert Stored Processes into a Report.

About Vertical or Horizontal Container Objects

You can use a vertical or horizontal container to group other report objects. For more information, see Insert Vertical or Horizontal Containers into a Report.

About Geo Bubble Maps

A geo bubble map is a bubble plot that is overlaid on a geographic map. Each bubble is located at a geographic location or at the center of a geographical region. The bubbles are automatically colored based on the location. You provide a measure data item that determines the size of the bubble. A geo bubble map requires a data item that contains geographical information and is assigned to a geography role.

Many types of data have a spatial aspect, including demographics, marketing surveys, and customer addresses. For example, if a user needs to evaluate population data for U.S. Census tracts, a report designer could display the information in a table. However, it would be easier and more effective for the person using the report to see the information in the context of the geography of the tracts. When evaluating information that has a spatial component, users might find it easier to recognize relationships and trends in the data if they see the information in a spatial context.

You can add a geo bubble map only if the report uses data items from a data source that is enabled for geographic mapping. A geo bubble map requires a geography variable with the role type of geography. For more information, see Insert Geo Bubble Maps into a Report.

You can create a filter or brush interaction between a geo bubble map and other report objects in your report or dashboard. When you click on a specific region or city, the other report objects filter or highlight to show the same location.

Note: Certain exported geo bubble maps (for example, geo maps that use custom roles or data sets that have centroids) cannot be fully modified in the designer.

About Geo Region Maps

A geo region map (also known as a choropleth map) is a two-dimensional map that uses color and fill pattern combinations to represent different categories or levels of magnitude. You can fill geographical boundaries (for example, a country or a state) on a map with color, based on measure values that are aggregated to the level defined by a geographical boundary.

You can add a geo region map only if the report uses data items from a data source that is enabled for geographic mapping. A geo region map requires a geography variable with the role type of geography. However, it does not support custom geography data items.

You can create a filter or brush interaction between a geo region map and other report objects in your report or dashboard. When you click on a specific country or state, the other report objects filter or highlight to show the same location.

Note: Certain exported geo region maps (for example, geo maps that use custom roles or data sets that have centroids) cannot be fully modified in the designer.

Insert Text into a Report

To insert text into a report:

Choose one of the following:
- Drag from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas.
- Select InsertOtherText. The text object is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the text to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.
Double-click inside the text object in the canvas and enter the text. You can use the floating toolbar to change the font, font size, text color, and text background color. You can also specify whether the text is bold, italic, or underlined and whether it is left-aligned, centered, or right-aligned.

You can use the context menu to cut, copy, and delete text. However, you have to use the keyboard (Ctrl +V) to paste text.

For information about creating a link from text, see Creating Links.

Insert an Image into a Report

To insert an image into a report:

Choose one of the following:
- Drag the from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas. The Image Selection window is displayed.
- Select InsertOtherImage. The Image Selection window is displayed. The image object is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the image to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.
Image Selection Window
Select the image from one of the following locations:

Load from repository

Select this option to choose an image that is stored on the same server as the reports.

Load from local machine

Select this option to choose an image from your local machine. Click Browse to choose a file on your local machine. Specify a repository in the Save the local image to the repository field. If you click Browse, the Save As window is displayed. Select a folder and then click OK to return to the Image Selection window.

A preview of the image is displayed.
(Optional) Specify the Scale type:

None

The actual size of the image is maintained. The image might or might not fill the entire area of the image's visual container. If the image is larger than the visual container, then scroll bars are displayed.

Stretch

The height and width of image are set to the height and width of the image’s visual container. The image’s original aspect ratio is not maintained.

Fit All

The image is modified to fit best into the image's visual container. The image’s original aspect ratio is maintained.

Fit Width

The width of the image is set to the width of the image's visual container. The height maintains the image's original aspect ratio. Scroll bars are displayed if the set height of the image is greater than the height of the visual container.

Fit Height

The height of the image is set to the height of the image's visual container. The width maintains the image's original aspect ratio. Scroll bars are displayed if the set width of the image is greater than the width of the visual container.

Tile

The image is tiled in the visual container. The image’s original size is maintained. There are no scroll bars.
(Optional) Specify the Tooltip text.
Click OK.

Insert Stored Processes into a Report

To insert a stored process into a report:

Choose one of the following:
- Drag from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas. The Open window is displayed.
- Select InsertOtherStored Process. The Open window is displayed.
In the Open window, select a stored process. Click Open. The stored process is automatically placed in the report canvas.

Note: No styles are available for stored processes.

Insert Vertical or Horizontal Containers into a Report

To insert a vertical or horizontal container into a report:

Choose one of the following:
- Drag or from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas.
- Select either InsertOtherVertical Container or InsertOtherHorizontal Container. The vertical or horizontal container is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the container to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.
Drag and drop other report objects onto the vertical container or horizontal container.

Insert Geo Bubble Maps into a Report

To insert a geo bubble map into a report, choose one of the following:

Drag from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas.
Select InsertOtherGeo Bubble Map. The geo bubble map object is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the geo bubble map to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.

Insert Geo Region Maps into a Report

To insert a geo region map into a report:

Drag from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas.
Select InsertOtherGeo Region Map. The geo region map is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the geo region map to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.

Specify Text Object Properties

To specify the properties for a text object:

If it is not already selected, select the text object in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the text. You can update the Name, Title, Format, and Description.

Here is an example of the properties for a text object:

Properties for a Text Object

Specify Image Properties

To specify the properties for an image:

If it is not already selected, select the image in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the image. You can update the Name, Title, and Description.
Update the properties specific for the image. Your choices are Location, Scale type, and Tooltip text.

Here is an example of the properties for an image:

Properties for an Image Object

Specify Stored Process Properties

To specify the properties for a stored process:

If it is not already selected, select the stored process in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the stored process. You can update the Name, Title, Format, and Description.

Here is an example of the properties for a stored process:

Properties for a Stored Process
Update the properties specific to the stored process. Your choices are Show metadata view and Show log in output.

Selecting the Show metadata view check box can make it easier to work with the stored process in a report.

Here is an example of the metadata view for a stored process:

Metadata View for a Stored Process

Selecting the Show log in output option means that both log output and the stored process output are displayed in the report. This can assist you in debugging any problems that might arise.

Specify Vertical or Horizontal Container Properties

To specify the properties for a vertical or horizontal container:

If it is not already selected, select the vertical or horizontal container in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the vertical or horizontal container. You can update the Name, Title, Format, and Description.

Here is an example of the properties for a vertical container:

Properties for a Vertical Container
(Optional) Update the order in which the report objects appear inside the container.

Specify Geo Bubble Map or Geo Region Map Properties

To specify the properties for a geo bubble map or geo region map:

If it is not already selected, select the geo bubble map or geo region map in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the geo bubble map or geo region map. You can update the Name, Title, Format, and Description.
Update the properties that are specific to the geo bubble map or geo region map. You can update the Show map navigation control, Transparency, and Show legend.

Note: For a geo bubble map, you select the Transparency for the bubble plot. For a geo region map, you select the Transparency for the region map.

Here is an example of the properties for a geo bubble map:

Properties for a Geo Bubble Map

Specify Styles for Geo Bubble Maps and Geo Region Maps

To specify styles for a geo bubble map or a geo region map:

If it is not already selected, select the geo bubble map or geo region map in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Styles tab.
Update the styles for the geo bubble map or geo region map. The available styles depend on the selected geo map type.