Time dimension end date based on data

#1

Not sure if this belongs in this forum or the analytics and DP one....


I have a time dimension and obviously I know when my data started, however I don't want to have to update it to when the data ends.


I have a calendar parameter on the dashboard and I don't want users to be able to select dates for which the data is not yet available. When the data becomes available (this is not necessarily related to the current date) I want the time dimension to update its end date.


Is there some way to look at the data and set the dimension/parameter end date to the latest value in the data?


I could manually populate a dropdown list or something but I want a month > year interface.


Thanks

#2

That's an interesting one...

I definitely see the use for it, so created a feature request.


For the time being, you will have to create something to handle this.


The simplest solution will be, likely, to write a REST daemon that periodically queries the source data and modifies the time dimension.

One thing to note about this solution is that you want to time the query to be right before the cube build. Since any values newer than the end of the time dimension will be marked as Unknown after the rebuild. Or you could use separate time dimensions for the cube and the view.

#3

One thing that I have done, which may/may not work for you, is to allow the user to select any date and when the data comes back, then adjust the dates in the filters.

So, for my team it became a training issue.

User puts in 1/1/1900 and 1/1/2020

The data results start and end are 3/9/2009 and 12/13/2017

OnDataChanged sets the filters to the data dates.

#4

Thanks Elia


Can this be done in a JS script on the dashboard?

Can you point me to a resource about scripts modifying a time dimension?

#5

From the dashboard level, you will have to check it out, make changes, save, and check it back in. Since it'll depend on the user permissions, I don't think it'll be a good solution for you. If you still want to try, the best resource is to see what the UI is doing and try to replicate it. You will likely need the TimeDimensionService class from our API.


I think the daemon option or an override plugin will be easier, as you can see from the relevant REST documentation.


I know this isn't the most helpful response. I will try to find some examples/samples that will help but I'm not sure we have any (yet).

#6

This is a great idea Matthew - I'm 100% using it!


Thanks

#7

:(


Looking forward to any direction whatsoever that you can supply