Column Number. Oracle Fusion Middleware Online Documentation Library

4-26 Oracle Fusion Middleware Users Guide for Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer Desktop Columns with Group Sort selected always precede those with no group sorting None to assure that the sorting is done correctly on the table. You cannot move a column without group sorting above a column with group sorting. The names of group sorted columns appear in italics on the dialog box. Here is an example of two tables, one group sorted, the other not: Figure 4–33 Using Group-sort Key to Figure 4–33 :

a. A table sorted on Region with group-sorting turned on

b. A table sorted on Region group-sorting turned off.

The table without group sorting does not include a subtotal for groups. Ungrouped data cannot have subtotal rows because the data to total can appear anywhere in the table. See Section 5.3, Totaling Numeric Data for steps to add subtotals and totals to data sorted by groups. Group sorting is also pertinent when finding percentages. When you specify percentages for numbers for example, the percentage of each region’s profits of the total profits, the data is automatically group sorted for that section of data e.g., the regions so the percentages can be displayed properly. See Section 5.4, Using Percentages for more information. The actual grouping of data is based on the design of the business area and workbook developed by your database administrator. In the previous examples, the grouping is Region and City, but it could also have been State and City or Country and City. See your database administrator if you want to group data in some other way.

4.3.1.3 Sorting from the Tool Bar

Three buttons on the tool bar apply the sort direction and grouping to selected columns on the table: Figure 4–34 Sorting Tools Key to Figure 4–34 : Pivoting, Drilling, and Sorting Data 4-27

a. Set the sort order from High to Low.

b. Set the sort order from Low to High.

c. Apply Group-sort.

To use the sorting tools:

1.

Select the table columns to sort. 2. Click the tool to sort the column. If a column is already sorted or group sorted, clicking the tool returns the data to its previous unsorted state.

4.3.2 Sorting Data on Crosstabs

Because the location of data on a crosstab determines the relationship of one data item to another, sorting crosstab data is different to sorting tabular data. In particular, you normally want to maintain those data relationships while rearranging the data. The way to maintain the data relationships is to sort data on the left axis relative to a specific column on the top axis, or sort data on the top axis relative to a specific row on the left axis. The sorting tools and Sort Crosstab dialog box Figure 4–37 automatically sort the data in that manner and maintain the data relationships. Note: Some data on a crosstab layout is already sorted by default. For example, text items automatically sort alphabetically.

4.3.2.1 Sorting Crosstabs Data from the Tool Bar

Most typical crosstab data sorts can be handled with the sorting tools on the tool bar Figure 4–34 . Sorting a crosstab with the tools on the tool bar automatically sorts all of the items on an axis. To sort crosstab data from the tool bar:

1.

Select either the column on the top axis or the row on the left axis to use for sorting. 2. Click the A-Z tool or the Z-A tool. The data on the crosstab is sorted relative to the selected column or row.