This walkthrough illustrates how to begin analyzing relational data from a Microsoft Access database.

The walkthrough is split into the following activities:

• Connect to a relational data source using the Data Dynamics Analysis Viewer sample application
• Build a simple bar chart display
• Filter and sort data using the built-in toolbars and menu options
• Configure various display settings
• Share your results

When you are finished with this walkthrough, you will create the following display:

Most of all, you will understand the basic concepts of how to use Data Dynamics Analysis.

Connect to a relational data source using the Data Dynamics Analysis Viewer sample application

1. Open Data Dynamics Analysis Viewer Sample application from your Start menu.

   

2. Using the Data menu, navigate to Establish Connection...

   

3. Connect to the NWindMDB-SalesProductsSuppliers schema.

   

Build a simple bar chart display

1. Change the Marking combo to Bar.

   

2. Expand the Customers dimension and drop Customer Country onto the Rows shelf.

   

   This shows you a list of every country that products have been sold to.

3. Drop the Order count measure onto the Columns shelf.

   

4. This shows how many orders have been sold in each country.

   

Filter and sort data using the built in toolbars and menu options

1. Using the field drop down for Customer Country, navigate to Filter > Value filter > Top N...

   

2. Configure a filter to show the top 10 countries in the displayed Top value filter dialog.

   

   1. Select top count in the first combo box.
   2. Set to the Order count value in the second combo box.
   3. Type 10 into the text box.
   4. Press OK.
3. Click on the Date dimension and drop it to the left of Order count, onto the Columns shelf.

   

4. Dropping the Date dimension onto the Columns shelf shows how many orders have been sold in each country for every year.

   

5. Using the drop down for Customer Country, navigate to Sort > More sort options...

   

6. Sort all countries as descending on Order count in the displayed Sort Options dialog.

   

   1. Select Descending under Sort order
   2. Select Field under Sort by

   3. Select the Order count value for Field

7. Your display should look similar to this:

   

Configure various display settings

At this point, let's clean up the display so that your results can be shared with others.

1. Click on the Cards button.

   

   1. Check Summary
   2. Check Title
   3. Check Description
2. Configure the title of your analysis view.

   

   1. Click on the Title bar where it says '<Enter layout title here>'
   2. Type Top Ten Selling Countries and press [Enter]
   3. Right click on the title and choose Title format...
   4. Using the Title Format Dialog, make the title stand out.

      

      1. Set the Size property to 14 pt

      2. Set the Style property to Bold

      3. Set the Fore color property to White

      4. Click OK

3. Drag the Total Product Cost field onto the Color encoding shelf.

   

4. Double click on the gradient color legend.

   

   1. Set the low value color to Gray
   2. Set the high value color to Black
   3. Click OK
5. Select the top 5 bars for 1995 and look at your Summary card.

   

Share your results

1. Configure your display to look similar this:

   

2. Remove all cards from the view that aren't important for sharing by using the Cards toolbar button.
   1. Uncheck Columns, Rows, Page, Data, Filters, Level of Detail and Encodings items from the drop down list.
3. Move the Description card above the charting area and below the Title card.
4. Move the Color card below the charting area.
5. Click on the Hide Schema toolbar button.

   

6. Voila!

To send your display to the printer

1. Using the File menu, navigate to Page setup...

   

2. Place the legends below the display in the Layout Settings dialog.

   

   1. Select Bottom under Legend Position
   2. Selected Top to down under Multiple Legends
   3. Click OK
3. On the File menu, click Print preview.

   

To paste your results into a presentation

1. Click on the Copy toolbar button.

   

2. Open Microsoft PowerPoint and paste the image onto a slide.

To save your layout configuration to file (including all filters, sort settings, and colors)

1. On the File menu, navigate to the Save view... menu option.

   

2. Enter the directory and the file name, and then press Save, in the displayed Save as dialog. 
3. Now you can send this file to your colleagues and they will be able to open your configuration and modify it.

See Also