Understanding the TIME.COMPARISON.GRID dashboard object

The TIME.COMPARISON.GRID dashboard object displays two timeframes (called “eons” in White Cup BI vocabulary), shows a trend or difference calculation between them for two time periods, and displays them on a grid.  Here is an example from a customer scorecard showing the rep’s activity for this year to date, last year, and a trend between them.  Notice the trend column is also color coded similar to the way a stoplight dashboard object works.

You are not limited to just having just Trend or Difference.  Here is an example that has both Trend and Difference.  We’ve also added one more year for comparison.

As with most White Cup BI objects and reports, when there is available data for further exploration, a link is provided.  Notice the blue links in the example above.  Anything in blue text can be clicked to discover supporting information.

The Requirements

For the TIME.COMPARISON.GRID you need:

• Two EONS that have been created by the EON loader
• At least one Metric row - from a column template
• The Column template must use only one EON in the ID

You can add:

• TREND or DIFFERENCE columns
• EONS preceding or following the main columns of the object - EONS must be created by the EON loader

You can't use:

• Related File Fields (bang fields)
• Calculated Columns other than TREND or DIFFERENCE
• Any columns created by column maintenance or custom columns created for you by White Cup
• Any columns created using column templates that have zero or more than one EON in the ID

Creating the Object

To create a new TIME COMPARISON GRID, you must first be in the visual edit mode to modify a dashboard or scorecard.

1. Once in the visual edit mode, click the + Dashboard Object button.

2. Select Time Comparison Grid from the list of available objects.

3. Select a cube and you'll be presented with configuration options of the object.

4. Input the needed details.

Header:  The title displayed on the object.

Time Periods:  These define the two time periods (eons) to be compared.

Main:  The first eon.  This is a drop-down box of the available eons.  The AS: allows for a reader friendly name, like “This Year” to be displayed.

Compare to:  The second eon.  It works the same as the Main.

Difference:  Enables the display of a column showing the difference between the two eons.

Trend:  Enables the display of a column showing the difference between the two eons.

For Reference:  This drop down allows for the display of a third eon if desired.  It is not used in the Difference or Trend calculations.  Like the other two eons, the AS: box can be used to provide a different column header.

For Reference Side:  Determines the placement of the Reference column relative to the Difference and Trend columns.

Metrics:  Adding metrics will add rows to the object.  Additional metrics can be from any of the column groups in the cube provided they meet the same criteria listed in the Requirements section above.

Individual Metric Rows have additional options accessed from the Modify link in the Actions column.