SharePoint 2010 PerformancePoint Services : Understanding and Working with Scorecards (part 2)

Adding a Dimension to a Scorecard

Slicing KPIs based on dimensions from the data source is a common need for scorecards. This is particularly useful for operational scorecards where specific details may be required. In The Green Orange scenario, an example of this would be to slice a Viewers KPI by each episode. This can be accomplished by dragging and dropping dimensions onto the scorecard. Follow these steps to do this:

1.	Locate the dimension to be added to the scorecard by expanding the Dimension node in the Details pane. Tip Occasionally, no dimensions are displayed here. If you do not see dimensions, ensure that the scorecard contains a KPI and an associated metric with a valid data source and that the Data Sources drop-down box at the bottom of the Details pane has the data source with the dimension you want selected. If you are working with multiple different data sources on a single scorecard, the Data Sources drop-down box allows toggling between the different data sources currently in use on the scorecard.
2.	Drag and drop the dimension onto the columns of the scorecard, as shown in Figure 6. The member selector appears. Figure 6. Expand the dimension to view the members. Note The UI is somewhat nonintuitive when dragging and dropping dimensions onto scorecards with multiple KPIs. To place a dimension underneath a single metric or KPI, press the Shift key while dragging the dimension around until the drop “hint” changes to show single placement. This behavior, which is the reverse of behavior from PPS 2007, was changed in response to user feedback.
3.	Select the desired members in the member selector, as shown in Figure 7, and then click OK. The dimensions are added to the scorecard. Figure 7. Select the members from this dialog box.
4.	Because the dimensions do not update automatically on the scorecard, click Update on the Edit tab to update the scorecard.

When the update is complete, a preview of the final scorecard appears on a dashboard, as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. This is an example of a scorecard ready to appear on a dashboard.

Examining the Scorecard Editor

The scorecard appears in the center pane in the Editor tab. You will find all the functions you need to modify the scorecard either on the Edit tab or by right-clicking the scorecard to bring up context menus. The functions for editing the scorecard are identical, regardless of how you choose to access them. It is a matter of preference.

The Details pane on the right offers a palette to drag and drop items onto the scorecard. Many of these items are dynamically populated based on the current contents of the scorecard. Keep in mind that it is not possible to drag and drop items from the Workspace Browser pane on the left.

Updating Scorecards

Larger, more complex scorecards may take some time to render. In addition, they may involve several round trips to data sources, which means that automatic updating is disabled except in rare cases. If the scorecard does not update automatically or the data on the scorecard in Dashboard Designer is out-of-date, click the Update button on the Edit tab to update the data.

Designing Scorecards

Scorecards conceptually have two axes:

• Rows (the y-axis)

• Columns (the x-axis)

The scorecard editor is used by dragging and dropping items from the Details pane on the right onto the scorecard design surface.

Adding KPIs

To add a KPI to a scorecard, drag and drop the KPI from the Details pane onto the scorecard in the location you want. Only KPIs loaded in the local Dashboard Designer cache are available for you to add. KPIs can be placed on either the rows or the columns of a scorecard. When one KPI is placed, all other KPIs must be placed on the same axis.

Adding Metrics

Metrics can also be dragged and dropped onto the scorecard. Metrics must be placed on the opposite axis from all KPIs. The list of metrics available in the Details pane is dynamically populated from the KPIs currently placed on the scorecard.

Adding Aggregations

Aggregations on the scorecard serve as a tool to allow the summation of all metrics. It is used by adding the desired aggregation type above a metric column. Conceptually, this is used as a summation column. In this Figure 9, several actual metrics are aggregated and displayed in an Average column.

Figure 9. This is an example of aggregations on a scorecard.

There are several limitations to using aggregations on the scorecard:

• Aggregations are only done over columns. It is not possible to do an aggregation on row members.

• Aggregations are done by metric name. As long as all the columns to be aggregated have the same name, they will be aggregated together. There is no way to include or exclude other metrics.

• Trend aggregations are calculated based on the last two columns with matching metrics in the scorecard. If the number is decreasing, the arrow points down. If it is increasing, the arrow points up. Currently, there is no way to configure or tweak the trend calculation method.

Given some of these limitations, sometimes it is better to do aggregation manually by adding another KPI or metric to an existing KPI.

Adding Dimensions

Dimensions can be added by dragging and dropping the dimension to the appropriate place within a scorecard. These can be placed on rows, columns, or both if there are two dimensions that have an intersection. In addition, dimensions can be nested within each other.

Named Sets

Named sets from the cube can also be placed on a scorecard. These operate much like dimensions. However, they need to be placed in the appropriate spot.

Set Formulas

Set formulas represent the ability to add some advanced MDX or TI expressions to the scorecard.

The Time Set Formula option allows the entry of TI expressions that will be expanded on the scorecard.

The Custom Set Formula option allows the entry of a MDX set expression that will be used within the scorecard. The usefulness of this feature has diminished somewhat with the new dynamic hierarchy selection capabilities included in PPS 2010. However, the Custom Set Formula feature does still have some value.