Oracle Business Intelligence Online Training register at http://www.todaycourses.com

1. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 1
M. Leepin
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column
selection in OBIEE
Overview
Dynamic columns may be useful in providing users with the choice of displaying information as per
selection at various levels of aggregation within a single view.
This following document provides instruction for creating prompts and presentation variables that
are required for dynamic column selection in a dashboard with user-defined column titles. This
also includes instructions for hiding applicable prompts, creating dynamic columns / titles within
analyses and creating prompts for filtering dynamic column values.
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 2
M. Leepin
1/ Creating a prompt with presentation variables to display user defined
column titles
1.1 Create a new Dashboard prompt and add a Variable prompt for a Presentation Variable.
1.2 Enter a name for the Presentation Variable and text for a Label.

2. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 3
M. Leepin
1.3 Set the User Input to Choice List and add Custom Values for your required user defined column
titles to be displayed in the choice list.
1.4 Set the Variable Data Type to Default (Text).
1.5 For Default selection select- Specific Custom Value and add a custom value previously specified
from the list for Choice List Values;
1.6 Select OK.
2/ Creating a prompt with presentation variables for actual column titles
2.1 As per step 1.1 create another Dashboard prompt and add a Variable Prompt for a Presentation
Variable.
2.2 Enter a name for the Presentation Variable and text for a Label.
2.3 Set the User Input to Text Field.
2.4 Set the Variable Data Type to Default (Text).
2.5 For Default selection select -SQL Results - then enter the required SQL statement that references
the presentation variable created in steps 1.1-1.6. An example of a SQL Select / Case statement is –
SELECT CASE '@{Col1}{Part}' WHEN 'Part' THEN '"Team - FinCAD"."Part Name"' WHEN 'Region' THEN '"Team -
FinCAD"."Region Name"' WHEN 'Group' THEN '"Team - FinCAD"."Group Name"' WHEN 'Station' THEN '"Team -
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 4
M. Leepin
FinCAD"."Station Name"' WHEN 'Team' THEN '"Team - FinCAD"."Team Name"' END saw_0 FROM "Ambulance
Cases"
2.6 Select OK.
3/ Hiding a dashboard prompt
3.1 The prompt for the user defined column titles created in steps 1.1 – 1.6 is to be displayed only. So the
prompt for actual column titles created in steps 2.1 to 2.6 needs to be hidden. To hide this prompt
return to your dashboard, Select Edit Dashboard and then select Dashboard Properties.

3. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 5
M. Leepin
3.2 Highlight the row for page 1 and select the filters and variables icon.
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 6
M. Leepin
3.3 Select the Add icon.
3.4 Navigate to the path of the prompt that you created in the previous steps 2.1 to 2.6 then select this
saved prompt and select OK.

4. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 7
M. Leepin
3.5 The path of the prompt will now be displayed, select OK.
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 8
M. Leepin
3.6 Select OK to exit from Dashboard Properties.

5. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 9
M. Leepin
4/ Adding a dynamic column and column header to an analysis
4.1 In an analysis that you plan to display in your Dashboard, add a column that you will edit so that it will provide a
dynamic display.
4.2 Edit the added Column Formula by overwriting the existing formula so that the presentation variable for the
actual column title created in steps 2.1-2.6 is referenced instead. Ensure that a default value for the
presentation variable here is also included.
4.3 Edit the Column Heading by overwriting the existing heading so that the presentation variable for the alias
column created in steps 1.1-1.6 is referenced instead. Ensure that the specified default value for the
presentation variable here is also included.
4.4 Select OK to continue.
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 10
M. Leepin
4.5 Add a Filter for the dynamic column, update the Operator to - is prompted, select OK and save the analysis.

6. Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 11
M. Leepin
5/ Creating a prompt to filter values in a dynamic column
5.1 As per step 1.1 create another Dashboard prompt and add a Column prompt for the dynamic
column that you have just added to your analysis. You may need to select a column from your
subject area and update the column formula as per step 4.2, to continue select OK.
Creating prompts and variables for dynamic column selection in OBIEE
Page | 12
M. Leepin
5.2 Enter text for a Label.
5.3 Set the Operator to - is equal to / is in.
5.4 Set the User Input to Choice List.
5.5 For Choice List Values select - SQL Results - then enter the required SQL statement that
references the dynamic column that was added to your analysis in 4/. An example of a SQL Select
statement is –
SELECT @{Col}{”Team – FinCAD”.”Part Name”} FROM "Ambulance Cases” FETCH FIRST 65001 ROWS ONLY
5.6 Select OK.
5.7 Finally the required dashboard objects can be placed in your dashboard - Place the prompts created
in 1/ & 5/ in your dashboard and place the analysis from 4/ into your dashboard.