Using Document Properties to Control Data Limiting by Expression

I love data limiting with expressions! It is my go-to method for data limiting because it is the most flexible. However, I found myself updating expressions over and over in tons of charts. It was just inefficient and painful. Then, I learned how to connect document properties to my expressions. Now, I know how to be more efficient in my data limiting. I promise this is worth your time! Read on to learn more.

Data Limiting with Expressions

Data limiting with expression is my go-to method for data limiting because it offers the most flexibility. I can limit data differently in every single visualization if I want to. If you aren’t familiar with it, give this post a quick read. However, the big downside of this method is that you have to configure the data limiting one visualization at a time….or do you????

Document Properties Control Data Limiting by Expression

Actually, you don’t have to limit one visualization at a time. You can use Document Properties to control data limiting in many visualizations. Let me show you how.

Detailed Steps

1. Write your data limiting expression. Here’s an example — (Year([stimint end datetime])=DocumentProperty(“year”)). This will limit the data on a visualization to the current year.
2. Go to File > Document Properties > Properties tab >Click the New button to create a new document property.
3. Name it. Set it up as a String data type.
4. Paste in the data limiting expression.
5. Go to the visualizations() where data limiting should be applied. Go to Properties dialog > Data tab > Limiting by expression > Edit
6. Find the document property under Available properties for column. Click the Insert Property button. DONE!!!

Making Updates

The best part of using document properties this way is easy updating. If you need to make a change, go to Document Properties, find the property and click Edit. Data limiting will update in all of your visualizations. No more repetitive updating!

Additionally, if your column names are the same across tables, you can even reuse them between tables.

In summary, because of this hack….

• You don’t have to look in every visualization to know what the data limiting is.
• You know you have been consistent in data limiting.
• Updates are quick and easy.

Now, before I wrap up, I just want to show you one more thing. Because I am using this hack so extensively, I created a key. This shows what data limiting is being applied to each of my tables. This is pretty difficult to keep straight in your mind, so a text area key helps.

Wrap Up

Using document properties to control data limiting by expression has really been a game changer for me. I hope you find it useful too!

Other Sweet Spotfire Content

• Learning the Spotfire Expression Language
• What Are Axis Names
• Using Axis Names on Bar Charts