¶ 1. Overview
The Data Explorer is a tool that allows us to navigate between different hierarchical levels within a form, providing a detailed view of the selected data. The Data Explorer enables both the analysis of more detailed levels and a quick and dynamic return to higher levels. Additionally, extra functionalities such as value explanation and dimension layout customization make the analysis process more efficient and flexible.
¶ 1.1. Prerequisites
To use the tools available in the Data Explorer, no specific prerequisites are required—only read permissions for the desired object.
¶ 2. Features
The Data Explorer provides tools to visualize different hierarchical levels of a form without needing to switch screens, allowing navigation between various data levels. With it, you can explore details of child members or return to higher levels, ensuring flexibility in data visualization. It also allows analysis customization, such as selecting specific dimensions for drill application and undoing or clearing performed actions. Additionally, functionalities like detailed value explanation and dynamic dimension reorganization make the analysis process more efficient and intuitive.
¶ 3. Usage
When opening a form in T6, in the ribbon, we have the Data Explorer tab.
When you select a member in the form that contains children and click Down, the child members of the selected member will be displayed, along with their data. If the displayed members also contain children, you can select a member and click Down again to display the children of the newly selected member.
If you want the parent member to continue being displayed along with the child members, check the Keep Original checkbox. All "Down" drills applied will keep the parent members and display the child members of the selected member.
You can also use the Drill Up option when the form displays leaf members. When you click Up, the parent members of the selected member will be displayed, allowing navigation to higher levels of the hierarchy.
In the Down and Up drill buttons, there is also a dropdown that, when clicked, displays the available dimensions. Select the desired option and the drill will be applied to the selected dimension. When clicking on the dropdown, all dimensions will be displayed, but only those available for interaction will be highlighted in black.
The Undo button returns to the last action performed. You can click directly on the button to return action by action, or click on the dropdown to display all actions performed. In the dropdown, you can select at which stage you want to return, including reverting all actions performed at once.
The Clean button reverts all drill actions performed on the form, returning the form to its default opening page.
When you select a cell with values and click Explain, the form will be adjusted to display the value breakdown. A list with the values of each member will be displayed in a hierarchical tree format. When you select one of the displayed values, an expression will be displayed at the top of the screen explaining how that value was generated.
If a cell contains a formula that uses a data table to perform the calculation, when you click Explain, the data table data will be displayed as a form, making it easier to view the data without needing to leave the form you are working on. When you click Undo, you return to the form without losing the context you were analyzing.
Example:
In the open form, we select a cell of the General Expenses member and click Explain. In the list with members and values, we select the value of the Administrative Expenses member. In this case, the following expression will be displayed: [Administrative Expenses] = [Subsidiary 01 Expenses] + [Subsidiary 02 Expenses], meaning that the value of Administrative Expenses equals the value of Subsidiary 01 Expenses plus the value of Subsidiary 02 Expenses.
You can click on the value of the Administrative Expenses member to select it and then click Explain again. A new screen will open showing the value of the selected member and the members that generated this value (in this case, Subsidiary 01 Expenses and Subsidiary 02 Expenses).
Another possibility is to view the use of functions in formulas applied to a cell. It is possible to use the GetApplicationData function to bring values from one application to another. With the Explain tool, it is possible to view the formula used to generate that value without needing to leave the form.
Example:
In the bar displayed when clicking Explain, we have the following expression: ([Account].[Clothes], [Time].[All].[2025].[1S/25].[1Q/25].[January/25], [Scenario].[Planned], [Entity].[Not Applicable]) = GetApplicationData([QA Consolidation], [Clothes], [Time].[Time].[2025].[1S/25].[1Q/25].[January/25], [Scenario].[Scenario].[Actual EBS], [Entity].[Entity].[Not Applicable]). This is the expression of the formula used to bring values from one dimension to another.
You can see that the source of the value of the Clothes member from the Account dimension in the Current Application comes from the QA Consolidation application, from the Clothes member of the Account dimension, in January/25, in the Actual EBS Scenario.
It is also possible to use the GetDataTableData function, which brings the data through a Data Table. When using the Explain tool, the formula used to bring the values will be displayed.
When you select the Data Explorer tab, a new panel will also be displayed on the side, called Designer. When you open it, the layout of rows, columns, and pages of the form will be displayed, allowing you to change the layout dynamically without needing to switch screens. To do this, simply click on the desired dimension and drag it to the desired section.
The Columns and Rows fields must necessarily have a dimension associated. If any of these fields have no dimension, the form will be invalidated and data will not be displayed until the layout is adjusted.
The only field that can remain empty is the Pages field.
It is also possible to transpose rows and columns, causing the dimensions that were being displayed in rows to be displayed in columns and vice-versa. To do this, click the Transpose button.
¶ 4. Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the T6 Data Explorer?
The T6 Data Explorer is a tool that allows you to navigate between different hierarchical levels within a T6 form, providing detailed view of the selected data without needing to switch screens. It also has additional features like value explanation and dimension layout customization.
2. Do I need special permissions to use the Data Explorer?
No, if the user has read permissions for the desired object, it is possible to use the Data Explorer.
3. How do I drill down in a form?
To use drill down, after accessing the form, select a member that contains children and click Down in the ribbon. The child members will be displayed with their data.
4. What happens if I check "Keep Original" when applying Drill?
When you check the Keep Original option, all Down drills applied will keep the parent members visible along with the child members.
5. How do I go back to the higher level after applying Drill?
After applying Drill down, use the Up button in the ribbon to display the parent members of the selected member.
6. Can I drill on specific dimensions?
Yes, after accessing the form, click on the dropdown of the Down or Up buttons and select the desired dimension to apply the drill.
7. How do I undo a drill action?
To undo a drill action, click the Undo button to go back to the last action, or use the dropdown to select a specific stage.
8. What is the difference between "Undo" and "Clean" in drill?
The difference is that the Undo button goes back action by action, while Clean reverts all drill actions at once, returning to the default page.
9. How does the "Explain" tool work in forms?
Select a cell with values and click Explain in the ribbon. The form will show the value breakdown in hierarchical tree format. When you select one of the displayed values, an expression will be shown explaining how that value was generated, including formulas and functions used.
10. Can I view data table data through "Explain"?
Yes, through Explain, if the cell uses a data table, the data will be displayed as a form within the same screen.
11. What does the "Transpose" button do displayed in the ribbon?
When you click the Transpose button, the dimensions are swapped: what was in rows goes to columns and vice-versa.
12. Can I do multiple levels of drill in the form?
Yes, you can continue drilling down by selecting child members successively, as long as they have available children.
13. How do I return to the original context after using "Explain"?
After using Explain, click Undo to return to the original form while keeping the context of your analysis.