2. Creating Calculations

Exercise Objectives

The purpose of this exercise is to introduce you to creating new calculations using the CalcBuilder wizard. A calculation consists of existing data, functions, and constant values that are combined in a calculation to produce a new value. Depending on how the data, functions, and constant values are combined, the new value can be a new measure, such as Sales minus Quota.

Exercise Description

This exercise creates a Quota Variance calculation that shows how Sales compares to Quota. In order to create this calculation, you use the CalcBuilder Wizard and select the Subtraction template. After the calculation is created, you can use it throughout your BI Beans application (for example, to display in graphs, crosstabs, and so on).

Exercise Tasks

To create the Quota Variance calculation:

1. In the System-Navigator pane, right-click Project1BIDesigner1 and choose New Calculation from the popup menu.
2. In the Welcome screen, choose Next.
3. Name the calculation Quota Variance. For calculation type, open the Basic Arithmetic folder and select Subtraction. Choose Next to continue.
4. Select the two measures under the Sales Performance data folder to make up your variance calculation. Select More from the Value box.
5. In the Select Measure dialog box, navigate to the Sales Performance data folder, select Quota, and choose OK.
6. Select More from the Minus box.
7. In the Select Measure dialog box, navigate to the Sales Performance data folder, select Sales, and choose OK.
8. Choose Next to continue.
   
9. Accept the defaults for the labels of your new calculation and the location where you want to save the calculation. Choose Finish. If the wizard prompts you to create the specified location, choose Yes.
10. From the File menu, choose Save All to save your work.

Exercise Summary

You just created a new calculation using the CalcBuilder Wizard. Now you can use this calculation, in the same way that you use any other measure, in any crosstab, table, or graph that you decide to create. If you want to modify the calculation, then simply right-click the calculation in the System-Navigator pane and select Edit from the popup menu.

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