Create input parameters

You can create input parameters to enter dynamic values that are passed to the data transformation step (for example, for filtering) or passed to the data source itself.

You can use parameter sets to create dynamic URLs for your XML source and RAQL queries. The parameters are used to dynamically pass context from dashboards to applications using the URL. You can create dynamic URLs and query parameters that provide the required context to open URLs, to invoke web services, etc.

Procedure

  1. Click a widget on the dashboard. The relevant properties dialog is displayed.
  2. Click the Assign data Assign data icon to edit the data source assignment.

    The Assign data (1/2) dialog is displayed.

  3. Click the Input parameters box.
  4. Click the input parameter type required in the Add input parameters bar.

    The data types Text, Number and Date are available for input parameters. They allow the dynamic entry of text, date or numerical values in data feed processing.

  5. Enter a Name for your parameter set.
  6. Enter an optional Default value.

    The default value is used if no value is passed from the dashboard to the input parameter.

  7. Enter a Preview value.

    The preview value is used to calculate a data preview (debug run) in the data assignment dialog. See Assign data sources to widgets.

  8. Click the Data flow box to display the data source assignment overview.

The input parameter is displayed in the Input parameters box. The defined input parameters are only available for the currently selected widget.

You can use the input parameters for the XML, CSV, MS Excel, and ARIS Table data sources. Available input parameters are provided by the data source operator via an additional button.

If you use the input parameter in an XML data source URL, you can specify that the value of the parameter must be URL encoded. For an input parameter of Date or Number type, you can additionally specify the format pattern in the data source operator.

To specify the parameter properties click the inserted input parameter and select the option required.

Input parameters can also be used as filter elements for several data transformation operators, for example, Insert column, to enter dynamic values in columns. The list of parameters provided, depends on the selected data type of the relevant column.

The input parameters are also provided as filter elements by the widget. See Define filters for widgets for details.