Adding Multiple Matrices to Online Reports

Reporting details can be contained in multiple sources within Accolade. To consolidate data into a single source to be used for reporting or the creation of charts or presentations, users can create reports to combine the data. Information from more than one project matrix can be pulled into a report by including a common value that is included in the sources, for example, using a Department or Region metric or a common Row ID.

In addition to selecting the matrix and metric columns to be included in the report, users must create join statements that define how the matrix information is related.

To add multiple matrices to an Accolade online report:

1. Create a new report or open an existing report for editing.
2. On the Selected Columns tab, select the matrices and metrics to be included in the report.
3. On the Advanced Matrix Settings tab, click Add to add the matrix join statements.
4. In each side of the dialog, select one of the matrices from the drop-down list, and select an option to use as the common value to join the matrices.

The two selected matrices must be different, but the matrix/metric combination can be any combination of metrics or row IDs, as long as the selected metrics share a common value and are of the same data type.

Selecting a metric will define it as the common value between the two matrices. Note that it can be the same metric if it is used in both matrices, or it can be different metrics that will have the same value in both matrices. In addition, a metric used as a common value does not need to be added as a reporting column in order to be used to create the join statement.

Selecting Row ID will compare matrices by rows, for example Row 1 in Matrix A will be compared with Row 1 in Matrix B, and so on. This can be used when there are no additional common values in the two matrices, and the matrices have a direct line-by-line comparison.

 

Caution! Selecting Row ID as a common value can cause inconsistencies in reporting. Since assigned Row IDs are not visible within a matrix, report results can be incorrect if rows have been deleted from a matrix or if there is a mismatch.

5. Repeat steps 3-4 to add additional matrix join statements as necessary.

All included matrices must have at least one related join statement, but a matrix can be referenced in more than one statement. For example, if you choose to include metrics from Matrix A, Matrix B, and Matrix C, you would need to create two statements to join the information. You could create a statement that relates A to B, and one that relates B to C, or you could have a statement that relates A to B, and one that relates A to C.

6. Click OK to exit the dialog and return to the report settings.
7. Finish setting up the report, as necessary.
8. (Optional) Click in the upper right corner to display a preview of the report contents prior to saving, or click to download the report to a spreadsheet file.

9. Click Save to create a new report, or to save changes to an existing report.

Note:  [EMPTY] or blank cells in your report may indicate a mismatch in the common value linking the matrices. If the project value referenced in the join statement is not defined in one of the matrices, for example if there is not a matching value in both matrices, or a matrix contains empty rows, the report will return partial or full rows that contain [EMPTY] values.

Notes:    To delete a matrix join statement from a report, click the name of the report on the Charts & Reports page and click to display the report columns. Click the Advanced Matrix Settings tab, and click in the corresponding definition row to delete it. Click OK to close the dialog and click Save to save the changes to the report.