Creating Sets
The next lesson's Set Actions let a dashboard click add or remove values from a Set automatically -- but that only works if a Set already exists. This lesson covers how to create one.
What is a Set?
A Set is a custom field that divides your data into two groups: members that are IN the set, and everything else, which is OUT. Unlike a Group, a Set is boolean (in/out) rather than a relabeling of members.
Creating a Manual Set
- Select one or more dimension members in the view, right-click, and choose Create Set..., or
- Right-click a dimension in the Data Pane > Create > Set... and manually check the members you want IN the set.
Example: select your top 3 customers in a view and create a set called "Key Accounts" -- this lets you color or filter by "in Key Accounts" vs. "everyone else."
Creating a Condition-Based Set
Instead of picking members by hand, you can define membership with a condition or a Top N rule:
- In the Create Set dialog, switch to the Condition tab to write a rule (e.g.,
SUM([Sales]) > 10000). - Or use the Top tab to define membership as "Top 10 by Sum of Sales."
Condition-based sets update automatically as the underlying data changes -- a manual set does not.
Using a Set in the View
Drag a Set onto Color, Filter, or any other shelf like a regular field. It shows two values: the set's name (IN) and "Other" (OUT) -- perfect for comparing a selected group against everyone else.
Why This Matters
The next lesson shows how a Set Action can update a set's membership automatically based on what a viewer clicks on a dashboard, instead of you editing the set by hand every time. Come back to this lesson any time you need a refresher on building the set itself.