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Terminology

These terms and definitions are useful for understanding Jaspersoft domains within the context of the aP Analytics environment.

Note:

Many of the terms and definitions are from the Jaspersoft Community Glossary. Some definitions have been modified to better apply to the aP Analytics environment.

Ad Hoc View – A view of data, based on a Domain, that you create in the Jaspersoft Ad Hoc Editor. An Ad Hoc view can present data in variety of forms, including tables, charts, and crosstabs. You can save an Ad Hoc view as a view or as an exportable report. You can automatically incorporate new data, by creating a regeneration schedule for a saved Ad Hoc view. You can also add an Ad Hoc view to a Dashboard.

Custom Field – Bespoke field in the Ad Hoc Editor that is a function of one or more out-of-the box or custom fields. If a bespoke field is particularly complex or is used in many reports, it is a best practice to define it as a calculated field in a Domain.

Derived Table – In a Domain, a derived table is similar to a database view. A derived table is defined by a query whose result becomes another set of items available in the Domain. For example, with a JDBC data source, you can write an SQL query that includes complex functions for selecting data. You can use the items in a derived table for other operations on the Domain, such as joining tables, defining a calculated field, or filtering. The items in a derived table can also be referenced in the security file and locale bundles of a Domain.

Data Source – The connection properties that JasperReports Server uses to access data. The server transmits queries to data sources and obtains datasets in return for use in filling reports and previewing Ad Hoc reports. In the aP Analytics environment, the default data source is the aPriori Reporting database.

Dimension – Categorization for related data. For example, in aP Analytics, product manufacturing information (PMI) data might be categorized by dimensions such as batch size, material, and tolerances.

Domain – Virtual, Jaspersoft metadata-layer view of a data source that:

  • Presents the data in business terms
  • Allows for localization
  • Provides data-level security.

A Jaspersoft Domain determines the tables, join clauses, calculated fields, display names, and default properties that make up the virtual view. In aP Analytics, you use Jaspersoft Domains to create Ad Hoc views.

ETL – Extract, Transform, Load. A process that retrieves data from transactional systems, and then filters and aggregates the data to create a multidimensional database. Generally, ETL prepares the database for access by an Ad Hoc view. The Jaspersoft ETL application enables you define and schedule ETL processes.

Fact – The specific or aggregate value for a measure. Facts are typically numeric. In an Ad Hoc view, facts are the calculated values for dependent variables that are displayed in table columns and chart data labels. aP Analytics facts include estimated values for manufacturing and Design-to-Cost (DTC) measures such as piece part cost, finish mass, and cycle time.

Field – Dimension for a static or independent variable value. In the aPriori environment, fields tend to be used for relatively static items such as part_number, scenario name, and description.

Measure – Dimension for a fact (calculated or aggregated value) that can be included in an Ad Hoc view.

View – Dynamically computed or collated data that is returned by a stored query.

Visualization – Tables, plots, and charts that visually organize or represent the data that a query returns to an Ad Hoc view. aP Analytics Ad Hoc views provide a variety of visualization options including crosstabs, line plots, scatter plots, bar charts, and pie charts.