The analytical list page (ALP) offers a unique way to analyze data step by step from different perspectives, to investigate a root cause through drilldown, and to act on transactional content. All this can be done seamlessly within one page.

The purpose of the analytical list page is to identify interesting areas within datasets or significant single instances using data visualization and business intelligence.

Visualizations help users to recognize facts and situations, and reduce the number of interaction steps needed to gain insights or to identify significant single instances. Chart visualization increases the joy of use, and enables users to spot relevant data more quickly.

The main target group are users who work on transactional content. They benefit from fully transparent business object data and direct access to business actions. In addition, they have access to analytical views and functions without having to switch between systems. These include KPIs, a visual filter where filter values are enriched by measures and visualizations, and a combined table/chart view with drill-in capabilities (hybrid view). Users can interact with the chart to dig deep into the data. The visualization enables them to identify spikes, deviations and abnormalities more quickly, and to take appropriate action.

Usage

Use the analytical list page if:

• Users need to extract key information to understand the current situation or identify a root cause. The way the data is presented is crucial for giving them the insights they need to take the right action.
• Users need a way to analyze data step by step from different perspectives, investigate a root cause through drilldown, and act on transactional content within one page.
• In addition to the filtered dataset, users need to see the impact of their filter settings in a chart representation (visual filter).
• Users need to interact between charts and table views (hybrid-view).
• Users need to see the impact of their action on a KPI.
• Users need to find and act on relevant items out of a large set of items by searching, filtering, sorting, grouping, drilling down, and slicing and dicing.

Do not use the analytical list page if:

• Drilldown is rarely used, not used at all, or is only needed after navigating to another page, rather than as free or flexible drilldown within the page itself. In this case, a list report might be sufficient for your use case.
• Users need different visualizations for the entire dataset (for example, as a table or as a chart), but don’t need interaction between these visualizations (for example, in a reporting scenario). In this case, a list report might be sufficient.
• Users need to find and act on relevant items from within a large set of items by searching, filtering, sorting, and grouping, without using drilldown or “slice and dice”. In this case, consider using a list report instead.
• Users need to work with multiple views of the same content, for example on items that are “Open”, “In Process”, or “Completed”. They want to be able to switch views using tabs, segmented buttons, or a select control. In this case, consider using a list report instead.
• Users need to see or edit a single item with all its details. Use the object page floorplan instead.
• Users need to find a specific item, where the item or an identifying data point is known to the user (for example, if a barcode identifies the item). In this case, use the initial page floorplan.
• Users need to work through a comparably small set of items, one by one. In this case, use the worklist floorplan instead.

Structure

This section describes the basic layout of the analytical list page, as well as the different variants of the layout.

KPI Tags

KPI Card

Visual Filter Dialog

Filter Type Switch

Visual Filter

As a core feature of the analytical list page, the visual filter combines measures or item counts with filter values. The visual filter becomes more powerful if you match measures to the filter dimension instead of just item counts. Use the visual filter bar if you would like to give the user a condensed overview of the data in the dataset. Chart visualization increases the joy of use, and enables users to spot relevant data more quickly. Ideally, the filters depend on each other. By selecting one or several chart data points, users can perform a quick analysis of the dataset.
Examples: Supplier with the lowest supplier performance this year; product with the highest sales volume in March in the EMEA region

Always design both a visual filter and a compact filter. To design a visual filter, choose a meaningful measure out of the dataset and match it to a filter dimension. If no measures or no meaningful measures are available, use an item count instead. Choose an appropriate chart type. Always use a line chart to show a time series. Do not use a line chart to show categories; use a bar chart instead. Try to show at least three visual filters and try to use different chart types.

More filter values can be selected using the value help. The visual filter supports semantic colors to indicate criticality.

Filter Charts

Currently, the visual filter supports three chart types (interactive charts): the interactive bar chart, the interactive line chart, and the interactive donut chart. The bar chart can have a maximum of three filter values. For the donut chart, only the top or bottom two values are shown; the rest are aggregated into the “Other” section. The line chart can display a maximum of six data points. Show the latest six data points (for example, last six days, last six months, and so on). Always use a line chart to show a time series. Do not use a line chart to show categories; use a bar chart instead. More filter values can be selected using the value help. The visual filter charts support semantic colors to indicate the criticality of filter values.

Show the filter dimension with one measure in the visual filter, not multiple measures

Filter dimensions in the compact filter (filter bar) have exactly one representation in the visual filter.
Do not show the same filter dimension with two or more different measures at the same time in the visual filter bar. The example shows the filter Dimension Year with two different measures Revenue and Quantity. Showing the filter dimensionYear twice is not in sync with the compact filter, where it is shown only once. Furthermore, matching between the two filter types will not work.

If the use case requires you to show a dimension with different measures, consider using an overview page instead.

Controls

Hybrid View

Table-Only View

Chart-Only View

Select Filters in the Visual Filter

Unlike micro charts, the visual filter charts are interactive. If the live search is being used, selecting a filter value triggers data filtering in the content area. Both single and multiple selection are supported.

To select a filter value, the user clicks on a value in the chart. The filter can be removed by either clicking on the value help link, or by clicking on the same value in the chart again. The user can select more filter values using the value help.

Any data point that is selected in a chart still remains selected when the user selects a data point in another chart. Filter values react on each other. If a selected record falls outside the top/bottom three records being displayed, the number of selected records is shown in parentheses at the top right of the chart.

Filter Type Switch

Users can toggle between two filter modes: compact filters and visual filters.

Carrying forward filter selections from the visual filter to the compact filter
Any values selected in the visual filter are always carried forward to the compact filters.

Carrying forward filter selections from the compact filter to the visual filter
Filter dimensions that are part of the visual filter are synced to the visual filter. If the dimension value(s) chosen in the compact filter are part of the visual filter, they are shown as selected chart dimensions in the visual filter (single or multiple selections).

Filter dimensions that are not part of the visual filter, parameter values, and interval-based dimensions are applied to the filter query and the content is refreshed.

To show complex conditions, click the link for the number of selected items at the top of the visual filter.

Snap Visual Filter Bar to Top

To save space, users can snap the visual filter bar to the top.

Switch Views: Hybrid, Chart-Only, and Table-Only

Users can switch between the different views: hybrid, chart-only, and table-only. If the user selects values and then switches the view, the selection remains intact. See the table below for more details.

Show/Hide Table Entries in Hybrid View and Table View

The table toolbar for the analytical list page offers a Show   and Hide    table entries feature as a toggle switch in the hybrid and table views:

• If the Show icon is active, the table shows all items. These include highlighted entries (where values are selected in the chart) and non-highlighted entries.
• If the Hide icon is active, the table shows only items that are selected in the chart.

For example, if the user selects New Line Design as Customer in the chart, all records relating to New Line Design are highlighted (but not selected) in the table. Note that the record is still highlighted even if Customer is not displayed as a column in the table. If the table rows are grouped, the entire grouping is highlighted, even if only one record within the grouped set is affected by the chart selection. All values that are not selected in the chart are “hidden” and are not shown in this table mode.

Guidelines

Visual Filter

• Always configure both a visual filter and a compact filter.
• Use the visual filter as the default whenever possible.
• If parameter values are required, we recommend using the compact filter as the default filter mode.
• Use the live search for both filter types whenever possible.
• Always use a line chart to show a time series. Do not use a line chart to show categories; use a bar chart instead.
• Use the following naming convention for the filter title, using title case: <Measure Name> by <Dimension Name> in <Scale Factor> <Unit of Measure>.
  For example, Project Costs by Project in K EUR, Sales Volume by Commodity in M PC.
• Filter dimensions in the compact filter bar have exactly one representation in the visual filter.

Content Area

• Hybrid view / chart-only view: Show the most important aspects of the dataset in the main chart.

Layout

• Do not use tabs in the analytical list page.