Advanced Spreadsheets and Reporting Documentation
Index

Indicator Card

The Indicator Card (page caption Define Indicator) is where you configure individual indicators. This guide provides detailed instructions for each section of the card.

Accessing the Indicator Card

  1. Open your Row Definition
  2. Find or create a line with Totaling Type = Indicator (the Totaling field shows "-")
  3. Use the lookup on the Totaling field, or the assist-edit (…) button on the Indicator Defined column (shown after Totaling Type). Simply clicking the Totaling cell does nothing.
  4. The Define Indicator page opens. It requires a registered license; when the app is unlicensed you are asked to register instead.

Indicator Card Layout

The card is divided into four sections:

  1. Method
  2. Table
  3. Filters (subpage)
  4. Test Indicator

Method Section

Method Field

Choose how the indicator processes matching records:

Method Description Returns
Lookup Finds the first matching record Single field value
Sum Adds all matching values Total of all values
Count Counts matching records Number of records
Min Finds the minimum value Smallest value
Max Finds the maximum value Largest value
Average Calculates the mean Sum / Count
Custom Uses developer-defined logic Custom calculation

Choosing the Right Method

Use Lookup when:

  • You need a single specific value
  • The filters will return exactly one record
  • You want the "first" value based on table order

Use Sum when:

  • You need to total a numeric field
  • Multiple records should be combined
  • Examples: Total amounts, total quantities

Use Count when:

  • You need the number of records
  • The field value doesn't matter
  • Examples: Number of customers, number of orders

Use Min/Max when:

  • You need extreme values
  • Finding highest or lowest in a set
  • Examples: Largest order, lowest stock level

Use Average when:

  • You need the mean value
  • Distribution analysis
  • Examples: Average order value, average days

Use Custom when:

  • Standard methods don't fit
  • Complex business logic needed
  • Requires developer implementation (an AL event subscriber) and a selected table

Table Section

Table Name Field

Specifies the source table for the indicator.

To Select a Table:

  1. Click the assist-edit button (...)
  2. The table selection page opens
  3. Search for your table by name or number
  4. Select the table and click OK

Table Selection Tips:

  • Search using partial names
  • The Select Table page shows the columns Table and Number
  • All standard and custom tables are available
  • You need Read permission on the selected table; an inaccessible table raises a permission error at calculation time

Field Name Field

Specifies which numeric field to use for calculations.

To Select a Field:

  1. First, select a table
  2. Click the assist-edit button on Field Name
  3. The Select Field page (columns Field, Type, Number) shows only Decimal, Integer and BigInteger fields, whatever the method
  4. Select the field and click OK

Field Selection Tips:

  • FlowFields are supported (they'll be calculated)
  • For Count method, the field can be left blank (it isn't used)
  • Fields that are part of a SumIndexField key are summed by the database and perform best for Sum calculations

Library Integration

When the Method is Sum and the field you pick is a FlowField, the app checks whether the library has an entry with the same table name and field name:

  • If found, you'll be prompted to use the library version
  • Library indicators include pre-configured filters
  • This can save setup time and ensure consistency

No prompt appears for other methods or for normal (non-FlowField) fields.

Custom Instructions Field

The indicator record has a Custom Instructions field intended for Custom method indicators, but it is hidden on the card and cannot be edited there. Custom indicators are driven entirely by the developer's event subscriber; see Indicator Methods.

Filters Section

The Filters section is a subpage showing all filters for this indicator.

Filter List

Each row in the filter list represents one filter condition:

Column Purpose
Field Name The field being filtered
Filter Type How the filter is applied
Filter The filter expression (operator and value, e.g. >0)
Date Formula Optional date adjustment (Column Period on Date fields only)

Adding Filters

  1. Click in an empty row
  2. Select a Field using the assist-edit
  3. Choose the Filter Type. Column Period is accepted only on Date fields; other fields give the error "You can only use the column period on date fields."
  4. Enter the Filter (for Static filters)
  5. Enter Date Formula if needed (for Column Period). A Date Formula is accepted only on Date fields and is validated when entered ("%1 is not a valid date formula."). A filter row with no field selected causes the error "An indicator filter on row %1 of row definition %2 has no field selected." when the report is calculated.

See Indicator Filters for detailed filter configuration.

Test Indicator Section

This section lets you test your indicator before using it in reports.

Test Period Start

Set the starting date for test calculations.

  • Default: First day of current month
  • Affects Column Period filters

Test Period End

Set the ending date for test calculations.

  • Default: Last day of current month
  • Affects Column Period filters

Test Column Layout

Select a column definition to simulate column settings:

  • Pre-filled with the first column definition in the company when the indicator is created
  • Affects how Column Period filters calculate dates
  • Choose a layout similar to your actual report

Calculate Indicator (for test)

Click this field to run the calculation:

  • The indicator executes with test parameters
  • Results appear in Test Result
  • Elapsed time is shown for performance analysis

Test Result

Shows the calculation result:

  • Format: [Value] ([Duration] elapsed)
  • Example: 42,500.00 (125 milliseconds elapsed)
  • Use this to verify your configuration

Actions Menu

Select from Library

Opens the Indicator Library to apply a pre-built indicator:

  1. Click Select from library
  2. Browse available indicators
  3. Select one and click OK
  4. The indicator configuration is applied
  5. Filters are also applied from the library

Complete Example

Setting up a "Total Open Order Value" indicator:

  1. Method: Sum
  2. Table: Select "Sales Line" (Table 37)
  3. Field: Select "Amount" or "Line Amount"
  4. Filters:
    • Field: Document Type, Filter Type: Static, Filter: Order
    • Field: Outstanding Quantity, Filter Type: Static, Filter: >0
  5. Test:
    • Set date range
    • Select column layout
    • Click Calculate
    • Verify result against Sales Order list

Tips and Best Practices

Configuration

  1. Start with Method: Choose the right calculation first
  2. Verify Table Access: Ensure you can view the table
  3. Check Field Type: Confirm it's numeric
  4. Add Filters Carefully: Too few = wrong data, too many = no data

Testing

  1. Test Often: Validate after each filter change
  2. Compare to Source: Verify against list pages
  3. Check Performance: Watch elapsed time
  4. Try Different Dates: Ensure date filters work

Troubleshooting

  1. Zero Result? Check filters aren't too restrictive
  2. Wrong Value? Verify table and field selection
  3. Slow Calculation? Add more specific filters