Matrix settings

A matrix attribute consists of a grid with cells. The cells can be empty or can contain text, a number (float or integer), or an expression.
When you create a matrix, you can enter text, numbers, or expressions in the cells, or you can leave cells empty. When you click OK, the default matrix that you created is copied to all the elements in the module that have the matrix attribute.
Table 1. Matrix attribute settings
Setting Name Description
Value setting for new matrix attributes Default Value Edit the row and column headers and the values in the grid. All the attribute values that start with an equal sign (=) are interpreted as expressions. All other values are interpreted as numeric or text values.
  • Add Row: Adds a row to the matrix. The row is added at the bottom of the rows.
  • Add Column: Adds a column to the matrix. The column is added to the right of the columns.
  • Data range in rows from: Determines the rows to use when the table or chart is displayed.
  • Data range in columns from: Determines the columns to use when the table or chart is displayed.
  • Display as: Changes the form in which the values in the matrix are displayed:
    • Table: Displays values in a table format.
    • Table Without Headings: Displays values in a table format but without the headings.
    • Line Chart, Horizontal Bar Chart, or Vertical Bar Chart: Displays values as graphical representations. The charts can be displayed only if the cells contain numeric values, which can be either plain numbers or results from numeric expressions.
      Note: Line charts are displayed correctly if your data range is organized in any of these configurations:
      • At least two columns and at least two rows
      • One row and at least two columns when Flip matrix axes is cleared
      • One column and at least two rows when Flip matrix axes is selected
  • Flip matrix axes: If this check box is selected, in the attribute list, the columns of the matrix are displayed as rows and the rows as are displayed as columns. You might select this option when you want to display a chart and the matrix values are entered in columns instead of rows.
Value setting for existing matrix attributes Default You can update all the cells in the matrix of the elements. You can edit the default value. After you edit the value, click Copy Default Value to All Elements. The default matrix is copied to all the elements in the module and all the elements have matrices of equal sizes and contents. If your mail is configured, you receive a report of the outcome.
Note: For attributes that contain expressions, you can run only the valid expressions.
Lock Values To update only some of the cells in a matrix, use the Lock values option. When you lock the values in the matrix, you also lock the size of the matrix. If the existing elements have matrices of different sizes, you cannot use the Lock values option. For matrices of equal size, you can update one or more cell values:
  1. Clear the cells to be left unchanged.
  2. In the cells to update, enter text, numbers, or expressions.
  3. Select Lock Values, and click OK.
To unlock the updated cells, clear Lock Values.
To add a row or column:
  1. Increase the size of the default matrix by clicking Add Row and Add Column.
  2. Select Lock Size and click OK.
You can add rows to the bottom of the matrix and columns to the right of the matrix. If you add rows or columns inside the existing default matrix, information might be lost.
Note: You can update cell values and matrix size at the same time.
Edit Allow Expanders If this check box is selected, the Add buttons and Delete icons are displayed when the matrix attributes of the element are edited.
Allow Edit Display Type If this check box is selected, the setting specified in the Display as choice list is displayed when the matrix attributes of the element are edited.
Show Export to Excel Link If this check box is selected, an icon that exports the cell values to Microsoft Excel is displayed when the matrix attributes are displayed.
Lock Values If this check box is selected, you cannot edit the default values in the elements.
Lock Size If this check box is selected, all the corresponding matrix attributes of the elements have the fixed size as default matrix. To use the matrix attribute when you display attribute statistics (2D), Lock size must be selected.
Edit Field If this check box is selected, an edit field is displayed when you edit cell values in the matrix.
Change Log Log Changes If this check box is selected, history logs are created for each change of the attribute value.

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