Use Entity in Algorithm - Entity showing the count of members not the value

Hello,

How can I get the value of Custom A Entity so I can use it in my Algorithm? Currently, I am adding it as a data block in the layout but it's showing the total members not the value.

The by row has 4 Entities - Reporting Unit, Custom A, Group Account, and Comment.
I need Custom A for my algorithm but when I add it as a datablock it doesn't work.

It only works if I move the Custom A as the 3rd or 4th entity in the By Row but I don't want to re-arrange the entities as this is how the users need to view it.

Are there other ways I can use to get the value of the Custom A entity?

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Accepted answers

Dietmar Jeschkeit

Hi Efraim,

Why don't you use a cube? A cube with the dimension Customer A would suffice, into which you write the content of the entity using data flow in a procedure.
Then you use the cube as a block instead of the entity.

Best regards,
Dietmar

All comments

Robert Barkaway

Hi Efraim, you're correct that using Custom A as an entity block will only give you the selected value if either that entity or a child from the same tree is on the axis, otherwise it will return a count of the selected values. To get the selected value without amending your axes you can just use an algorithm block and @Custom A to return the selected value(s), make sure you set the block to Text.

Efraim

Hello @Robert Barkaway , thanks for this but this only works when there's something selected in Custom A right like a screen selection else it will show "All". I need what the Custom A in the By Row shows and use that in the algorithm.

Robert Barkaway

Okay apologies, that's me not reading your original post properly. So when you say that even though you have Custom A on the row axis it doesn't display it correctly then as an entity block - could you take some screen shots to show me? As far as I know it should work regardless of what order your row axis entities are in, provided you have it as an entity on your axes it should work, I'm just testing it in 14.5 and it seems to be working as I'd expect - what version are you using?

Robert Barkaway

Actually scratch that, I've just reproduced it, it looks like if there are two or more other entities after it on the axis the entity block doesn't work, I must admit I'm not too sure why but I can enquire.

Efraim

Yes, you're right when there are 2 or more entities after it, it doesn't work anymore.

Dietmar Jeschkeit

Hi Efraim,

Best regards,
Dietmar

Efraim

Hello @Dietmar Jeschkeit , thanks for the reply. I actually have thought of this but was keen not to create anything on the Data Model side and would like to limit the solution on changing the Layout only. It seems there's no other way but to go down this route then.