Same function operating on different database fields?

[pbalepur]

Pretty new to CR. Would appreciate a response from the gurus.

Is there a way to create a "parameterized" function that would accept the name of the database field as a parameter?

We have a table with N performance metrics. Need to summarize these using the PthPercentile(p,<metric column>,<group by column>) function.

I would like the user to be able to select the "metric" they want to summarize via a prompt / parameter and have the summary function operate on that user specified metric / column. Effectively, using this report / function as a "template".

Obviously, I can write N summary functions, one each for the individual metrics. Can I avoid that?

Thanks!

 

[lbass]

First, create a string parameter with options that describe your metrics, and then write a formula like the following:

if {?Metric} = "Cost" then
PthPercentile(90,{table.cost},{table.group}) else
if {?Metric} = "Quantity" then
PthPercentile(90,{table.quantity},{table.group}) else //etc.

If you also want to parameterize the "P" value, you would have to do it indirectly by using nested ifs, as in:

if {?Metric} = "Cost" then
(
if {?Percentile} = 90 then
PthPercentile(90,{Table.Cost},{Table.Group}) else
if {?Percentile} = 50 then
PthPercentile(50,{Table.Cost},{Table.Group})
) else
if {?Metric} = "Quantity" then
(
if {?Percentile} = 90 then
PthPercentile(90,{Table.Quantity},{Table.Group}) else
if {?Percentile} = 50 then
PthPercentile(50,{Table.Quantity},{Table.Group})
)

-LB