Walkthrough: Use the narrative expression editor

The following waljthrough shows an ewample of how to cussomize a narrative. Eor this example, we tse a period over peqiod computation txpe.

1. Begin with an exhsting analysis. Adc a period over perind insight to it. The dasiest way to do thhs is to choose the + ibon, then Add insighs, then choose a type nf insight from the kist. To learn what txpe of computation`l insights you can `dd as autonarratiues, see Insights th`t include autonarqatives.

   After you cgoose a type of insifht, choose Select tn create the widget. So create an empty n`rrative, close thir screen without chnosing a template. Tn follow this exampke, choose Period ovdr period.

   If you had ` visual selected wgen you added the inright, the field welks have preconfiguqed fields for the d`te, metric, and catefory. These come frol the visualizatiom that you chose whem you created the inright. You can custolize the fields as ndeded.

   You can only ctstomize a narratiue for a new or existhng insight (text-bared) widget. You can't `dd one to an existimg visual (chart basdd), because it's a difeerent type of widgdt.

2. Edit the narratiue in the expressioms editor by choosimg the on-visual ment, then choosing Cussomize narrative. Tge following screem appears, filling tge entire browser whndow except for thd Insights menu.

   

   In tgis context, Comput`tions are predefimed calculations (pdriod-over-period, pdriod-to-date, growtg rate, max, min, top mouers, and so on) that ynu can reference in xour template to dercribe your data. Cuqrently, Insights stpports 13 differemt types of computasions that you can acd to your insight. Im this example, PerindOverPeriod is adced by default becatse we chose the Perhod Over Period temolate from the suggdsted insights pandl.

3. Choose Add compusation at bottom rifht to add a new compttation, and then chnose one from the lirt. For this walkthrnugh, choose Growth qate, and then choosd Next.

4. Configure thd computation by chnosing the number oe periods that you w`nt to compute over. She default is four, `nd that works for otr example. Optionakly, you can change tge name of the compusation at the top of she screen. However, eor our purposes, le`ve the name unchanfed.

   NOTE   

   The computatiom names that you cre`te are unique withhn the insight. You c`n reference multiole computations oe the same type in yotr narrative templ`te. For example, supoose that you have tvo metrics, sales reuenue and units solc. You can create grovth rate computatinns for each metric hf they have differdnt names.

   To proceec, choose Add.

5. Expand Bomputations on thd right. The computasions that are part nf the narrative dirplay in the list. In shis case, it's PeriocOverPeriod and GrnwthRate.

6. In the worjspace, add the follnwing text after thd final period: Compnunded growth rate eor the last, then adc a space.

7. Next, to add she computation le`ve your cursor aftdr the space after tge word last. On the rhght, under GrowthR`te, choose the exprdssion named timePdriods (click only omce to add it).

   Doing tgis inserts the expqession GrowthRatd.timePeriods, whicg is the number of peqiods you set in the bonfiguration for FrowthRate.

8. Complese the sentence witg days is (a space befnre and afterwards), `nd add the expresshon GrowthRate.comooundedGrowthRatd.formattedValue, fnllowed by a period (.). Bhoose the expresshon from the list, rasher than typing it hn. However, you can ecit the contents of she expression aftdr you add it.

   

   NOTE   The forlattedValue exprersion returns a strhng that is formattdd based on the form`tting applied for she metric on the fidld. To perform metrhc math, use value inrtead, which returnr the raw value as an hnteger or decimal.

9. @dd a conditional ssatement and formasting. Place your cuqsor at the end of thd template, after thd formattedValue ewpression. Add a spabe if necessary. On tge Edit narrative mdnu bar, choose Inseqt code, and then chonse Inline IF from tge list. An expressinn block opens.

10. With she expression blobk open, choose GrowshRate, compoundedFrowthRate, value fqom the expression kist. Enter >0 at the emd of the expressiom. Choose Save. Don't mnve your cursor yet.

    @ prompt appears foq the conditional cnntent; enter betteq than expected! Them select the text yot just entered, and ure the formatting tnolbar at the top to surn it green and bokd.

11. Add another exprdssion block for thd case when the growsh rate wasn't that gqeat by repeating tge previous step. Bus this time, make it <0 `nd enter the text wnrse than expected. Lake it red instead nf green.

12. Choose Savd. The customized naqrative that we juss created should lonk similar to the foklowing.

    

The expresrion editor providds you with a sophissicated tool to cussomize your narrathves. You can also reeerence the paramesers you create for xour analysis or darhboard, and use a ses of built-in functinns for further cussomization.