Trigger interactive behaviors
In this topic
The Trigger interactions tool allows you to trigger certain interactive behaviors (Update report objects and Set prompt) configured by the report author by making a selection on the map. In comparison to triggering an on-click action—which can be configured for all types of IBM Cognos interactions, including Update map—triggering interactions by selecting items on the map offers more options.
A variety of drawing tools can be used to select features on the map. If you want to broaden your selection areas, you can apply buffers to your drawings. Drawings can also be edited as needed.
When you make a selection, configured interactive behaviors are triggered based on the selection. For example, suppose the report author configured an interactive behavior on a layer showing retailer locations to update a list of retailers organized by profit and revenue. When you select a group of retailer locations on the map, the list automatically updates to reflect your selection.
Note:
Only the features in layers for which on-selection interactive behaviors were configured will be selected.
You can make changes to the way configured interactive behaviors are automatically triggered when selections are made. You can also trigger individual interactive behaviors manually, or reset the results of triggered Update report objects or Set prompt behaviors to their original state.
Use the drawing tools
- From the Tools menu, choose Trigger interactions.
The Trigger interactions tool opens.
Note:
This tool is only available if it was enabled by the report author.
- Choose one of the following tools from the Draw drop-down menu and draw on the map:
Point—Click once to create a point.
Rectangle—Click once to quickly create a rectangle or drag on the map to draw your own.
Circle—Click once to quickly create a circle or drag on the map to draw your own.
Polyline—Click to create two or more points to draw a line. Click twice to complete the line.
PolygonClick to create three or more points to draw a polygon. Click twice to complete the polygon.
Freehand polygon—Click and drag on the map to draw a freehand shape.
Freehand polyline—Click and drag on the map to draw a freehand line.
Features that are intersected by your drawings are selected and highlighted on the map.
Note:
Only the features in layers for which on-selection interactive behaviors were configured are selected.
Based on the selection, configured interactive behaviors that are enabled for automatic interactions are triggered.
Note:
For dynamic map service layers with configured interactive behaviors, some features intersected by your drawings may not be selected. The maximum number of features that can be selected by each drawing is limited to the MaxRecordCount value specified on the service.
- Buffering allows you to select features within a specified distance of a drawing. If you want to add a buffer to your drawing, do the following:
- On the Trigger interactions tool, click More to display more options.
- Check the Buffer check box to turn on buffering. To turn off buffering at any time, uncheck the check box.
When you turn on buffering, a buffer is automatically applied to your drawings and to any subsequent drawings you make.
Note:
The default buffer distance and units were specified by the report author, but they can be changed. See Change buffer settings for more information.
- If you want to draw more than one graphic to select features on the map, check the Add drawings check box and use any of the drawing tools to continue making selections. When this check box is unchecked, any additional drawings you make will clear all previous drawings.
- While using the drawing tools, do any of the following as needed:
Click Clear to clear your drawings, including any buffers, from the map.
The results of any Update report objects or Set prompt interactive behaviors triggered by the selections are returned to their original state.
Click Pan/Edit to edit a drawing or to pan the map.
- When you are finished, close the Trigger interactions pane.
All drawings, including buffers, are hidden, but the results of any triggered interactive behaviors remain.
When you reopen the Trigger interactions pane, your drawings are reapplied to the map.
Change buffer settings
- If you are using the compact Trigger interactions pane, click More to display more options.
- Check the Buffer check box to turn on buffering. To turn off buffering at any time, uncheck the check box.
- Change the default buffer distance and units as desired, and press Enter.
The new buffer settings are applied to existing drawings on the map, and will apply to any new drawings you make.
Edit drawings
- Draw on the map using any of the drawing tools.
- Click Pan/Edit.
- Click the drawing you want to edit.
- Do any of the following to edit the drawing:
- To move the drawing, click anywhere inside the drawing and drag it to a new location.
- To resize the drawing, drag any of the white squares.
- To rotate the drawing, click the rotate handle at the top of the drawing and drag in a circular motion on the map.
- To change the shape of the drawing, do the following:
- Move any vertex (gray circle) by dragging it.
- Create new vertices by dragging any of the white circles, which mark the midpoint between vertices. When you drag a midpoint marker, a new vertex is created, along with new midpoint markers for the new line segments that are created.
- Remove any vertex by clicking the vertex and clicking Clear vertex.
Tip:
You can also click the Delete key after clicking the vertex.
- To remove the drawing, click Clear drawing.
Tip:
You can also click the Delete key to clear the drawing.
Note:
If a buffer is applied to the drawing, the buffer is hidden while you are editing the drawing. When you are finished editing, the buffer is recalculated based on the updated drawing and is reapplied to the drawing.
Manage automatic and manual interactivity
In the Trigger interactions tool, all on-selection interactive behaviors configured by the report author are listed under Interactions. Interactive behaviors configured on layers that are not visible in the current map extent are unavailable in the list.
By default, interactive behaviors configured on layers that are visible in the current map extent are triggered automatically when you select features on the map. You can turn off automatic triggering of individual interactive behaviors using the Automatic option under Interactions. When you turn off automatic triggering of an interactive behavior, the behavior is not triggered when you make a selection until you turn the behavior on again.
Using the Manual option under Interactions, you can trigger individual interactive behaviors manually. You can also reset the results of triggered Update report objects or Set prompt behaviors to their original state.
- To turn off automatic triggering of an interactive behavior, do the following:
- Choose Automatic.
- Uncheck the check box beside the behavior.
The next time you make a selection on the map, the behavior will not be triggered automatically. To turn on automatic triggering of the behavior again, check the check box.
- To manually trigger an interactive behavior based on a selection on the map, do the following:
- Choose Manual.
- Choose the behavior in the list.
- Click the Play button.
The interactive behavior is triggered based on the selection.
- To reset the results of a triggered Update report objects or Set prompt interactive behavior, choose the behavior in the list and click the Reset button.
The results of the interactive behavior are returned to their original state.
Tip:
Alternatively, click the Clear all interactions
button to return all interactive behaviors on the map to their original state.