Trigger interactions
In this topic
The Trigger interactions tool allows you to trigger certain interactions (selectors and dynamic links) configured in a document or report by making a selection on the map.
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 interactions are triggered based on the selection. For example, suppose the designer configured a selector on a layer showing store locations to update a grid of stores organized by profit and revenue. When you select a group of store locations on the map, the grid configured as a target of the selector automatically updates to reflect your selection.
You can make changes to the way selectors and dynamic links are triggered when selections are made. You can also reset the results of individual interactions or trigger them manually.
Note:
This functionality is only available in Presentation Mode, Mobile, and Report Run Mode.
Use the drawing tools
- From the Tools menu, click Trigger interactions.
The Trigger interactions pane opens.
- 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.
Polygon—Click to create three or more points to draw a polygon. Click twice to complete the polygon.
Freehand polygon—Drag on the map to draw a freehand shape.
Freehand polyline—Drag on the map to draw a freehand line.
Features that are intersected by your drawings are selected and highlighted on the map.
Based on the selection, configured interactions that are enabled for automatic interactions are triggered.
- Buffering lets you select features within a specified distance of a drawing. To add a buffer to your drawing, do the following:
- On the 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.
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 can be changed. See Configure the Trigger interactions tool for more information.
- 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.
All target grids are returned to their original states.
Click Pan/Edit to edit a drawing or to pan the map.
- When you're finished, close the Trigger interactions pane.
All drawings, including buffers, are hidden, but the results of any triggered interactions remain.
When you reopen the Trigger interactions pane, your drawings are reapplied to the map.
Change buffer settings
- If you're 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 press the Delete key after clicking the vertex.
- To remove the drawing, click Clear drawing.
Tip:
You can also press the Delete key to clear the drawing.
Note:
If a buffer is applied to the drawing, the buffer is hidden while you edit the drawing. When you're finished editing, the buffer is recalculated based on the updated drawing and is reapplied to the drawing.
Manage automatic and manual interactions
In the Trigger interactions tool, all interactions configured in the document or report are listed under Interactions. interactions configured on layers that are not visible in the current map extent are unavailable in the list.
By default, in maps containing layers with configured selectors, the first configured selector action on each layer is triggered automatically when you make a selection on the map. If the map contains layers with configured links only, the first default link configured on the first layer added to the map is triggered by default.
Note:
Only links configured with the Set as Default option turned on will be displayed. Therefore, for best results on mobile, only one link should be configured per column.
You can change the way interactions are automatically triggered using the Automatic option under Interactions. You can turn on automatic triggering of any number of configured selector interactions at one time. If the map contains layers with configured links, you can turn on automatic triggering of one link action at a time; if this is done, automatic triggering of all selector interactions will be turned off. In other words, making a selection on the map can automatically trigger either any number of selector interactions or a single configured link action.
Using the Manual option under Interactions, you can trigger individual interactions manually. You can also reset the target grids to their original states.
- To turn on automatic triggering of an action, do the following:
- Click Automatic.
- Check the check box beside the action.
You can turn on automatic triggering of either a single link action or one or more selector interactions.
Note:
Because each selector set to a target grid filters the target grid, there is a chance that your drawings on the map will select data with conflicting filters. If automatic triggering is turned on for multiple selector interactions targeting that grid and the filters are conflicting, the grid will be replaced with no data.
- To manually trigger an action based on a selection on the map, do the following:
- Click Manual.
- Choose the action in the list.
- Click the Play button.
The action is triggered based on the selection.
- To reset the results of a triggered selector action, choose the action in the list and click the Reset button.
All target grids are returned to their original states.