Take a tour of Flexible Variance mode
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Flexible Variance mode has similar features and functionality to the other modes. This page provides links to related documentation pages, but please keep in mind that there might be some differences there. Where there are significant differences, we’ve created new pages to document them (tagged with Flexible Variance mode).
While Flexible Variance mode might look slightly different from the other modes at first glance, its basic layout is the same: the toolbar along the top, dimensions on the left, and the grid in the center. It has many of the features you're familiar with in the other Analytics modes, along with some of its own.
The toolbar at the top has menus you use to change your view of the data, as well as some function buttons.
Mode: This menu lets you change the mode, which is a pre-defined view of data that displays particular columns in the grid. Currently, Other modes is the only option in the menu, and it takes you back to the previous mode you were on.
Properties: This menu lets you change the properties (information stored about a dimension) displayed in the grid.
Stream: This menu lets you change the stream (series of data in the underlying database) displayed in the grid.
Measure: This menu lets you change the measures (numerical data) displayed in the grid. The Count option allows you to replace the displayed measure value with the relative count of items in a specific dimension.
Period 1, Period 2, and Period (breakdown): Similar to the menu that lets you change the period (timeframe) that applies to the data in the grid, these menus are the foundation of Flexible Variance mode. Firstly, select any two periods to compare and calculate the variance in the grid. You're not restricted to a current and previous period. Then select one of those periods (or another period) to add the applicable period columns to the grid. You then get a breakdown of the data for detailed analysis, allowing you to see if it’s trending in the right direction.
Sparklines: Sparklines display the data in the breakdown period columns in graphical format, letting you see trends over the period. For example, a sharp decrease in the sparkline might signal a drop in sales, something worth investigating. Sparklines are available for these repeated columns, as they have the same structure (stream, measure, and period). If you don't want to see the sparklines, click Sparklines > Off to remove that column from the grid.
Undo and redo: Undo and redo actions related to the calculation columns you added. For example, if you delete a calculation column, you can undo that action. Similarly, you can undo and redo changes you make to its formula.
Chart: Click the Chart button to open the chart builder, where you can visualize your column data in a chart.