OBIEE 11g - Hierarchical Columns Introduction

One of the features of OBIEE 11g is Hierarchical Columns. 

Technically from the Administration side, it's not a big issue. All you need to do in the Administration is mark, in the logical dimensions you want to use as Hierarchical Columns,

 "Use for Update", at the desired levels.

 Now drag Hierarchy/Logical Dimension to the presentation folder:

Save and use it:

If your source is OLAP, you will get it by default, for each Hierarchy.

 

All is great, but the Hierarchical Columns is not only about clicking the Plus and Minus signs. 

First of all, what is missing in the picture?

Apparently, there is no Formula or Filter option for Hierarchical Columns. Lets accept the Formula part as expected, but what about Filters? 

You have 2 options:

1. Create filters on the regular Columns that participate in the Hierarchical Column, for example seting a filter on date will influence the content of the Time Hierarchy.

2. Use Conditions in Selection Steps. 

This is what the next post will talk about.