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91.1 Best Practices

Recommendations collected from across this help, for designers, data modellers and administrators.

Workbooks

  • One question per sheet. A sheet that answers one question – How are sales developing this year? – is easier to read than one with everything.
  • Filters in the Filter Panel, so they apply to the whole workbook and travel with action links – see 7.7.
  • Dynamic dates instead of fixed dates, so workbooks stay current – see 9.3.
  • Table styles and themes for a consistent look; corporate colors for on-brand charts – see 11.4.
  • Quick transformations for comparisons with last year and shares of total, rather than new metrics – see 10.4.
  • Descriptions on workbooks and metrics – users and nikolAI find and understand them better.

Metrics

  • Define common figures – turnover, margin, quantity – once as shared metrics with clear titles and descriptions – see 10.3.
  • Set the number format on the metric, so it's the same everywhere.
  • Build complex metrics from simpler ones.

Data Model

  • Keep data that is analyzed together in one data warehouse; avoid combining data sources in queries.
  • Map key fields to units consistently, so facts share dimensions – see 23.2.
  • Give units clear titles and descriptions, and translate them for multi-language projects.
  • Validate before every save that goes to users – see 26.1.
  • Back up before big changes – see 26.4.

Performance

  • Index the columns used for joins and filters – see 27.1.
  • Use summary tables for large fact tables, and Collect statistics after big loads.
  • Materialize slow, frequently used dynamic views – see 27.2.
  • Keep tables in workbooks focused – thousands of rows are slow to show and hard to read.

Security

  • Change the Administrator password, and give every user a strong password – see 32.2.
  • Use user filters for row-level security, not folders.
  • Install Modeller and Enterprise Manager only for administrators.
  • Add SQL, script and program actions only when needed – they run without asking – see 13.4.
  • Secure Datashop Web with HTTPS and remove its test pages – see 36.1.
  • Use read-only database accounts for data sources.

Distributions

  • Test with Test... before activating, and check the first status reports – see 18.9.
  • Keep attachments small, and collate e-mails for recipients with many reports.
  • Restart Acinta Server after changes.