This feature is available in Macrobond Analysis 1.33 and later. For Macrobond Analysis 1.32 version please see here. 

• Overview
• Interactive variable
  • Variables tab
  • Types of variables
• Creating an interactive variable
  • From Variables tab
  • From field
• Using an interactive variable
  • Assigning variable
  • Interactive properties tab
  • Slider
  • Changing value/date
• Deleting interactive variable
• How to build a chart with interactive feature - walkthrough
  • Point in time
  • List
• Examples

Overview

This feature is available in Macrobond 1.33 and later.  For Macrobond 1.32 version please see here. 

This feature allows you to replace various variables inside Macrobond document with interactive ones. Those variables can be then activated on the chart under the 'Variables' tab, unlocking new possibilities of showing data. 

This feature is designed to work the best with our new product – Macrobond Amplify. It's an online platform for sharing interactive research. For more information about it, see Macrobond Amplify page.

Interactive variable

Variables tab

On the Series list you will find a new tab - Variables - which is a command center for interactive variables. From here you can add, delete, and manage variables being used in the document. 

Types of variables

All available interactive variables can be found under All types drop down menu: 

• Boolean 
• Date 
• Date and Time 
• Decimal 
• Integer 
• List (since MB 1.33)
• Point in time 
• Rate of change method 
• Statistics calculation method (since MB 1.33)

Creating an interactive variable 

From Variables tab

To add new variable, select one of the variable types from under ‘All types’ drop down (or press button next to it). You can then assign such a variable to a selected field. 

From field

You can create interactive variable from various fields inside the application. Press open arrow next to the field and select ‘Create a new variable...' . Note that you will be able to create only that type of variable which will work in that field. 

Variable will automatically appear in Variables tab where you can manage it. 

Using an interactive variable 

Assigning variable

Press open arrow next to the field and select the variable. When the interactive variable is assigned to the field the open arrow becomes full arrow: 

Interactive properties tab

Go to the chart, see tab Interactive properties. You may select variable(s) which you want to use on this chart.  

Slider

You can create slider controlling your variable. To activate it, go to Series list > Variables tab. Click Edit button next to your variable. Tick Constrain and select frequency (for example, document frequency) and dates/values which will be Min and Max limit of a slider. 

Changing value/date

You can control Interactive variable from one of the below places: 

• in Interactive properties tab if activated; 
• in the Series list > Variables tab > Value field. 

Changing one of them automatically changes value/date in another. 

Changing value/date directly in the field where it was assigned will disable interactivity. The full arrow will change into open arrow: 

Deleting an interactive variable 

Under Series list > Variables tab: 

• right-click and select 'Delete'; 
• press ' - ' icon on the left side of variable 

How to build a chart with interactive feature - walkthrough 

Point in time 

See below an example: 

1. Open the Macrobond chart from the Macrobond library: Macrobond chart library : 3. Feature Examples/Chart Types/Bar Charts/Bar chart pyramid - South Korea demography 
2. In the Calculations section, next to Value at, click the grey arrow.
3. Select ‘+ Create new variable’.
4. Enable the Constrain option and set the range to Min: 1950 and Max: 2025.
5. Click OK to confirm.
6. Next to Percentage in the Calculations section, click the grey arrow and apply the previously created Point in Time variable.
7. Go to the Bar chart view. In the Actions ribbon, open the Interactive properties panel and enable Point in Time.

List

1. Create two lists – one as a child of another
2. Go to variables tab and select 'All types' – select 'List'.
3. Under 'Constraint'” click on 'Add', then choose lists from Document lists.
4. Repeat the process for second list and click 'OK'.
5. Add the list using red '+' button.
6. After that, you can tick the list variable under Interactive properties and use the functionality.

Examples

Currencies dashboard

Interactive variable used on our standard chart Bar chart dashboard - Currencies.

CPI YoY

Bar chart with Rate of change method and length controlled dynamically.

EV percentage sales

Bubble chart with Interactive variable's time slider.

HeatMap CPI

Interactive variable used on our standard chart Bar chart HeatMap pictograms.

HeatMap ranking

Interactive variable used on our standard chart Bar chart HeatMap ranking.

Mean, Median, Trend

Interactive variable used in Statistics analysis on our standard chart Mean and standard deviations. 

Performance vs index

Using  interactive variable, we narrow the date range and changing starting point for calculating performance.

Population in South America

Interactive variable used on our standard chart Bar chart mini pie - Population in South America to see changes in ranking throughout time.

Revisions/vintage data

Interactive variable used with vintage data. Note that you need to have Data+/Pro license. 

South Korea's population pyramid

Interactive variable used on our standard chart Bar chart pyramid - South Korea demography.

Std dev band

Interactive variables control std dev band around smoothed series.

Yields on list

Interactive variables lets you switch between two lists of series.