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Before you start talking with your data, it is crucial for you to familiarize yourself with the concept of what we call "Topic".
Topics are the foundational units of information that enable meaningful interactions with Crystal.
In fact, asking Crystal a question means asking about a Topic, and at the same time, receiving an answer means receiving a Topic.
Remember
In order to be able to ask about and read Topics, you first need to understand what Topics are made of.
So, let's get started!
From an analytical perspective, Topics are aggregations of data that form a specific Key Performance Indicator (KPI) or Insight. As such, they represent a specific data analysis.
These are the data types that constitute a Topic:
1
Objective / Visualization
Mandatory
2
Topic Chart
Mandatory
3
Main Entity / Main Entities
Mandatory
4
Time Range Filter
Mandatory
5
Dynamic Filters
Optional
6
Key Values
Optional
Let's dive deeper into each of them!
The Objective is the purpose of the data analysis expressed by the Topic.
The Objective answers the question: "What specific insights or outcomes am I seeking with this particular Topic?"
Each Objective is further illustrated by a specific Visualization, i.e. a specific visual support to express the Objective. Each Objective can be expressed by one or more Visualizations.
Discover the Objectives available on Crystal, their purpose, and their Visualizations:
Remember
You can introduce a Topic with:
an Objective name (e.g. Composition)
a Visualization name (e.g. Breakdown)
a specific formulation (e.g. The Total of...)
All these formulations express the purpose of the Topic.
The Topic Chart is the actual graphical representation of data based on the specific Objective and Visualization expressed by the Topic.
Each Visualization has its own Charts, for example:
Comparisons can be represented by Bar Charts or Scatterplots of different kinds
Progress can be represented by Gauges of different kinds
Breakdown can be represented by a Donut Chart
Remember
Entities are the core elements of the Topics.
An Entity denotes a singular unit of data, usually a dimension or a metric.
Examples of Entities are: "Sales", "Cost", "Target", "Country by Product Name", "Average Sales", etc.
When an Entity assumes the role of primary metric within the Topic, it is called a "Main Entity".
Topics can have a single main Entity or more main Entities, based on the type of Objective and Visualization. For example:
a Composition Topic is made up by a Single Main Entity
a Multi-Line Graph can be made up by Multi Entities
A Time Range Filter is a specific time restriction applied to a Topic to limit the scope of the analysis.
Time Ranges can be:
Dynamic, when they are updated over time based on the actual current date.
For example:
"today", "yesterday", "tomorrow"
"this year" (selects the time range between January 1st of the current year and today)
"last year" (selects the time range between January 1st and December 31st of the previous year)
“last week” (selects the time range starting from yesterday and ending 7 days prior)
etc.
Custom, when they identify a specific time range with defined starting and ending dates:
For example: "from 01/03/2023 to 29/12/2024".
Dynamic Filters are Entities used to narrow down the Topic's analysis scope, by filtering the main Entity based on a specific Value.
When an Entity takes on the role of a filter, like in the case of Dynamic Filters, it is called a "Filter Entity". Dynamic Filters can hence also be called "Filter Entities".
Remember
To sum up, there are two different kinds of Entities possible on Crystal:
Main Entities (the subject of a Topic)
Filter Entities (the filters applied to a Topic)
Dynamic Filters can be:
Numeric, either positive or negative
For example: currencies, item codes, sizes, etc.
Non-numeric
For example: countries, towns, areas, item names, customer names, etc.
Each Filter Entity is defined by a Value (also called Entity Value): the elemental data units that define the specific metric represented by the Filter. While an Entity represents a metric, the Entity Value is the concrete instance or measurement within that metric.
For example:
If the Filter Entity is "Revenue”, the corresponding values could include specific amounts like "$10,000," "$15,000," etc.
If the Filter Entity is "Country", the corresponding values could include "Argentina", "Italy", "United States", etc.
Key Values are numeric values that summarize data relevant to the Topic.
Remember that each Topic always comes inside of a Topic Card, which acts like the Topic’s control panel.
Here are the components of a Topic Card:
Topic Title The summary of the Objective and Main Entities
Topic The actual Topic with all its components (Filters, Chart, Key Values)
Topic Actions All the actions that can be performed on the Topic or the Topic Card
Here is a list of all the Topic actions you can perform from the Topic Card, based on its access point.
At the bottom of the Topic Card, you'll find a section of useful functions available with just one click.
These functions include:
At the top right of the Topic Card, you'll find a dedicated menu - with three dots - to access useful functions with just one click.
These functions include:
You can choose to view a Topic Card in expanded mode. Just click on the "Expand" button next to the menu on the top right corner to see a bigger version of the Topic Card and explore the Topic Chart more easily.
All the Topics available on Crystal look the same, are made of the same elements, and support the same actions from the Topic Cards.
Configured Topics
Auto-generated Topics
As the name suggests, Topics that are auto-generated are automatically produced by Crystal, without the need for the Admin User to create them from scratch.
This is a new method for Topic generation, which allows you to ask questions beyond the scope of Configured Topics, i.e. you will be able to ask about any Topic, without necessarily relying on Topic Creation.
You can generally ask about auto-generated Topics the same way you ask about configured Topics.
Now you are ready to explore your data!
Even though Bar Charts and Scatterplot are the defaul Visualizations for Comparison Topics, since you can from the Topic Card and choose to visualize a Comparison as a Line Chart too (only in the case of Bar Charts, not for Scatterplots)!
Since you can from the Topic Card and choose to visualize the data inside the Topic as a Table too.
Even though Line Charts are the defaul Visualizations for Overtime Topics, since you can from the Topic Card and choose to visualize an Overtime as a Bar Chart too!
Since you can from the Topic Card and choose to visualize the data inside the Topic as a Table too.
Since you can from the Topic Card and choose to visualize the data inside the Topic as a Table too.
You can dive deeper into Objectives and Visualizations .
Usually, an Entity can be using formulas, facilitating the aggregation of data through specific computations (e.g., count, sum, average).
The first button on the Topic Card's lower band allows you to .
You can also filter Topics directly in a !
The second button on the Topic Card's lower band allows you to for the Topic you are viewing, by either:
You can also set an Anomaly Detection in a !
The third button on the Topic Card's lower band allows you to to a Data Story or to several Data Stories available.
The fourth button on the Topic Card's lower band allows you to , to facilitate collaboration and let other team members explore the company's most relevant data and insights.
These buttons allow you to the topic in Excel or PDF format.
This button allows you to without needing to type the request a second time.
For Overtime type Topics only, you can request a trend to see how it will evolve in the future.
You can also set a Forecast directly in a !
Since , at the top right of the Topic Card, next to the menu, you'll find a new button to in just one click.
The expanded Topic Card still carries all the actions and available in the Card's normal version.
However, the recently introduced capability has defined two different types of Topics to consider:
Configured Topics are the results of the , also called Topic creation, which has been the primary way to generate Topics until now.
Topic configuration / creation can only be implemented by in the and basically consists in manually creating the Topic from scratch by choosing all the elements described in the sections above (Objective, Entities, Filters, etc.).
These kinds of Topics will be available for Member Users in Advisor only after the conclusion of the creation process () and only if the Admin has granted the viewing permissions for those Topics.
Here are a few simple to ask about this kind of topic.
In particular, Filters in the Advisor can be changed in several different ways: either in a, through the capability, or in the .
Take a look at the article to learn more about how Crystal generates Topics, and how to ask about them.
