Multiple Values in Variable.

Question

How can I assign multiple values to one variable in rpd?
Say I want 'NY', 'CA', 'IL', 'TX' states in one variable, is that possible? if so how?
Thanks.

Answer 1

The session variable, NQ_SESSION.STATE, is defined as Row-Wise Initialization. It is restricted to usage with equality comparisons you receive because you cannot set default value as long as row wise session variable has multiple values and it does not make any sense to set default value, so if you test it in RPD the results is like:
STATE State1
STATE State2
STATE State3
STATE State4
Therefore it can be used only in the filter (equality comparisons).
If you say, for example:
select 'CATEGORY', prod_category from
(select distinct prod_category from sh.products)
where prod_category='Peripherals and Accessories'
Row wise STATE get only one value and you can use it as default to the dashboard prompt or in Answers edit column formula, otherwise not.
In your example:
(SELECT CASE WHEN VALUEOF(NQ_SESSION.GROUP) = 'EXT_USERS' THEN 'FL' ELSE VALUEOF(NQ_SESSION.STATE) FROM ***) END)
VALUEOF(NQ_SESSION.STATE) has multiple values, so if want to set one of that value as default use another init session variable block to set only one of these values like:
select 'STATE_DEFAULT', state from dim-locations where state ='NY'
or just hardcode it in the RPD because you said that you don't want that it shows up for external user in the dashboard prompt (like you hardcode 'FL') and then put it in the default part:
SELECT CASE WHEN VALUEOF(NQ_SESSION.GROUP) = 'EXT_USERS' THEN 'FL' ELSE VALUEOF(NQ_SESSION.STATE_DEFAULT) FROM ***) END)
Regards
Goran
http://108obiee.blogspot.com