Managing Data Segments

A data segment that is a cube slice fixed by at least one dimension is the minimum information unit, for which access permissions can be determined.

Data segments are used to separate access permissions for users or groups of users to specific cube data slices on process startup. Data segments are created at the cube level in the cube data segment wizard.

To make is easier to separate access permissions, use automatic segments. Automatic segments are sets of segment metadata, by which a data segment with dynamic management method is created at process startup. Automatic segments are created, set up and stored at process level, they can be used in other processes if data sources used in data entry form processes match.

When working with configured segments, one can highlight data in a data entry form during ste execution in the process monitoring. Data is highlighted if data entry form table area selection contains full selection by dimensions of corresponding segment.

NOTE. Data segment management is available only for the Data Entry and Approval steps.

To manage data segments, click the

Edit button located to the right of the Data Segment parameter on the side panel with step settings. The Segment Settings dialog box opens with the following settings:

The left part of the dialog box contains the list of existing cube data segments used as a data sources of the selected data entry form for the Data Entry Form parameter on the side panel. The right part of the dialog box contains settings of interaction between the process and the selected data segment.

Operations with Segments

To add a segment, click the Add Segment button on the toolbar. After this the cube data segment wizard. The wizard can also be opened in the object navigator using the Segments item in the standard cube's context menu. For details about working with data segments, see the Cube Segments section.

To display the added segment and refresh the list of existing segments, click the Refresh button.

To add an automatic segment, click the Add Automatic Segment button on the toolbar. As a result, a new automatic segment is added that will be displayed in the list of existing cube data segments.

To link the selected segment to step, select the Link to Task checkbox. After this the icons is displayed that indicates a link of segment with step. One can link several segments to a step. When starting a process, one separates access permissions for users or groups of users in the data entry form by data segments linked to the task.

If one or several data segments are selected for the Data Segments parameter on the side panel, the Link to Task checkbox will be selected for these segments, and vice versa, if the checkbox state is changed for segments in the Segment Settings dialog box, segment selection for the Data Segments parameter will be changed on the side panel.

NOTE. It is available only for automatic data segments.

Select the Grant Data Edit Permissions checkbox to grant permissions to change data of corresponding data segment to the user responsible for process step execution. If the checkbox is deselected, the user responsible for process step execution, can only view data of corresponding data segment.

Available segment management methods:

Static. Segment activity is set manually using the checkbox next to the segment in the Enable column in the cube data segment wizard.
Dynamic. Segment activity is set automatically: a segment is enabled on step execution and disabled on step execution finish.

NOTE. A segment management method can be determined only for data segments.

To determine a management method for the segment linked to the step, execute one of the operations:

In the Segment Settings dialog box toggle the Dynamic switch to the active state if dynamic management method is to be used for a specific segment. If the switch is toggled to the inactive state, static segment management method is used.

NOTE. When the Dynamic switch is toggled to active state, one can set up segment dimension links.

In the step settings on the side panel select the Dynamic checkbox if dynamic management method is to be used for all existing segments. If the checkbox is deselected, static segment management method is used. If a process uses different segment management methods determined in the Segment Settings dialog box, the checkbox looks as follows:

To set up segment dimension links and process parameters, execute the following operations in the Segment Settings dialog box:

Link segment to step.
Toggle the Dynamic switch to active state. The operation is not required for automatic data segment.
Link segment dimensions and process parameters. To do this, execute one of the operations for each static field, which displays segment dimension name:

Select the corresponding process parameter in the drop-down list. In this case, when a process is started, segment dimension element selection changes depending on values of the parameters, with which the process is started. The link is set by dictionary element keys.

If the parameter is not selected, the From Segment default value is set. In this case, when a process is started, segment dimension element selection corresponds to the selection set in the cube data segment wizard.

Fix segment dimension values. To do this:

Click the Fix button. The drop-down list displays segment dimension elements.
Select segment dimension value. Multiple selection is available. In this case, when a process is started, the segment is created by specified values regardless of process parameters.

If segment dimension value is not selected, the segment dimension does not contain selection. In this case the segment dimension data will unavailable on process startup.

NOTE. To set up a link between segment dimensions and process parameters, one can use only the dimensions included in the segment.

One can change a segment according to configured links on server execution, if the scheduler is started by one of the following users:

The user from the group Administrators.
The user who has permissions to change segment container and privileges: system login, permission to read and open all objects, login to object navigator, view access protocol.