HI (Helical Insight) is a reporting tool (BI tool) that helps in Data Visualization of various kinds
like Tables, BarCharts, LineCharts, etc. It is a very good tool since its use is simple
and easy.
HI has a feature called “Adhoc data visualizer” or simply “ADHOC”.
Adhoc makes data visualization amazingly easy since the user need not know anything about
SQL queries, javascript or html and yet he can get the desired report in the desired format.
However, if the user is well versed in the above mentioned subjects, he can tweak the reports
to make them jazzy and attractive.
All other Reporting tools being used at present require the user to be a trained report developer and or have in depth knowledge of the application, the data and different visualization methods.
To overcome this problem, ADHOC combines all the robustness of the existing tools and adds an easy to use layer on top of it.
However, this ease of use does not make the tool bulky or slow. On the contrary, ADHOC is lightning fast is processing large amounts of data, robust and highly secure.
Using the inbuilt functionalities of ADHOC, the data can be tested and any potential problems can be identified easily and early on since it does all the work and the user just needs to check the end results.
The ability of this module to present the data visualization as per the user requirements with very minimal input from the user makes this a very easy to use tool.
The Adhoc Module is completely UI based where an entire process of data visualization can be done by just drag and drop and renaming columns (setting alias).
The major benefit of using ADHOC is that the user need not spend resources in mastering the knick-knacks of Report Development, and can instead create equally good, if not better, data visualizations with basic understanding of the data and SQL.
Step one is mentioning the data source, where the user needs to specify the location of his data on the server which will be used to create a metadata for the report. The application will automatically access the datasource and pull all the tables automatically for metadata generation.
Step two is defining the metadata. Here, the user can define joins between tables by simple drag and drop and specifying the joining column. The application automatically creates the joins based on this information and the user need not worry about it during the report creation. Here creation of views is also possible if the report requires it. Once all the joins are specified, the Metadata is ready for use in the report.
Step three and the final step is data visualization. Once the metadata is specified, the report creation begins. The user now needs to search the field he needs to add in the report in the metadata-toggle bar and drag and drop it in the column addition location on screen.
The application creates the SQL query on its own and executes it to show the desired report.
There are a few more intrinsic properties and features, in this module along with the in depth guide to using the ADHOC module efficiently which will be explained in the next blog post “Guide to Adhoc”.
Best Open Source Business Intelligence Software Helical Insight is Here
