KB221231: Re-prompting a report with object prompts to select attributes and metrics does not retain report format if an attribute was moved to page-by in MicroStrategy Web 9.3.x and higher.

SUMMARY:
This technical note describes how the report format is not retained when a report that uses object prompts to select attributes and metrics is re-prompted after an attribute has been moved to page-by. Even if only the metrics prompt is being changed for the report, the attribute that had been moved to page-by will drop back down to the report after the re-prompt is executed. In 9.2.1, the formatting was retained as long as the attribute moved to the page-by was not removed from the attribute object prompt selection. This new behavior is expected in versions 9.3.x and higher since the manipulations done to the report could become invalid after re-prompting the report.
 
SYMPTOM:
After report with object prompts to select attributes and metrics is re-prompted, any manipulations to the report format will not be saved even if they are still applicable in Strategy Web 9.3.x and higher. This can be seen when moving an attribute to the page-by axis and then re-prompting the report and only changing the metrics chosen. When the report is re-executed with the new prompt answers the attribute in the page by will drop back down to the report even if the attribute selections were not changed.
 
STEPS TO REPRODUCE:

• Create an object prompt with the attributes: Year, Quarter, Category, Subcategory, and Item
• Create another object prompt with the metrics: Cost, Profit, and Revenue
• Create a report and place the attribute object prompt in the rows and the metric object prompt in the columns
• Run the report in Strategy Web with any selections for the prompts
  

• Move one of the attributes to the page-by axis
  

• Re-prompt the report but only change the selections of the metrics
  

• In 9.2.1 notice that the attribute moved to the page-by axis stays in the page-by, but in 9.3.x and higher the attribute moves back to the grid.
   

9.2.1:

 
9.4.1:

 
CAUSE:
This behavior is expected in Strategy 9.3.x Web and higher since the formatting on the report could become invalid with new selections in the object prompts.
 
ACTION:
Although this is expected behavior for Strategy 9.3.x and higher an enhancement request has been submitted to allow for the formatting of the report to be re-applied after the prompt answers for the report have changed. Currently this issue is still being reviewed for feasibility by our Technology Team and is not scoped for any upcoming scheduled Strategy release.