KB3578: Document links on a grid object will only dynamically pass as prompt answer if the attributes are inside of the grid in MicroStrategy Web 9.4.x and 10.x.

SYMPTOM
In Strategy Web 9.4.x and 10.x, a user creates a document with a grid object consisting of an attribute and a metric, an attribute selector, and an attribute in the group-by field. The selector is targeting the grid object as shown below:

The user uses the Edit Links editor to create a link to a prompted document with attribute element prompts for all three of the aforementioned attributes; the link is created on the grid's attribute, as shown below.

Note: All three prompts are configured to "Answer dynamically".
However, clicking on the link will only pass the attribute element on the grid and will not pass the selector value or the group-by value, as shown below:

 
CAUSE
This is a limitation of Strategy Web 9.4.x and 10.x. The grid object was only designed to pass the attributes in the grid dynamically as prompt answers.
 
ACTION:
This functionality has been included in Strategy Web 10.4 Hotfix 5 and 10.9. Upgrade to either of these versions to take advantage of the implementation.
 
WORKAROUND:
There are two workarounds available:
A) Place the link on a textbox, then use the grid attribute(s) as selectors.

• Create a panel stack and place a textbox within it.  An optional shape can be drawn to disguise this as a button.
  
  

• Edit the attribute selector and configure it to target the panel stack created in step 1.
• Right-click the attribute on the grid > Edit Selector > Add target, and also target the panel stack created in step 1.
• Right-click on the textbox created in step 1 > Edit Links > Run Document > Answer prompt dynamically. Set all prompts individually to "Answer dynamically."
• Clicking on the link should now answer all three attribute element prompts in the target document, as shown below:
  

B) An alternative workaround can be to add the attributes to the grid to the left of the attribute that's already there. For instance, if Region and Year are in the group by and in the selector, and Category is in the grid, add Region and Year to the grid to the left of Category. Then change the width of the columns to zero. Now the prompt answers should be answered dynamically correctly.
Note: Adding attributes to the grid could change the level of the metrics. Some modifications may need to be made to the metrics so their levels do not change.
Article Reference Number: 
KB3578