KB47186: How to include an attribute as part of a user-defined condition in a case function within a metric in MicroStrategy.

In Strategy, users may wish to create conditions within a case function that include attributes, and then use this case function within a metric.
For example, a user may wish to create a metric that has the following logic:
When attribute1 is element1, return value1 (this value can be a metric or a constant), else return value2 (this value can be a metric or a constant.)
 
An example of a metric that contains this logic is seen below:

Sum(Case((Year@ID = "2011"), 1, 0)) {~} 

 
To create a metric with the logic described above follow these steps:

• Open a metric editor and create the metric with the following structure:
  AggregationFunction(case((attribute@AttributeForm="attribute element"), ReturnValue, DefaultValue)) {dimensionality}
   
  Users should be sure to specify the attribute form of the attribute that should be used in the calculation.  In the example above note that:
  AggregationFunction = sum
  attribute = Year
  AttributeForm = ID
  AttributeElement = "2011"
  ReturnValue = 1 (the return value can be a constant or a metric)
  DefaultValue = 0 (the default value can be a constant or a metric)
  dimensionality = ~ (report level)
  
• Open a new report and place all objects used in the formula of the metric on the grid, as well as the metric.  The metric will now display as desired:  
  

Users should note that even though the example above only uses one condition, Year@ID="2011", users are able to include as many condition as desired in the case formula.  The following is an example of a metric containing a case function with multiple conditions:

 
This metric will display a value of 1 for 2011, the Revenue of 2012, and 0 otherwise. 

 
For more information on the case function users can refer to the Strategy Functions Reference manual.