Top Questions of the Month - November

Month after month, Pigmenauts share challenges, ideas, and solutions that help us all learn and grow together.

To celebrate this knowledge sharing, here are November’s top 5 questions. We’re highlighting the ones that sparked the most interest and views from fellow members 💡.

Whether you faced the same challenge or want to learn new tips, these threads are a great place to explore, contribute, and connect.

1. Joining two Transaction lists into one Best Practices

Question - @Sandy B:

“I have two transaction lists from different sources that I’d like to combine using a common ‘Reference Number’ field. What’s the best practice for merging them?”

Best Answer - ​@AhmedBennis:

Pigment cannot directly combine two transaction lists. The recommended approach is to merge both datasets at the source before loading them into Pigment so you maintain a single, clean, and consistent transaction list.
If merging at the source isn’t feasible, you can also use List-to-List imports to feed one unified transaction list from multiple sources.

Read the full discussion here:

2. Functions, modifiers, or data actions to copy data from year N to year N+1, or From Version A to Version B

Question - ​@Jules R:

“Is there a way to copy data from year N to year N+1, or from one forecast version to another, without deleting the original data? I need to replicate values into a new metric for a presentation.”

Best Answer - ​@Chahat:

You can achieve this using a Metric-to-Metric Import.
Open the target metric, select Import Data, choose Pigment Metric, and pick your source metric.
In the mapping dialog, you can remap years or versions (for example, copy 2025 data into 2026) without overwriting the original dataset.

This method lets you duplicate data while keeping the source intact.

Read the full discussion here:

3. How to handle the division of metrics by empty or null values?

Question - ​@Jules R:

“I’m trying to divide my Discount_EUR metric by Gross Sales EUR, but the result is blank. What am I missing?”

Best Answer - ​@Jules R (self-resolved):

The issue was caused by the two metrics not sharing the same dimensionality. The solution was to adjust the formula using REMOVE to align dimensions before performing the division:

Discounts_EUR / Gross_Sales_EUR[REMOVE SUM: SALES_Org, PRODUCT, CURRENCY, CUSTOMER, ACCOUNT, VERSION, Month] * 100

Read the full discussion here:

4. Is Pigment capable of handling two billion records?

Question - ​@Venkat Gowtham:

“Is Pigment capable of handling two billion records?”

Best Answer - ​​@Keiran:

It depends on how the data is used, such as whether it’s stored as transaction items or metric data points. Pigment has no strict limits, but you should refer to the recommended guidelines here: https://kb.pigment.com/docs/en/ml08-maximum-recommended-blocks

Read the full discussion here:

5. Displaying a Dimension's Property Instead of the Name in Page Filters

Question - ​@Amel:

“I use both Name and Display Name properties in my dimensions. While I can choose which one to display in rows or columns, Page Filters always default to the Name. Is there a way to show the Display Name in Page Filters without modifying the dimension itself?”

Best Answer - ​@Chahat:

Yes. Go to the Dimension List → Settings → Default Display Name and set it to “Display Name.”
This will make the Display Name appear automatically wherever the list is used as a filter or as a metric’s data type.

Read the full discussion here:

These questions reflect the curiosity and creativity of the Pigment Community, and your insights can make them even more valuable. If you’ve faced similar challenges, drop your ideas, solutions, or tips in the threads.

Have your own question? Start a new thread and let the community help!