Breakdown Matrix, breakdown and 2nd breakdown field on pa_scores

[Emanuele Tempr1]

I have 3 breakdowns linked to an indicator, and i want to collect the breakdown matrix to have all the possible combinations. I start the job to collect all the data and i get the results on the pa_score table where i see the breakdown field and 2nd breakdown field. Is it random which indicator will be saved in the breakdown field and which one on the 2nd breakdown field?

[Jane Stone]

If you have chosen collect breakdown matrix and have not added any breakdown exclusions then you should be able to use the breakdowns in any combination of two - PA does only go down two levels.  So, if you go to the scorecard for the indicator and drill through to the detailed scorecard, you should see a tab for breakdowns. Choose one here to break down by. Then click on the number associated with one of those values - this will take you through to a new detailed scorecard. The breadcrumb at the top should show you the breakdown you are on. Again, you should be able to drill through to the detailed scorecard and use breakdowns tab to breakdown to a second level.

[Emanuele Tempr1]

Is there a way to extract data form the scorecard or any other table to get values of the 2nd level breakdown using scripting? For the breakdown i used the PAScorecard API, but for the 2nd level the only method is to use the pa_scores table, but in this case PA saves the arrangement of the 2 breakdowns of the indicator in only one way (i guess it's usless saving the other way around, cause the value of the indicator would be the same) 

[Adam Stout · Accepted solution]

The breakdowns are sorted by breakdown sys_id.  It isn't random, but not obvious at first.  That being said, make sure you use the API not a direct query on pa_scores as that is the legacy data model.  The API handles both that and the newer pa_scores_l1 and pa_scores_l2 and the legacy pa_scores table.  If you query directly, you might end up with performance issues and compatibilities issues in the future.