Cards

Overview

Cards are used to reflect data actuals and can be used in conjunction with additional comparative visualizations.

Each card can display up to three values: The Actual Value and, if using a target, two Delta values. Cards can additionally reflect a Sparkline.

Adding Data

Data fields are bound to Cards by dragging them to the Data Items Pane as an Actual, Target, Series or Sparkline.

Additionally, Hidden Data Items can be used for additional configurations, such as filtering, without displaying the field on the Dashboard Item.

Working with Card Data

Each Dashboard Item has different requirements for the data you add to it.

As mentioned above, Cards use Actuals, Targets (optional), Series and Sparklines.

When using a target, the aggregated value is compared to the target, displaying defined Delta values.

Each Data Item can be formatted by hovering over the item and clicking the options icon (right aligned down arrow).

Consider the following example:

This will reflect a Card for each employee indicating their billable percentage in relation to the target. You’ll also see indicators representing the Delta - the difference between the actual and the target.

Multiple Cards

Card Dashboard Items allow you to build multiple cards per dashboard item.

When filling the Actual and Target placeholders, you’ll notice a new set of empty placeholders appear. If applicable, drag and drop a new set of comparisons and the card will create a Value icon (stack seen in the upper-right hand corner of the dashboard item) which you can use to switch between cards.

TIP: If you’ve added data but don’t see it reflected, click the Refresh button above the Field List in the Data Browser (left-hand pane of the designer).

Formatting

Data added to Cards is automatically formatted based on the data type. That said, formats can be edited by clicking Options from the data item (Options Button- down arrow - becomes visible when hovering over the data field in the Data Items pane).

For instance, if using a percentage, you would likely need to change the format to type: Percent. Likewise, if using a date as your series, you may want to see that broken out in to quarters or months (etc.)

Numbers / Currency

To change the format for numbers or currency, hover over the data item in the Data Items pane and complete the following:

Date Values

Date Values have several display options, listed when clicking the Options button. To change display settings, hover over the data item in the Data Items pane and complete the following:

Delta Options

As mentioned above, Deltas represent the difference between the Actual and the Target used on the Card.

In addition to the Actual Value, each card consists of a primary and secondary delta value. The primary delta includes an indicator (whether the actual exceeds the target or not) and a number. The secondary, simply reflects a number.

Deltas can be configured by clicking the Gauge Options icon (gear to the right of the Actual/Target placeholders in the Data Items pane).

Delta Options include:

Sparkline Options

As mentioned above, Sparklines calculate and display the variation of summarized values over time. For Cards, the sparkline argument (date-time) will make this calculation based on the defined Actual (e.g. not the Target).

Sparklines can be configured by clicking the Gauge Options icon (gear to the right of the Actual/Target placeholders in the Data Items pane).

Sparkline Options include:

Card Tools

Cards feature a specific set of design and data tools, available from the toolbar (some options are also available by right-clicking the chart).

All toolbar items feature tool tips which explain (in short) the core functionality of the toolbar option.

Data Tab

The Data Tab includes several options for data shaping.

Design Tab

Cards allow the following design options.