Overview
Grids are a flexible way to view data.
Data can be added to the grid in columns, configured based on column types, formatted and configured to interact with other Dashboard Items.
Adding Data
Data fields are bound to the Grid by dragging them to the Data Items Pane as a Column or Sparkline.
Additionally, Hidden Data Items can be used for additional configurations, such as filtering, without displaying the field in the Grid.
Working with Grid Data
Each Dashboard Item has different requirements for the data you add to it. Grids use Columns and Sparklines
| • | Columns - Used to label and provide data to the grid columns. Grids support multiple column types which can be edited by clicking the column type indicator (right-aligned icon in the New Column placeholder). Below is a description of each column type: |
| o | Dimension - Represent data items that can be added to the dashboard as they are- with no required aggregation. Dimensions can further be sorted and/or grouped. (e.g. Project Code, Employee Name, etc). |
| o | Measures - Represent data items that are added to the dashboard only as summaries (e.g. Sum of Hours, Max Work Date, etc). Can be displayed as the value or as a Bar. |
| o | Delta - Calculates the difference between the sum of two measures and can display a visual indicator of the difference. Actual represents the first measure and Target represents the second. Deltas can be displayed as a Value or a Bar. Values can be further configured to evaluate the following |
| ▪ | Value Type - How the calculated result is represented |
| ▪ | Result Indication - Condition that defines the visual indicator (e.g. Greater is good will display a green up arrow if the Actual exceeds the Target) |
| ▪ | Threshold Type - Further rules can be applied to when a visual indicator will be displayed in the result (e.g. display a green up arrow only if the Actual exceeds the target by 15% or $1500.00). Threshold Type defines the type of threshold to apply- percent or absolute value. |
| ▪ | Threshold Value - Sets the value for the threshold (e.g. 15%). |
| o | Sparkline - Used to display the variation in summary values over time. The Sparkline column should contain the summary value (e.g. Sum of Hours). Additional Sparkline options include |
| ▪ | Sparkline view type - Defines how the sparkline should be visually represented |
| ▪ | Highlight min/max points - When checked, places a corresponding dot on the sparkline |
| ▪ | Highlight start/end points - When checked, places a corresponding dot on the sparkline |
| • | Sparkline - Sparklines calculate and display the variation of summary values over time. While the Sparkline Column represents the equation’s value, this Data Item represents the argument in the equation. For example, to view an employee’s direct hours over time, set the Sparkline Argument to WorkDate (Month, etc.) and add a Sparkline Column (discussed above) for Direct Hours (Sum) |
Consider the following example for viewing Employee Utilization.
Column
|
Column Type
|
Sparkline (Argument)
|
Employee Name
|
Dimension
|
|
Direct Hours Pct (Avg)
|
Measure
|
|
Direct Hours Pct (Avg)
|
Delta - Actual
|
|
Target Pct
|
Delta - Target
|
|
Direct Hours (Sum)
|
Sparkline
|
WorkDate (Month)
|
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).
Conditional Formatting
Once data is added to the grid, it can be formatted in a variety of ways to help visualize otherwise static data points, highlighting cells that meet certain defined criteria.
Grids support conditional formatting on Columns and Sparkines.
Formatting can be added by clicking Edit Rules from the toolbar or by clicking Options>Add Format Rule from the data item (Options Button- down arrow - becomes visible when hovering over the data field in the Data Items pane).
For example, to color a cell green if the average percentage exceeds 25% for a given employee:
| 1. | Hover over the field in the Data Items pane |
| 2. | Click the Options button (down arrow) |
| 3. | Select Add Format Rule>Value>Greater Than. The Greater Than dialogue will appear. |
| 4. | Enter .35 in the <enter a value> text box |
| 5. | Select green to set the appearance. Note, you could also choose to add an Icon to the cell by selecting the Icon tab. |
| 6. | Use the selected field (default) as the Apply to. While this defaults to the selected field, you can add the formatting to the cell of your choosing. |
| 7. | Apply to Row can be left unchecked. Checking either will apply the format to the entire row in which the evaluated cell resides. |
| 8. | Click Apply to preview results |
Grid Tools
Grids feature a specific set of design and data tools, available from the toolbar (some options are also available by right-clicking the grid).
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.
| • | Edit Filter - Use to add/edit filters on the grid based on displayed or Hidden Data Items. |
| • | Clear - Clears all filters |
| • | Single Master Filter - This sets the selected Dashboard Item (e.g. Grid, etc) as a Master Filter for all other dashboard items. Using a Single Master Filter you can only filter by one element in the selected item (e.g. a single Employee Name cell in the Grid) |
| • | Multiple Master Filter - This sets the selected Dashboard Item (e.g. Grid, etc) as a Master Filter for all other dashboard items. Using a Mulitple Master Filter you can filter by one or more elements in the selected item (e.g. multiple Employee Name cells in the Grid) |
| • | Drill Down - Enables drill-in details for the Dashboard Item. For Grids, list dimension columns at the top of the Data Items Pane in order of detail - least to most. When enabled the grid will reflect data for the top dimension, allowing you to click through to each subsequent dimension, displaying measures (e.g. summary columns) in relation to each dimension. |
| • | Cross Data Filtering - Allows a Master Filter to affect data items displaying data from other data sources. |
| • | Ignore Master Filter - Dashboard Items can interact with other dashboard items marked as a Master Filter. Clicking Ignore Master Filter removes interactivity |
Design Tab
Grids allow the following design options.
| • | Show Caption - Shows/Hides the caption (e.g. “Grid 1” displayed at the top left of the dashboard item). |
| • | Edit Names - Used to configure display name for the Dashboard Item and Columns, Values, etc. |
| • | Horizontal Lines - Show/Hide horizontal grid lines |
| • | Vertical Lines - Show/Hide vertical grid lines |
| • | Banded Rows - Color alternating rows |
| • | Merge Cells - Merges adjacent cells with identical data |
| • | Column Headers - Show/Hide column headers |
| • | Word Wrap - Enable word wrapping which will display cell content on multiple lines in one cell. |
| • | Font - Configure font settings for the dashboard item |
| • | Padding - Configure cell padding for grid cells. Padding is the amount of space between the border of the cell and the value displayed therein |
| • | AutoFit to Contents - Automatically adjusts the column width to display all cell contents- regardless of the grid size |
| • | AutoFit to Grid - Automatically adjusts the column width to best fit the size of the grid- regardless of the cell content |
| • | Manual - Gives you control over each column in the grid. Right-click the column header to define each column as appropriate |
Column Header Options
Grids feature additional per-column settings, available by right-clicking the column header.
| • | Fit to Content - Automatically adjusts the column width to display all cell contents- regardless of the grid size |
| • | Fixed Width - Select to fix the width of the column to the current width |
| • | Column Width - Define an exact column width |
| • | Add Format Rule - Apply conditional formatting to the column |
| • | Edit Rules - Edit existing conditional formatting for the column |
| • | Clear Rules - Clear conditional formatting added to the column |
| • | Add Totals - Adds the specified aggregation(s) to the footer of the grid for the column. |
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