Panels > Metric

Metric

Metrics are standards or ways to measure or evaluate something. Metrics are used in a variety of fields, for instance, they are used in the field of graph drawing to help position aesthetically pleasing graphs. There is much potential for using metrics in data visualization.

Metrics are a good choice for visualization when you want to show a total value without making things complicated. They can also be used to quickly compare data between different time periods.

Creating a Metric

To create the Metric

  • Create a New Dashboard Panel
  • Configure the Query and select the appropriate Data Source

(Refer to Dashboard Creation > Query)

Select Visualization

On the right side of the default screen, select Visualization as Stat to create an Metric panel.

Visualization Options 

Panel Options

There are multiple options to edit the properties of the panel. The first one is Panel Options. Enter a Name and Description for the Panel that you want to create. For instance, if you’re making a metric visualization to track CPU usage, name the panel “Metric Visualization” and describe it as “CPU Usage.”

The Description is available in the top left corner and can be viewed by hovering over the i button.

The next part of Panel Options is Panel Link where you can point a link to any other website or dashboard of your choice. Enter a title, and URL, and select the ‘Open in a new Tab’ option if you want to open the link in a new tab. Click Save.

The URL can be a link to another dashboard or for getting help or useful info. When you click on a panel, it opens the link either in the same tab or a new tab, depending on your choices. For example, if you want to compare a default dashboard, just click the link to open it.

Value Options

 

The value options in a Metric can be used to select what values, calculations, and fields should be displayed.

  • Show: Calculate a single value per column or series or show each row.
  • Calculation: Choose a reducer function/calculation.
  • Fields: Select the fields that you want to include in the panel

Stat Styles

The Stat styles options allow you to configure the stat settings and how you want to change the display settings of the graph.

Orientation

The orientation for the layout.

  • Auto
  • Horizontal
  • Vertical

Text mode

Control if name and value are displayed or just name.

  • Auto
  • Value
  • Value and Name
  • Name
  • None

Color mode

It lets you select the background display.

  • None
  • Value
  • Background

Graph mode

It lets you select the Stat panel graph/sparkline mode as:

  • None
  • Area

The sparkline is a tiny chart in a worksheet cell that provides a visual representation of data.

Text alignment

The alignment of text on the screen.

  • Auto
  • Center

Text Size

The Text size option allows you to change the Gauge text and value size to be displayed on the chart.

The options include:

  • Title size: the size of the chart title
  • Value size: the size of the chart values

Standard Options

The Standard Options are used to configure the other standard settings in the graph. It changes the way the graph appears.

The further options include:

  • Unit type: The type of Unit parameters.
  • Min: Minimum value to be considered.
  • Max: Maximum value to be considered.
  • Decimal: Total digits after the decimal point.
  • Display name: Series name to be displayed.
  • Color scheme: choose a color scheme for the graph.
  • No Value: What to show when there is no value.

Data Links

The Data Links option is similar to the Panel Link where you can link a URL and then open it in another tab. It is placed on the data instead of the Panel.

You can click on the data anywhere and the link option will appear.

It is used for an instant link that you want to appear anytime you click on the data.

Value Mappings

The Value Mappings option allows you to find a certain value and wherever the value lies, the display text is displayed. If there is a similar value in the data, it is highlighted in the form of the color selected.

Thresholds

The Threshold option is used to define the value threshold. You can set certain thresholds and color-code them.

There are two options to show thresholds mode:

  • As absolutes
  • As percentages

For example, CPU usage is set as green for 0, yellow for 40, and red for 50, blue for 60 that way you can easily see when the output is above the threshold and immediate action can be taken or an error alert can be sent out.

Add Field Override

The Add field Override option allows you to override an existing field.

Overrides allow you to change the settings for one or more fields. Field options for overrides are the same as the field options available in a particular panel. The only difference is that you choose which fields to apply them to.

To add a field override, click on the Add Field Override button.

Select the Field type

Select a field type,  based on the following properties:

  • Name: Set properties for a specific field with a name.
  • Matching Regex: Set properties for fields with name matching a regex.
  • Type: Set properties for a field of a specific type (number, string, boolean).
  • Query: Set properties from the field for a specific query.
  1. Select the Field.
  2. Select the override property.
  3. Configure the override property.

You can add multiple fields overrides by repeating the same.

You have now learned how to configure the Metric Visualizations, change the panel settings, and more. You can save and edit the panel later too.

Further Reading

FAQs

Start by creating a new dashboard panel. Configure your query and select the appropriate data source. Then choose “Stat” as your visualization type. For a step-by-step guide, refer to the Creating a Metric Panel section in the user guide.

Create a Metric panel and set thresholds to color-code different usage levels (e.g., green for normal, yellow for moderate, red for high). This visual indicator helps you monitor CPU usage at a glance. More details can be found in the Thresholds section.

Configure your query to include data from the desired time periods and set up the Metric panel to display these comparisons. Use the Value Options to select the calculations and fields that best represent your data. For detailed steps, see the Value Options section.

Use the Panel Options to add a descriptive title and explanation for each Metric panel. Additionally, configure the Value Options to display relevant calculations and fields clearly. For more tips, visit the Panel Options and Value Options sections.

Define thresholds in your Metric panel and color-code them. For example, set green for normal, yellow for moderate, and red for high usage. This visual alert system can help you quickly identify when action is needed. Detailed instructions are in the Thresholds section.

Use the Add Field Override option to change settings for specific fields based on their name, type, or query. This allows you to tailor the display to your exact requirements. For more details, see the Add Field Override section.

Ensure your data source and query are correctly configured. Check the “No Value” setting under Standard Options to see how it handles empty data. For troubleshooting steps, visit the Standard Options section.

Adjust the text size and alignment using the Text Size and Text Alignment options. This can make your data more readable and visually appealing. For details, refer to the Text Size section.

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