Dashboard (new experience) widgets

Chart types

Select the chart type that best suits the data you want to show. Some charts are better for comparing values, while others are better for showing trends, proportions, totals, or performance against a target.

In the Analytics (Flex Modes) grid, select the columns you want to use in the chart. The selected columns become available as data points in the chart configuration, including the Main data point and other chart-specific data point settings.

For example, use a Bar or Line chart to compare values over time, a Pie or Donut chart to show share of a total, or a Gauge, Bullet, Target, Single value, or Value card chart to highlight KPI performance on a dashboard.

Most chart widgets include options to change the data point, row aggregation, color scheme, legend position, labels, number formatting, and whether the widget is filterable. The available options depend on the widget type.

Area

Use an Area chart to show performance over time. The chart displays values as shaded areas below a set of points, making it useful for comparing trends, such as this year’s sales against last year’s sales, or sales value against orders.

Use the Area options to select the data series to display and determine how multiple rows are handled. Display rows as separate or stacked series, or use percentage stacking to compare their proportional contribution.

You can show periods individually or cumulatively, add trendlines and point labels, reverse the series display order, and use a single tooltip for all series at a point. You can also change the color scheme and legend position, allow a non-zero scale, and turn on Smart formatting, Smarter labels, and Filterable.

Bar or line (default)

Use a Bar or Line chart to compare values or show trends. A bar chart works well for simple comparisons, such as top 10 product sales or monthly output. A line chart works well when you want to show how values change over time.

Use the Bar or line options to select the data series to display and choose whether each one appears as a Bar, Line, or Marker.

You can add a trendline or point labels to individual series and use a second axis when series have substantially different scales. Determine whether rows display as separate series, stacked bar segments, or stacked charts, and show periods individually or cumulatively.

You can also change the orientation, color scheme, and legend position; use a single tooltip; reverse the display order; allow a non-zero scale; and turn on Smart formatting, Smarter labels, and Filterable.

Bubble

Use a Bubble chart to compare multiple measures in one view. The chart plots bubbles on an X and Y-axis, with the first two measures controlling the bubble position. If a third measure is available, it controls the bubble size.

Use the Bubble options to select the measures for the X-axis, Y-axis, and bubble radius. The first two measures determine each bubble’s position, while the optional radius measure determines its size.

You can turn the radius off, label each point, change the color scheme and legend position, and allow a non-zero scale. You can also turn on Smart formatting, Smarter labels, and Filterable.

Bullet or band

Use a Bullet or band chart to track performance against a target. The chart compares actual performance with a target value, so you can see whether the result is below, close to, or above target.

Use the Bullet or band options to select the bullet value and comparison value, then choose whether periods display individually or cumulatively. Display the result as a Bullet or Band and use a vertical or horizontal layout. Point labels can show the value, percentage of the comparison, or percentage of the total.

You can also change the legend position, allow a non-zero scale, and turn on Smarter labels and Filterable.

Gauge

Use a Gauge chart to show performance within a range. This chart is useful for percentages, counts, comparisons, variances, and target-based measures, such as sales performance against budget. You can use color ranges to show whether performance is below, close to, or above target.

Use the Gauge options to select the main data point and determine whether rows are totaled, averaged, or counted. Define the minimum and maximum values, then set the colored performance ranges. Add a prefix or suffix to identify the unit, such as a currency symbol or percentage sign.

Under Options, choose between Classic and Modern to control how the Gauge displays.

Conditional formatting

Use conditional formatting to divide the Gauge into three performance ranges.

First, choose how performance is assessed:

Higher is better: Lower values display in red, values in the middle range display in amber, and higher values display in green.
Lower is better: Lower values display in green, values in the middle range display in amber, and higher values display in red.

Next, set the two thresholds that define the boundaries between the three colored ranges. Either drag the markers along the colored bar or enter the threshold values.

Save time when entering large values by using K for thousands or M for millions. For example, enter 3M for 3,000,000.

Select Absolute to use actual values or Percentage to use percentages.

Use Range to set the minimum and maximum values displayed on the Gauge.

In this example, the forecast is $66.97M:

Minimum: $53.58M
Red-to-amber threshold: $60.27M, or 90% of forecast
Amber-to-green threshold: $66.97M, or 100% of forecast
Maximum: $92.14M

Because higher sales are better, values below $60.27M display in red, values from $60.27M to $66.97M display in amber, and values above $66.97M display in green. Actual sales of $70.3M therefore display in the green range.

You can also turn on Smart formatting and Filterable.

Pareto

Use a Pareto chart to identify the categories that contribute most to a total. The chart displays values as bars ordered from largest to smallest, with a line showing the cumulative percentage. This chart is useful for highlighting the products, customers, branches, or other categories responsible for the greatest share of sales, profit, costs, or issues.

Use the Pareto options to select the measure represented by the descending bars. The cumulative line automatically shows how each category contributes to the total percentage. You can change the color scheme and legend position, label each point, use a single tooltip, and allow a non-zero scale. You can also turn on Smarter labels and Filterable.

Pie or donut

Use a Pie or Donut chart to show the percentage share of a total. This chart is useful for comparing contributions, such as sales by branch, customer, product, or country. Phocas calculates the percentages automatically, so the data does not need to display as percentages first.

Use the Pie or donut options to select the main data point, change the color scheme, and set the legend position.

You can label each segment and choose whether the chart displays as a Pie or Donut. Turn on Filterable when you want the widget to respond to dashboard filters.

Single value

Use a Single value chart to display one key number, such as a count, sum, or average. This chart is useful when you want a KPI to stand out on a dashboard, such as monthly sales, profit for the quarter, or stock value.

Use the Single value options to select the main data point and determine whether rows are totaled, averaged, or counted. Adjust the value’s font weight, color, opacity, background, and vertical position. Add a prefix or suffix to identify the unit, such as a currency symbol, percentage sign, or short label.

You can also turn on Smart formatting and Filterable.

Value card

Use a Value card to display a large numerical value with supporting context, such as a period, comparison, variance, prefix, or suffix. This chart is useful for dashboard KPIs such as revenue, gross profit, or other key financial metrics.

Customize the widget

Use the Value card options to select the main data point and determine how rows are handled. You can also add supporting data points and display their values, variances, or both. Ensure that each variance compares related values.

When the underlying data uses Period mode, you can also turn on a sparkline to show the trend leading up to the current value alongside the main figure.

Conditional formatting

The conditional formatting options depend on whether the Value card contains additional data points.

Without additional data points

Turn on Conditional formatting to apply performance colors to the main data point. Enter two values to define the red, amber, and green ranges:

Values below the first threshold display in red.
Values between the two thresholds display in amber.
Values above the second threshold display in green.

Choose how to represent the result:

No icon: Displays the conditional color without an icon.
Arrows: Displays a down, neutral, or up arrow.
Smileys: Displays a sad, neutral, or happy face.

Turn off Conditional formatting when you do not want to apply performance colors or icons.

With additional data points

When you select one or more additional data points, conditional formatting is configured separately for each one and cannot be turned off with a single setting.

For each additional data point:

Choose whether to display its value, variance, or both.
Select how performance should be assessed, such as Higher is better.
Enter two percentage thresholds to define the red, amber, and green ranges.

In this example, Higher is better for both Sales vs Forecast and Profit:

Variance below -5% displays in red.
Variance from -5% to 0% displays in amber.
Variance of 0% or higher displays in green.

Sales are 9.62% above forecast, so the variance and arrow display in green. The colored lines at the bottom of the card indicate the conditional-formatting result for each additional data point.

You can also add a prefix or suffix, choose an available line display, and turn on Smart formatting, Smarter labels, and Filterable.

Waterfall

Use a Waterfall chart to show positive and negative changes to a value over time. This chart is useful when you want to understand how each movement contributes to the final result, such as changes in cash flow, inventory, or financial performance.

Use the Waterfall options to select the final data point and, when available, the starting data point. Build the waterfall from periods or rows, choose how values are aggregated, and specify whether higher or lower values are better. Point labels can show the value or its percentage of the starting value, total difference, or final value.

You can also change the color scheme, choose a vertical or horizontal layout, allow a non-zero scale, and turn on Smart formatting, Smarter labels, and Filterable.

Target

Use a Target chart to show progress against a target or budget. This chart is useful when the main question is whether a value has met, exceeded, or fallen short of the target. For example, you might use it to compare actual sales with budget, or current performance with a target percentage.

Use the Target options to select the actual value and enter the target it should be measured against. Determine how rows are handled and choose whether the main label displays the actual value or percentage achieved.

Conditional formatting

Expand the selected Actuals data point and turn on Conditional formatting to apply performance colors based on the percentage of the target achieved.

First, choose how performance is assessed:

Higher is better: Lower percentages of target display in red, percentages in the middle range display in amber, and higher percentages display in green.
Lower is better: Lower percentages of target display in green, percentages in the middle range display in amber, and higher percentages display in red.

Next, enter two percentage thresholds to define the red, amber, and green ranges:

Results below the first threshold display in red.
Results from the first threshold up to the second threshold display in amber.
Results at or above the second threshold display in green.

In this example, Higher is better is selected and the thresholds are set to 80% and 95%:

Below 80% of target displays in red.
From 80% to less than 95% displays in amber.
At least 95% displays in green.

Actual sales are 109.8% of the $67.1M forecast target, so the value and progress indicator display in green.

Turn off Conditional formatting when you do not want the Target chart to use performance colors.

You can also show the target value, add a prefix or suffix, and display progress in a Circular, Vertical, or Horizontal layout. Turn on Smart formatting and Filterable as needed.

Grid

Use a Grid widget to display detailed data in a table. This widget is useful when you want to compare values across rows and columns, or show the numbers behind a chart.

Use the Grid options to choose how the grid runs and whether it responds to dashboard filters.

The Run as setting controls how the grid data is displayed. Turn on Filterable when you want the grid to respond to dashboard filters.

Chart configuration options

Most chart types include options for customizing their appearance and behavior. The available options vary by chart type and might include one or more of the common settings listed below.

Options that apply only to a specific chart type are covered in that chart’s description.

Rows

Charts: Area, Bar, Line, Bullet, Band, Gauge, Single value, Value card, Target

Use the rows options to control how the rows in the underlying data are represented in the chart. The available choices depend on the chart type and data selected.

Each row as

A separate series: Displays each row as an independent series so you can compare its values with the other rows.
A stacked series: Stacks the row series so that each area builds on the values below it. The overall height represents the combined value.
A stacked series (%): Converts the stacked values to percentages so that each point totals 100%. Use this to compare proportional contribution rather than absolute values.
A stacked bar segment: Combines the rows in stacked bars, with each row contributing one segment of each bar.
A stacked chart: Displays each row as an individual stacked chart, with the selected values combined within that chart.

Rows aggregated as

A total: Adds the row values together and displays the combined result.
Stacked total: Adds the rows together and displays the selected data points as stacked areas using their absolute values.
Stacked total (%): Adds the rows together and displays the selected data points as percentage-based stacked areas, normalized to 100%.
An average: Calculates and displays the average value across the rows.
A count: Counts the number of rows in the underlying result and displays that number instead of aggregating their values. Use this option to show how many records or entities are included, such as the number of customers, products, or transactions.

Showing periods

Charts: Bar, Line, Bullet, Band

Use Showing periods to control whether the chart displays each period’s value separately or as a running total.

Individually: Displays the value for each period independently.
Cumulatively: Adds each period’s value to the preceding periods and displays the running total. Use this option to track progress over time, such as year-to-date sales or accumulated costs.

Color scheme

Charts: Area, Bar, Line, Bubble, Pie, Donut, Waterfall,

Select the color palette for the individual chart. If a color scheme is applied to the whole dashboard, it overrides the scheme selected for the chart while the dashboard scheme is active.

Legend

Charts: Area, Bar, Line, Bubble, Bullet, Band, Pie, Donut,

Use Legend to choose where the chart legend displays.

Top: Displays the legend above the chart.
Right: Displays the legend to the right of the chart.
Off: Hides the legend. Use this option when the chart has only one series or its labels make the series clear.

Vertical/Horizontal

Charts: Bar, Line, Bullet, Band, Waterfall

Use Vertical or Horizontal to set the chart’s orientation.

Vertical: Displays values from bottom to top, with categories along the horizontal axis.
Horizontal: Displays values from left to right, with categories along the vertical axis. This orientation can make long category labels easier to read.

Allow non-zero scale

Charts: Area, Bar, Line, Bubble, Bullet, Band, Waterfall

Turn on Allow non-zero scale to let the value axis begin at a value other than zero. This can make small differences between similar values easier to see.

Use this option carefully, as a non-zero starting point can make differences appear larger than they are. Turn it off when the relative size of values is important.

Show trendlines

Charts: Area

Turn on Show trendlines to display a line that highlights the overall direction of the data. Use the trendline to make upward, downward, or stable patterns easier to identify across periods or categories.

Label each point or segment

Charts: Area, Bubble, Bar, Line, Bullet, Band, Pie, Donut, Waterfall

Use Label each point or Label each segment to display values directly on the chart. The name and available settings depend on the chart type.

For Area and Bubble charts, Label each point is a checkbox that turns labels on or off for the entire chart.

For Bar and Line charts it appears within the settings for an individual data series, allowing you to label one series without labelling the others.

For Bullet and Band charts, you can select from the following options:

Off: Hides the point labels.
% of Comparison: Displays each value as a percentage of its comparison value.
% of Total: Displays each value as a percentage of the total.
Value: Displays the underlying numerical value.

For Waterfall charts, Label each point provides additional options:

Off: Hides all point labels.
Value: Displays the numerical value of each starting, movement, and final point.
% of starting data point: Displays each movement as a percentage of the starting value.
% of difference: Displays each movement as a percentage of the total difference between the starting and final values.
% of final data point: Displays each movement as a percentage of the final value.

These options help show either the absolute size of each movement or its relative contribution to the overall result.

For Pie and Donut charts, turn on Label each segment to display the percentage share directly against each segment.

Labels make exact values easier to identify but can make charts with many points difficult to read. Use Smarter labels, when available, to improve label placement.

Switch display order

Charts: Area

Turn on Switch display order to reverse the order in which the chart series are displayed. This also changes their order in the legend and can affect which series appears in front when values overlap.

Use this option when reversing the series makes the chart easier to read, particularly in Area or other charts with overlapping or stacked data.

Smart formatting

Charts: Area, Bubble, Gauge, Single Value, Value Card, Waterfall, Target

This option is on by default. Smart formatting removes decimal places and automatically abbreviates large values, making numbers easier to read. This is especially useful when adding such charts to dashboards; you can show cleaner, bolder numbers while still conveying the same information. Turn this option off to display the full values.

Use Smart formatting when you want values to display consistently across a dashboard — for example, showing all values in thousands or millions with one or two decimal places.

Smarter labels

Charts: Area, Bar, Line, Bubble, Bullet, Band, Value card, Waterfall

Turn on Smarter labels to simplify legend and series labels by removing duplicate or near-duplicate text shared across multiple series.

For example, if the series are labeled Workshop | Current and Workshop | Previous, Smarter labels displays them as Current and Previous.

This helps reduce overlapping, crowded, or unreadable labels when the chart contains many data points or long category names.

Filterable

Charts: All

This option is on by default. Turn off Filterable to stop the widget from responding to filters applied on the dashboard. The widget continues to display its original, unfiltered data.

Run as myself

Charts: All

Turn on Run as myself to run the widget using your database access and restrictions. When the dashboard is shared, other users see the widget results based on your access rather than their own.

Use this option carefully, as it can display summarized data that the viewer cannot access directly. The option is available only when you have the required permission.

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Last updated 9 days ago