Using Key Performance Indicators

Use a key performance indicator (KPI) to visualize a comparison between a key value and its target value. A KPI displays a value comparison, the two values being compared, and a visual that provides context to the data that is displayed. You can choose from a set of predefined layouts.

KPI

To create a KPI:
  1. Click Dashboards tab, the Dashboards tab.
  2. Click Dashboard Designer, in the bottom-left corner.
  3. On the Analyses dialog, click New analysis or click Options button, the Options button, next to an existing analysis and select Edit.
  4. On the analysis page, click , the Add visual button, on the toolbar.
    Analysis page - Create a visual
  5. Click the KPI icon.
    KPI icon
  6. Add data to the visual by dragging fields from the Data panel to the appropriate field wells in the Visuals panel:
    1. Drag a measure to the Value field well.
    2. To add a comparison value, drag a different measure to the Target value field well.
    3. To add trend data, drag a dimension to the Trend group field well.
      You can either add a trend group or a target value to a KPI, not both.
    4. Add drill-down layers by dragging one or more additional fields to the Trend group field well.
  7. Hover over the visual and click KPI Layouts button, the KPI Layouts button, in the top-right corner to open the KPI Layouts panel, and then select one of the available layouts.
  8. Customize the appearance of the visual in the Properties panel on the right.
    1. Under Display Settings, format the title and subtitle.
      For more information, see Formatting Titles and Subtitles in Visuals.
    2. Under KPI options, specify formatting settings for the values and the visualization displayed in the KPI.
      • Under Primary value, set the font color and size for the primary value and specify whether to display the actual primary value or a comparison between the primary value and the target value or trend group value.
      • To display the target value or trend group value along with the primary value, enable the Secondary value option. Then, set a font color and size.
      • If the KPI includes a target value or a trend group value, select a comparison method and set the formatting for the comparison value in the Comparison section. You can show the actual difference between the values, compare the values as a percent, or show the difference as a percent.

        In KPIs with a trend group value, you can show or hide the trend direction icon by clicking Show icon, the Show icon, or Hide icon, the Hide icon, next to Trend direction.

      • To include a visualization in the KPI, enable the Visual option and select a visualization type. If the KPI includes a target value, you can add a progress bar. If the KPI includes a trend value, you can add a progress bar, a sparkline, or an area sparkline.
Parent topic: Creating Visuals