Using Gauges to Display Results

A gauge is a dashboard indicator (also known as a KPI) that displays the status or measure of a variable or variables in relation to a target, goal, or interval. Gauges are designed to achieve this goal in a way that is familiar to users. Many real-life objects use gauges, such as cars and machines. Gauges can be used to display a quantity, range, variable, or status. They often appear in business intelligence dashboards. Qualitative ranges are required for all gauges in the designer. You can populate the range intervals manually, or you can have them generated for you based on the range of the actual data. Gauges in the designer support high cardinality.

Overview of the Gauge Types

About Bullet Gauges

A bullet gauge is a horizontal dashboard indicator that compares an actual value to a target value and compares them in intervals. The actual value of the primary measure is indicated by an inset horizontal bar.

Note that the scale of a bullet gauge often begins at zero, but it can contain both positive and negative values if both types of values apply to the primary measure, such as profit. The inset horizontal bar should always begin at zero so that comparing multiple bullet graphs is not confusing.

The bullet gauge requires a primary measure and a range display rule, and the target measure is optional. The default orientation is horizontal with an option to display the gauge vertically.

A Bullet Gauge

About Slider Gauges

A slider gauge is a horizontal dashboard indicator that compares an actual value to a target value and compares them in intervals. The actual value of the primary measure is indicated by a downward-facing arrow. The target value is indicated by a small upward-facing arrow.

Like a bullet gauge, a slider gauge is oriented horizontally by default, but you can change the gauge’s orientation to vertical. You should use a slider gauge when the numeric scale does not start at zero.

The slider gauge supports dates (which are continuous) and numeric categories.

A Slider Gauge

About Thermometer Gauges

A thermometer gauge is a vertical dashboard indicator that compares an actual value to a target value and compares them in intervals. The actual value of the primary measure is indicated by a vertical bar. The target value is indicated by a small arrow that is facing the center of the thermometer.

The thermometer gauge requires a primary measure value and a range-based display rule. A target measure value is optional. The entire vertical bar is colored conditionally based on one color from the display rule.

The base of a thermometer bar should always start at zero. You can set this by defining your first range display rule to begin at zero. The designer always shows the base of the bar at the bottom of the thermometer.

A Thermometer Gauge

About Dial Gauges

A dial gauge is an arc-shaped dashboard indicator that compares an actual value to a target value and compares them in intervals. The actual value of the primary measure is indicated by an arrow that points outward from the inner circle. The target value is indicated by an arrow that points inward from the outer arc. The color of the center circle is the color associated with the primary measure value’s range interval.

The dial gauge requires a primary measure value and a range-based display rule. For more information, see Adding Display Rules to a Gauge.

A target measure value is optional.

A Dial Gauge

About Speedometer Gauges

A speedometer gauge is a circular dashboard indicator that compares an actual value to a target value and compares them in intervals. The actual value of the primary measure is indicated by the larger pointer. The target value is indicated by a small triangle along the quantitative scale, either pointing inward or outward, depending on the KPI skin option for the gauge.

A speedometer gauge requires a primary measure value and a range-based display rule. A target measure value is optional.

A Speedometer Gauge

Insert a Gauge into a Report

To insert a gauge into a report, choose one of the following:

Drag the gauge icon from the Objects tab in the left pane and drop it onto the report canvas.
Select InsertGauges and then select the menu item for the gauge object that you want to insert. The gauge is automatically placed in the report canvas. If you want the gauge to appear in a different location, then drag and drop it in a new location.

The following table lists the available gauge objects:

Icon	Gauge Type
	Bullet
	Slider
	Thermometer
	Dial
	Speedometer

To insert the data items that you want to use in the gauge:
- Drag and drop data items onto the gauge.
- Use the Roles tab in the right pane, and then specify the Category and Frequency roles.

Specify Gauge Properties

To specify properties for gauges:

If it is not already selected, select the gauge in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Properties tab.
Update the general properties for the gauge. You can update the Name, Title, Format, and Description.
Update the specific properties for the gauge. The available properties depend on the selected gauge type. For example, for a dial gauge, you can specify KPI Chart and Layout options.

Here is an example of the properties for a dial gauge:

Properties for a Dial Gauge

Specify Gauge Styles

To specify styles for gauges:

If it is not already selected, select the gauge in the report canvas that you want to update.
In the right pane, click the Styles tab.
Update the styles for the gauge. The available styles depend on the selected gauge type. For example, for a dial gauge, you can specify Data Styling, Frame Styling, and Text Styling.