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Creating Analytics Dashboards

This guide shows you how to create data visualization dashboards with charts, KPIs, and filter controls.

Step 1: Create a Dashboard View​

  1. Click New in the View List
  2. Enter name: Production_Dashboard
  3. Set canvas size: 1920x1080
  4. Choose a dark background for better contrast

Step 2: Add Chart Components​

Add a Bar Chart (Production by Product)​

  1. Drag Bar Chart to the canvas
  2. Configure data:
    • Data Source: Data Management → Production_Records
    • Dimension: Product_Type
    • Metric: SUM(Quantity)
  3. Style the chart:
    • Title: Production by Product Type
    • Bar color: #4CAF50 (green)
    • Show data labels: Enabled

Add a Line Chart (Temperature Trend)​

  1. Drag Line Chart to the canvas
  2. Configure data:
    • Data Source: Tag Historian
    • Dimension: Record Time
    • Time Range: Last 8 hours
    • Tags: Oven_Temperature, Ambient_Temperature
    • Aggregation: Average
    • Time Window: 1 minute
  3. Style the chart:
    • Title: Temperature Trend (Last 8 Hours)
    • Line colors: #FF5722 (oven), #2196F3 (ambient)
    • Show legend: Enabled

Add a Pie Chart (Downtime by Reason)​

  1. Drag Pie Chart to the canvas
  2. Configure data:
    • Data Source: Data Management → Downtime_Records
    • Dimension: Reason
    • Metric: SUM(Duration_Minutes)
  3. Style the chart:
    • Title: Downtime Distribution
    • Show percentages: Enabled

Add KPI Cards​

  1. Drag Indicator Card to the canvas (repeat 4 times)
  2. Configure each card:
CardData SourceTag/MetricLabel
1Tag Current ValueProduction_Count_TodayToday's Production
2Data ManagementAVG(Cycle_Time)Avg Cycle Time
3Tag Current ValueOEE_PercentageOEE
4Data ManagementCOUNT(Alarm_Records)Alarms Today

Step 3: Add Filter Controls​

Allow users to filter dashboard data dynamically:

Add a Time Range Picker​

  1. Drag Time Range Picker from Control Components
  2. In Properties Panel:
    • Linked Charts: Select all charts that should respond to time changes
    • Default Range: Last 24 Hours
    • Quick Options: Enable Last Hour, Last 8 Hours, Last 24 Hours, Custom

Add a Dropdown Filter​

  1. Drag Dropdown Filter to the canvas
  2. Configure:
    • Label: Product Type
    • Data Source: Data Management → Product_Types table
    • Field: Product_Name
    • Linked Charts: Select charts that should filter by product

📷 [Screenshot: Dashboard with charts and filter controls]

Step 4: Add Export Functionality​

  1. Drag Export Button to the canvas
  2. Configure:
    • Export Format: Excel or PDF
    • Linked Charts: Select charts to include in export
    • File Name: Production_Report_{date}

Best Practices​

Dashboard Design​

Layout:

  • Place KPI cards at the top for quick visibility
  • Arrange charts in a grid (2x2 or 3x2)
  • Reserve space for filters and controls at the top or left

Color Coding:

  • Use consistent colors for the same metric across charts
  • Apply color gradients to show performance (green = good, red = bad)
  • Limit color palette to 5-7 colors for clarity

Data Density:

  • Don't overcrowd the dashboard (max 6-8 charts)
  • Use drill-down navigation for detailed views
  • Prioritize the most important metrics

Performance Tips​

Optimize Queries:

  • Use aggregation to reduce data points
  • Set reasonable time ranges (avoid loading years of data)
  • Cache frequently accessed data

Lazy Loading:

  • Load charts on demand (when user scrolls or clicks)
  • Use pagination for large data tables
  • Implement auto-refresh with configurable intervals

Next Steps​

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