Visualizations → Spider
About a Spider Visualization
A Spider visualization, also known as a radar chart or star chart, is a two-dimensional chart of a dimension represented on axes originating from a central point. Measure values are compared against the dimension value as a measurement against the dimension value along its own axis. Spider visualizations can be used for comparing multiple measures against a single dimension, visualizing the difference between the measures.
Configurable Properties of a Spider Insight in the Analyzer
The available trays for a Spider insight within the Insight panel are:
- Grouping Dimension: Add one column or formula to this tray to group the Spider data.
- Measure: Add a column or formula to this tray to include it as a column in the Spider Insight.
- Individual Filter: Add a column or formula to this tray to filter unwanted results.
- Aggregate Filter: Add a column or formula to this tray to filter the summarized results.
A column or formula in a tray is a Pill. Each pill has configurable properties. The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. Select the arrow to the right of the pill name to view the Properties panel and set the pill properties.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add one column or a formula to the Grouping Dimension tray. The spider insight plots each row of the Grouping Dimension column as an axis, each originating from the center of the insight.
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A spider insight shows the increments for the measure pill along the grouping dimension axis.
You can select the measure pill to open the Properties panel. In the Properties panel, you can configure various properties such as the Aggregation and Format properties.
The largest scaled measure value will determine the scaling on the grouping dimension axis.
Individual Filter
To filter individual values for the spider insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.
You can select the individual filter pill to open the Filter panel. Using the Filter panel, you can specify the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the individual filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an individual filter, review Concepts → Individual Filter.
Aggregate Filter
You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.
To create a filter expression, you can add a column or a formula to the Aggregate Filter tray from the Data panel. You can select the aggregate filter pill to open the Filter panel.
Using the Filter panel, you can specify the aggregation, the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the aggregate filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an aggregate filter, review Concepts → Aggregate Filter.
Spider Grouping Dimension Pill Properties
Following are the Spider properties for the pills in the Grouping Dimension tray:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. Copy to clipboard button provided in preview window. |
| Formula | text box | Select to invoke the Formula Builder and create the desired formula expression. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the grouping dimension |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Hierarchy | toggle | Enable this property to specify the level of data in the hierarchy that you want to include in the insight for the respective column. This option is available only for columns from objects with data hierarchy; physical schema objects with self-join. |
| Hierarchy → Level | text box | Enter a numeric value that represents the level of data you want to include in the insight. Leave blank or enter -1 to include all levels. |
| Data → Sort By | drag and drop | Drag and drop the column or formula to sort the grouping axis |
| Format | select | Select the format of the formula or date column. This option is available only when you edit the pill properties for a date column or a formula. |
| Format → Date Mask | text box | Enter a customized date format or select a predefined one to appear in this text box |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill Down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass a filter from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
Spider Measure Pill Properties
Here are the Spider properties for the pills in the Measure tray:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the Measure tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Formula | text box | Select to invoke the Formula Builder and create the desired formula expression. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the measure pill. |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Aggregation | drop down list | Select the aggregation option for the measure values. The options are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● None The data type of the measure column will determine the available Aggregation options. |
| Data → Scale | drop down list | Select the chart scale. The options are: ● None ● Percent (%) ● Thousands (K) ● Millions (M) The default is None. |
| Data → Running Total | toggle | Enable this property to display the measure values as a running total |
| Data → Filter | drag and drop | Drag and drop a column or formula to filter the measure |
| Format | select | Select the format of the measure (e.g. Dollar Rounded) |
| Format → Number Format | drop down list | Select the format of the measure (e.g. Dollar Rounded) |
| Format → Decimal Places | text box | Enter the number of decimal places to display for the measure value. |
| Format → Thousands Separator | toggle | Enable this property to include a comma separator for values of 1000 or greater. |
| Format → Percentage | toggle | Enable to display value as a percentage. |
| Format → Prefix/Suffix | text box | Enter a custom prefix and/or suffix for the pill’s values. The entered value can not include single quotes. |
| Format → Abbreviate on Hover | toggle | Enable this property to abbreviate the measure value upon hover. |
| Format → Color | select | Select a color for the measure value. |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user clicks on the measure value |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass a filter from one dashboard to another. |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
| Advanced → Base Field | drag and drop | Drag and drop the column to join two tables that are not directly joined. To learn more, review Concepts → Base Table. |
| Advanced → Query Plan | button | Select this property to reveal the direct data map path that the Incorta Analytics Service uses to retrieve or calculate the measure. |
Spider Individual Filter Properties
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Following are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a spider insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Column Label | text box | Enter the fully qualified name of the filter |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date, select the part of the date to use. The options are: ● Full ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter criteria |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a spider insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formula label | label | The formula pill label |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the individual filter formula pill |
| Formula → Dynamic | toggle | Enable this property to select a filter expression session variable as a value |
| Formula | text box | Disable Dynamic to configure this property. Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression. |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter expression |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. In the case that you enable Dynamic, select a filter expression session variable. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Spider Aggregate Filter Properties
Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a spider insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Column Label | text box | Enter the fully qualified name of the filter |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date, select the part of the date to use. The options are: ● Full ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Aggregation | drop down list | When the aggregate filter is a non-formula column, select the aggregation type to use in the filter. The available aggregation types are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● None The data type of the aggregate filter will determine the available Aggregation options. |
| Operator | drop down list | When the aggregate filter is a non-formula column, select the operator to use in value compared to the measure value. |
| Values | text box | When the aggregate filter is a non-formula column, select the comparison value to use in the filter, or enter a new value to use in filter comparison. |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. The aggregate filter property configuration is retained for future use. |
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a spider insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column Label | text box | Enter the label of the aggregate filter formula pill |
| Formula | text box | Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Spider Insight Settings
Here are the Spider properties for the Insight Settings that appear when you select Settings (gear icon) in the Action bar.
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| General → Max Rows Limit | text box | Enter the maximum number of rows to include in the insight. A value lower than the number of table rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all rows. |
| General → Auto Refresh | toggle | Enable this property to automatically refresh the insight preview while editing it in the Analyzer. There is a tenant configuration in the CMC Clusters Manager that can globally enable or disable this feature at the tenant level. |
| General → Data Sampling | toggle | Enabled by default. This property allows using only a sample of the insight query result set, rather than the whole query result set, when creating the insight. Disable it to use the whole query data list, which may impact the insight rendering time. |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | Enable this property to display a chart legend |
| Advanced → Max Groups | text box | Set the maximum number of groups that cannot be exceeded in the Insight |
| Advanced → Join Measures | drop down list | Select Yes to calculate the group-by function across joined tables. |
There is an impact on engine performance when you select Yes to enable the Join Measures property.
Available User Interactions for a Spider Insight on a Dashboard Tab
As a dashboard end user, there are several actions you can take to customize the Spider insight to fit your specific needs.
Filter the Spider Insight
Select a measure from the Spider insight legend, to hide/show the filter measure.
Download the Spider Insight
- Select More Options (kebab icon) for the Spider insight.
- Select Download.
- Select the download file format:
- PNG
- JPEG
- SVG
View the Spider Insight as a Table
- Select More Options (kebab icon) for the Spider insight.
- Select one of the following options:
- View as Regular Table
- View as Aggregated Table
Set an Alert when Data in the Spider Insight Changes
- Select More Options (kebab icon) for the Spider insight.
- Select Set Alert. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.
Create a Spider Insight Visualization
For an existing dashboard, to create a Spider insight for a given dashboard tab, follow these steps:
- If not already open, open a dashboard.
- To add a new insight to the dashboard, in the Action bar, select +.
- If needed, in the Analyzer, in the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, select one or more business schema views and/or one or more physical schema tables.
- To close the Manage Data Sets panel, select X or any other area of the Analyzer.
- In the Insight panel, select V. Under Charts, select Spider.
Spider Insight Example
Create a Spider insight that compares quarterly revenue for a given year and country by product categories.
Add an insight
- In the Action bar, select +.
- In the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, in Tables, select the SALES table.
- Close the Manage Data Sets panel.
- In the Insight panel, under Charts, select Spider.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Revenue to the Measure tray.
- Change the name of the pill to Revenue Q1.
- Repeat the prior two steps 3 more times, naming the pills Revenue Q2, Revenue Q3, and Revenue Q4.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Category to the Grouping Dimension tray.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Year to the Individual Filter tray.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Country to the Individual Filter tray.
Edit the pill properties
- Select the arrow to the right of each quarterly Revenue pill to open the Properties panel.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Quarter Number to the Drag columns/formulas here tray in Filter for each Measure pill. The default operator is In.
- Select the corresponding quarter for each Revenue pill in Values:
- Select Q1 for the Revenue Q1 filter value.
- Select Q2 for the Revenue Q2 filter value.
- Select Q3 for the Revenue Q3 filter value.
- Select Q4 for the Revenue Q4 filter value.
- Each Revenue measure pill should have the FORMAT set to Dollar.
- Select the corresponding quarter for each Revenue pill in Values:
- Select the arrow to the right of the Year pill in Individual Filter to open the Properties panel.
- In Values, select 2010.
- Select the arrow to the right of the Country pill in Individual Filter to open the Properties panel.
- In Values, select France.
- Name the insight 2010 Quarterly Revenue in France.
- In the Action bar, select Save.
