Use content linking to create interactive dashboards
Depending on your needs, you can create a static dashboard, which contains content in each panel that is separate but related. For example, you may provide users with a bar chart that contains total sales figures by region. Additionally, you may provide a data table that displays sales details for each state in a specific region. You may also want to provide sales data associated with each salesperson in a specific region. The content in your dashboard is useful to dashboard consumers, but to make it more interactive, you may want to consider using content linking.
The content linking features in dashboards allow you to associate (link) content in one dashboard panel to content on another dashboard panel as long as query parameters have been defined. These features are particularly helpful for drilling down or for dynamic filtering; for example, when dashboard consumers explode a single slice in a pie chart to launch content in a data table associated with that pie slice. In this instance, dashboard consumers are moving from a summary view to a detailed view interactively.
You can use content linking if your dashboard panel contains a data table, chart, .xaction, .prpt, and Analyzer report.
In this article
Getting started with query parameters
Query parameters are required for content inside a dashboard panel to receive values used to filter data from a filter control.
They are also required when receiving values from content in other dashboard panels that are broadcasting values through content linking.
How you define query parameters depends on the content type in your dashboard panels:
You are defining parameters in an Analyzer report
You are defining parameters for a chart or data table
Use the Query Editor to define your parameterized query. Then see Link charts and data tables and Link columns in a data table to other dashboard panels.
Link charts and data tables
The instructions below explain how to create links to charts and data tables in a dashboard. Adjust the examples shown in these instructions, as necessary, when working with your own data.
Create a simple dashboard that contains a chart and a data table.
At this point, none of the content has been linked and you have a "static" dashboard.
Simple dashboard In the pie chart in this example, you want the data table on the right to update with the values associated with a pie chart slice when dashboard consumers click that slice (NA, APAC, Japan, and EMEA).
For example, if a report consumer clicks the EMEA slice, the data table will display values associated with EMEA and nothing else.
To get the correct filter display, you must first create a parameterized query that drives the content in the data table.
Click the Edit button to open the Edit pane at the bottom of the screen.
Within the Objects pane, choose the report you want to parameterize.
Parameterizing a query, as described here, allows you to pass values dynamically and update the chart based on events triggered by other elements of the dashboard such as a user choosing an item from a filter control or following links defined in content associated with another panel in the dashboard.
Click the {p} button next to the Title box.
The parameters will populate after the title in the Title box.
Click the Parameters tab and ensure that the parameter name is linking to the correct source.
Click Apply.
The new source for the parameter corresponds to the title of the dashboard panel that contains the chart as shown in the example above. This new source will now drive the display in the data table.
Click the Edit button (pencil icon) to exit edit mode.
The filters will appear after the panel titles.
Save your dashboard.
When users click a pie slice or bar in a chart, the data table displays content associated with that specific pie slice or bar.
The currently applied filters appear after the title.
Link columns in a data table to other dashboard panels
The instructions below show you how to link a chart to a column in a data table. You must adjust the instructions when working with your own data.
Create a simple dashboard that contains a data table and a bar chart.
At this point, none of the content has been linked and you have a "static" dashboard.
Notice the data table in the example here. You want dashboard consumers to click a product in the Product Line column and have the bar chart update with information about sales by territory for that specific product line.
Link on column Add a parameterized condition to the query for the bar chart by specifying a parameter name in curly braces in the Value text box. Then provide a default value for that parameter in the Default text box.
In the example here, a parameter called Productline with a default value of Classic Cars has been created.
Parameter query In the Chart Designer, set the data definitions for the series, category and values columns associated with your bar chart and click OK.
Under General Settings, choose the data table and click the Content Linking tab. Enable content linking on the column in your data table that will filter content in your chart.
Each of the columns in a data table can broadcast values to other dashboard components.
Value as link Under General Settings, choose the chart and click the Parameters tab. Click the down arrow in the Source text box to display another source for the parameter you created.
In the example below, notice that Order Details - Product Line (the name of the dashboard panel that contains the data table) can now be selected as a source for the Productline parameter.
Select a new source Save your dashboard.
In the data table, choose an item in the column that has content linking enabled.
The content in the chart updates in response to the item that was clicked in the data table.
In the example below, the Product Line column was enabled for content linking.
Link an Analyzer report
You can create content-to-content links from Analyzer content in a dashboard.
Use content linking to pass values into parameters on other dashboard panels.
Link from a chart (graphic element)
You can create content-to-content links between an Analyzer chart and any other parameterized report such as a Report Designer report, a data table, or another Analyzer report.
Below are general instructions for linking an Analyzer chart to a report. You must adjust the instructions when working with your own data.
Create a simple dashboard that contains an Analyzer chart and a parameterized report.
The example here displays an Analyzer chart and an Analyzer report displayed as a table view. At this point, none of the content has been linked and you have a "static" dashboard.
Hypothetically, if you want users to be able to click a bar in the bar chart and update the Analyzer table view, the table must contain at least one parameter. In the example below, there are two parameters (LINE and TERRITORY) associated with the Analyzer table.
Parameter created for LINE Under General Settings, choose the Analyzer chart, then click the Content Linking tab.
Click the check box (or check boxes) next to the field/column name you want enabled for content linking, and then click Apply.
Chart content linking Under General Settings, choose the Analyzer report (table view) and click the Parameters tab.
Click the down arrow in the Source text box to display another source for the parameters you created.
In the example below, notice that Sales by Line (the name of the dashboard panel that contains the chart) can now be selected as a source for both the TERRITORY and LINE parameters.
Select source on Parameters tab Save your dashboard.
See Saving Dashboards for steps.
In this example, content linking is applied when users double-click a bar in the bar chart.
The data table updates and displays sales details for a product line in a specific territory.
Link from a hyperlink in a table
Below are general instructions for creating content links in an Analyzer report (inside a dashboard) that can be used to drive the query parameter values of content in other dashboard panels. You must adjust the instructions when working with your own data.
Create a simple dashboard that contains an Analyzer report and a data table.
At this point, none of the content has been linked and you have a "static" dashboard.
In the example here, when content linking is achieved, the list of territories (APAC, EMEA, Japan, and NA) will become hyperlinks that, when clicked, will update a customer details data table.
To get the correct filter display, a parameterized query that drives the content in the data table must be created.
Content linking for a table Add a parameterized condition to the query for the data table by specifying a parameter name in curly braces in the Value text box. Then provide a default value for that parameter in the Default text box.
In the example here, a parameter called TERRITORY with a default value of NA has been created. Parameterizing a query, as described here, allows you to pass values dynamically and update the chart based on events triggered by other elements of the dashboard such as a user choosing an item from a filter control or following links defined in content associated with another panel in the dashboard.
Query on territory Under General Settings, choose the Analyzer report. Click the Content Linking tab then click the check box next to the field/column name you want enabled for content linking. Click Apply.
In the Analyzer report, the values under the Territory become hyperlinks.
Hyperlinks in Analyzer table Under General Settings, choose the data table and examine its available parameters. Click the drop-down arrow in the Source text box to display and choose a new source value for the available parameter, then click Apply.
Save your dashboard.
In the example below, content linking was applied. When users click a territory hyperlink in the Analyzer report, the data table updates and displays customer-related details associated with that specific territory exclusively.
Link a report from Report Designer
The instructions that follow show you how a link inside a Report Designer report (.prpt) can drive a parameter in content on another dashboard panel. You must adjust the instructions when working with your own data.
You must have a report (.prpt) that contains a hyperlink before you can complete this task. See Pentaho Report Designer for instructions about adding hyperlinks to a report.
Create a simple dashboard that contains a
.prptreport and a data table.At this point, none of the content has been linked and you have a "static" dashboard. Notice the report (
.prpt) in the example. You want dashboard consumers to click a territory (APAC, EMEA, etc.) hyperlink and update the data table with information about that specific territory.
Report Designer content linking Under General Settings, choose the report (
.prpt) and click the Content Linking tab.Click the checkbox next to the field you want used for content linking.
Add a parameterized condition to the query for the data table by specifying a parameter name in curly braces in the Value text box. Then provide a default value for that parameter in the Default text box.
In the example, a parameter called TERRITORY with a default value of NA has been created.
Filter parameter Parameterizing a query, as described here, allows you to pass values dynamically and update the data table based on events triggered by other elements of the dashboard such as a user choosing an item from a filter control or following links defined in content associated with another panel in the dashboard.
Under General Settings, choose the data table and click the Content Linking tab.
Click the drop-down arrow in the Source text box to display another source for the parameter you created.
In the example, notice that Product Line Share by Territory - Territory (the name of the dashboard panel that contains the
.prpt) is now selected as a source for the Territory parameter.
Select parameter Save your dashboard.
See Saving Dashboards.
When content linking is achieved, the data table updates when a link in the report (.prpt) is clicked as shown in the example.
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