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8.4 Gauges

A gauge shows a single key figure – a KPI – against a scale or target, like a speedometer. There are four types:

Type Shows
Circular gauge A dial with a needle or marker
Linear gauge A horizontal or vertical scale, like a thermometer
Numeric gauge The number itself, as text or an LED display
Indicator gauge A shape that changes colour, e.g. a traffic light

Data in a Gauge

A gauge has no dimensions – only metrics. Each metric is a band on the gauge, e.g. a needle for this year and a marker for last year. They are listed under Value in the Element Structure panel. The workbook's filters decide which data the figure is calculated for.

The GAUGE Tab

Select a gauge in design mode and open the GAUGE tab:

The GAUGE tab

Group Commands
Gauge Type (Circular, Linear, Numeric, Indicator), show Title and Legend
Position Anchor the gauge, its title or legend to a side or corner of the visual, or set a Fixed position with X and Y
Circular options Start angle, End angle and Inner radius of a circular gauge

When you select a band (a metric) in the Element Structure panel, more groups appear:

Group Commands
Band type Style: Needle, Marker, Speedometer, Dot, Liquid, Shape or Image; Axis offset
Band title Title – use {value} for the gauge value, and {ruletitle} / {ruletext} for the text of a rule; Show in legend
Pointer Border and fill colour, shape, size and width
Numeric options Style (Text or LED display), LED Indicator type, Weight, Digits
Axis Min and Max of the scale, Width, Length, up to three colour Sections (e.g. red–yellow–green), number Format..., or a Rule that colours the scale
Tickmarks Count, width, position, colour and values of the major, second and minor tickmarks

Colouring a Gauge

  • Colour sections: Axis → Sections (1–3) and the colours for each section – e.g. red up to 80%, yellow to 95%, green above.
  • Rules: Axis → Rule colours the scale by a rule, e.g. your standard traffic-light rule – see 12.1 What are Rules.

More Settings

  • Double-click the gauge's name at the top of the Element Structure panel for Gauge settings: title, angles, legend, the layout of gauge, title and legend, display, size and print.
  • Double-click a band for Edit gauge: type, pointer, label, axis, tickmarks, the metric and its transformation and filter – with a preview.

Double-clicking a gauge in normal view shows the data behind its value.