Using the WebLogic Diagnostic Framework Console Extension

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Working with All Charts and Graphs

The WLDF Console Extension supports two types of charts and graphs:

Both kinds of charts can display information from one or more running server instances in the domain.

Many of the tasks you perform when working with charts are the same for both types. Some tasks are different for the different types. The following sections describe how to work with both kinds of charts:

For information about tasks that are specific to the different kinds of charts and graphs, see the following:

 


The Parts of a Chart

A chart consists of the following:

These parts are shown in Figure 6-1.

Figure 6-1 Parts of a Chart

Parts of a Chart

Several graph styles are available for presenting data: area, area radar, bar, plot, scatter plot, stacking area, and stacking bar. For instructions on how to set those styles, see Setting a Chart Graphing Style.

 


Adding Charts to Views

You create and add charts to views by dragging items from the Metrics tab or the Requests tab, as described in the following steps.

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view to which you want to add a chart (or create a new view). Figure 6-2 shows an empty view.
  2. Figure 6-2 Empty View


    Empty View

  3. Select the Metrics tab to create a chart based on metrics, or select the Requests tab to create a chart based on events generated by instrumented methods.
  4. Drag a valid item from the tree to the view. The cursor changes shape, and the background darkens when you drag it into an area where you can insert a chart, as shown in Figure 6-3. For information about what items can be dragged from the Metrics tab, see Working with Metrics Charts and Graphs. For information about what items can be dragged from the Requests tab, see Working with Method Performance Charts and Graphs.
  5. Figure 6-3 Dragging a Metric to Create a New Chart in an Empty View


    Dragging a Metric to Create a New Chart in an Empty View

    When you release the mouse button, a chart is created that contains a graph based on the item you dragged from the tree in the left panel, as shown in Figure 6-4.

    Figure 6-4 A Chart in a View


    A Chart in a View

    Note: An alternative to dragging an item into a chart is as follows:
    • Right-click the item in left panel (the Metrics tab or the Request tab). The Add to Chart menu is displayed.
    • Right-click an item in the Metrics tab or in the Requests tab and select Create New Chart to create a new chart containing a graph based on the selected item
    • Right-click an item in the Metrics tab or in the Requests tab and select Add to Chart, then the name of an existing chart, to add a graph to the named chart.
  6. To add another chart to the view, drag another item from the tree to a position above, below, or to the side of an existing chart. Figure 6-5 shows an item dragged to the right of a chart.
  7. Figure 6-5 Dragging a Metric Into an Existing View to Create a Second Chart


    Dragging a Metric Into an Existing View to Create a Second Chart

    The new chart appears where it was dropped, as shown in Figure 6-6. All charts in the view are resized to fit together.

    Figure 6-6 Two Charts in a View


    Two Charts in a View

For alternative ways to arrange charts and graphs, see Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views.

 


Creating an Empty Chart

To create an empty chart:

  1. Right-click anywhere in a view.
  2. Select New Chart. You can now add one or more graphs to the chart, as explained in Adding Graphs to Existing Charts.

 


Adding Graphs to Existing Charts

To graph data from more than one data source on the same chart (that is to add a graph to an existing chart), drag the appropriate item from the Metrics tab or the Requests tab to the existing graph in the View panel, as described in the following steps:

  1. Select the Views tab to display the list of views.
  2. Click the view containing the chart to which you want to add another graph (data source). Figure 6-7 shows a chart with one graph.
  3. Figure 6-7 Chart with One Graph


    Chart with One Graph

  4. Select the Metrics tab to add a graph based on metrics, or click the Requests tab to add a graph based on instrumentation events.
  5. Note: All graphs in a chart must be based on the same type of diagnostic data. That is, you cannot add metrics data to a method performance chart or instrumentation data to a metrics chart.
  6. Drag a valid item from the tree to the view, as shown in Figure 6-3. For information about what items can be dragged from the Metrics tab, see Working with Metrics Charts and Graphs.. For information about what items can be dragged from the Requests tab, see Working with Method Performance Charts and Graphs.
  7. Figure 6-8 Dragging a New Diagnostic Data Source to an Existing Chart


    Dragging a New Diagnostic Data Source to an Existing Chart

    The new graph is added to the chart, as shown in Figure 6-9.

    Figure 6-9 Resulting Graph with Two Charts


    Resulting Graph with Two Charts

For alternative ways to arrange charts and graphs, see Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views.

 


Repositioning a Chart

To reposition a chart in a view:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the chart you want to reposition.
  2. Drag the chart to the new position in the view. That is, click the chart and hold the mouse button down while you drag. You position the chart above, below, to the left, or to the right of an existing chart. When the chart is in an acceptable position, a band of the background is darkened. This behavior is the same as when creating a new chart, as illustrated in Figure 6-5.
  3. Release the mouse button.

For alternative ways to arrange charts and graphs, see Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views.

 


Merging Charts

When you merge charts, all the graphs and associated legend entries of the source chart are added to the graphs and the legend of the target chart. Properties of the target chart--such as the title, colors, and the Y-axis label--are maintained, and any conflicting properties from the source chart are lost. Once successfully merged, the source chart is deleted.

You can merge one or more charts in the same view or in different views.

To merge one chart with another in the same view:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the charts you want to merge.
  2. Drag the source chart onto the target chart. That is, click the chart and hold the mouse button down while you drag. When the source chart is positioned correctly over the target chart, the background of the target chart is darkened.
  3. Release the mouse button.
  4. All the graphs and associated legend entries of the source chart are added to the graphs and the legend of the target chart. Properties of the target chart--such as the title, colors, and the Y-axis label--are maintained, and any conflicting properties from the source chart are lost. Once successfully merged, the source chart is deleted.

For alternative ways to arrange charts and graphs, see Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views.

 


Moving a Graph to a Different Chart or to a New Chart

You can move a graph to a different chart only if the target chart does not already contain a graph based on the same data source.

To move a graph from one chart to another:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the graph you want to move. The source chart and the target chart must be in the same view.
  2. Shift-click the graph (or its legend entry) to select it. Release the Shift key and the mouse button, and do not click or select anything else until you perform the instructions in the following step.
  3. Drag the graph from the source chart to the target chart or to an empty area in the view. That is, click the already selected graph and hold the mouse button down while you drag. When the graph is positioned correctly over the target chart (or over the empty area), the background of the target chart (or the empty area) is darkened.
  4. Release the mouse button. The graph and its legend are added to the target chart and removed from the source chart. If you dragged to an empty area, a new chart containing the graph is created.

For alternative ways to arrange charts and graphs, see Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views.

 


Arranging Charts and Graphs in Views

Table 6-1 shows how to copy, move, and duplicate charts and graphs by dragging and dropping with the mouse, by using context menus with the mouse, and by using the keyboard. For brevity, some common information is not repeated for each item in the table. That information is as follows:

 


Starting and Stopping Data Collection for Charts in a View

To start data collection for the charts in a view:

  1. Select the Views tab.
  2. Click the name of the view you want to start. Alternatively, right-click the name of the view and select Start. The view is displayed in the View panel, and data collection begins.

To stop data collection for the charts in a view:

  1. Select the Views tab.
  2. Right-click the name of the view you want to stop and select Stop.

To stop all data collection for all views, click the Resulting Graph with Two Charts (Stop All Active Views) button in the toolbar. (It is not necessary to first select the Views tab.)

 


Scrolling and Zooming the Data Displayed in a Chart

You can display or hide the scrollbar for a chart, as explained in Turning a Chart Scrollbar On and Off. The scrollbar includes controls for scrolling through data in the chart and for zooming in and out of the data in a chart.

The scrollbar and zoom controls are displayed below the chart, as shown in Figure 6-10.

Figure 6-10 Scrollbar for a Chart

Scrollbar for a Chart

The scrollbar contains controls for scrolling through historical data and for zooming in and out of a set of data to change the time span displayed in the chart. The controls are shown in Table 6-2.

Table 6-2 Controls in the Scrollbar
Control
Name
Use

Expired Data Points

Thumb
Drag to scroll through historical data.

Expired Data Points

Left scroll arrow
Click to scroll backwards through historical data.

Expired Data Points

Right scroll arrow
Click to scroll forwards through historical data.

To display or hide the scrollbar for a chart:

  1. Right-click anywhere in the chart.
  2. From the context menu, select Show Scrollbar to display the scrollbar or Hide Scrollbar to hide it.

Scrolling Through Historical Data in a Chart

Under certain circumstances, described below, you can scroll back and forth through a chart's history, to see both historical and current data for the chart. Historical data is always retrieved from an archive, which means that historical data is only available if you have configured WLDF to gather metrics data (for metrics charts) and/or if you have configured WLDF to gather instrumentation data (for method performance charts). For more information about how this is handled, see Understanding How Data Is Collected and Presented.

To scroll through historical data:

  1. Make sure that WLDF was configured to collect the metrics or instrumentation data you want to monitor.
  2. Select the chart containing the data you want to monitor.
  3. Drag the scrollbar's thumb control Scrollbar for a Chart to the interval you want to monitor. As you drag the thumb control, a message is displayed that shows the beginning and end times of the intervals you are scrolling through.
  4. Alternatively, click Scrollbar for a Chartp (left scroll arrow) to scroll backwards or click Scrollbar for a Chart (right scroll arrow) to scroll forward. Clicking these buttons scrolls the viewport (the span displayed in the chart) by 10% of the viewport width. Clicking directly on the scrollbar (not on the thumb control) scrolls the viewport by 50% of the viewport width.

While you scroll, a message is displayed showing the time intervals you are scrolling through. When you stop scrolling, the data is retrieved for the selected interval. To display the dates and times for the visible interval, position the mouse pointer anywhere on the scrollbar.

If no archived data is available for a metrics graph, only the data available in the cache of actively polled metrics can be displayed. If you scroll to a point earlier than the data available in the cache, no data is displayed for that graph.

It can happen that you scroll back to view historical data that is not backed by the WLDF archive, and then that data expires from the cache while it is still displayed in the chart. If that happens, you will not be able to view that historical data again once you scroll away from it. To alert you that the data points have expired, the chart behind those data points is darkened, and tooltips for the chart and for the expired data points display messages to report that the data has expired. For example, see Table 6-11.

Figure 6-11 Expired Data Points

Expired Data Points

To display current data after scrolling:

  1. Select the chart.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Move the thumb control all the way to the right on the scroll bar, or
    • Right-click the chart, then select View Current Data from the context menu.

Zooming In and Out of Data in a Chart

You can zoom into the data shown in a chart to expand the view of data points for a shorter time span, and you can zoom out to show details about a longer time span.

Zoom in and out as follows:

 


Deleting a Graph from a Chart

To delete a graph from a chart:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the chart containing the graph you want to delete.
  2. Select the graph in either of the following ways:
    • Shift-click anywhere on the graph.
    • Shift-click on the legend entry for the graph.
  3. Click the Expired Data Points (Delete) button in the toolbar, or press the Delete key.
  4. Note: If you discard changes to the view containing the deleted graph, you can recover it. However, you cannot selectively discard changes, so you will lose any other changes you made, too. Once you save changes to the view, the deleted graph is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

 


Deleting a Chart

To delete a chart:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the chart you want to delete.
  2. Click the chart. A border appears around the chart to show it has been selected.
  3. Click the Expired Data Points (Delete) button in the toolbar, or press the Delete key.
  4. Note: If you discard changes to the view containing the deleted chart, you can recover it. However, you cannot selectively discard changes, so you will lose any other changes you made, too. Once you save changes to the view, the deleted chart is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

 


Setting Chart Properties

When you create a chart, it is created with default visual and control properties. To change those properties:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the chart whose properties you want to change.
  2. In the View panel, click anywhere in the chart to select it.
  3. Select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab to display controls for changing properties.
  4. Make changes by setting the properties in the Properties > Selected Item tab, as described in the following sections:
  5. Click the Apply Changes button to apply your changes to the selected chart.
  6. Note: You can change some properties directly in the View panel. For example, you can right-click a chart name or view name to display an edit field and then type a new name in the field. In that case, you do not have to click Apply Changes. Just click outside the text box to see your changes.

    Alternatively, click Discard Changes to restore the settings that were in effect when you started changing them, or click Restore Defaults to restore the WLDF Console Extension default settings for charts.

    Note: Applying a change to a property does not save it for future use. See step 6.
  7. If this is a chart in a custom view, you can save the changes so they will be restored the next time you open the WLDF Console Extension. (You cannot save changes to a chart in a built-in view.) To save a custom chart, you must save the view, as follows:
    1. Select the Views tab.
    2. Click the Save button.
    3. Alternatively, on the toolbar, click the Expired Data Points (Save All Modified Views) button.

      Note: You cannot save changes to the properties of a chart in a built-in view.

 


Changing a Chart Name

You can change the name of charts in built-in and custom views. But you can save the name only for charts in custom views. To change the name of a chart:

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. Enter a new name in the Name field.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

Alternatively:

  1. Display the view containing the chart.
  2. Right click the name at the top of the chart.
  3. Type a new name in the field.
  4. Click anywhere outside the field to apply the change.
  5. Save the changes, as explained in step 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

 


Creating a Y-Axis Label for a Chart

No Y-Axis label is assigned by default for a chart, but you can create one, as follows:

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. In the Y-Axis field, enter text to be used as the Y-Axis label.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

 


Setting a Chart Graphing Style

By default, graphs are created using the "plot" style (dots connected by lines). However, you can change the style, as follows:

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. Select a style from the Style drop down list to change the visual style of each graph on the selected chart. Styles include:
    Table 6-3 Graph Styles
    Style
    Example
    Description
    Area

    Expired Data Points

    Solid area under a line
    Area radar

    Expired Data Points

    Circular area, with new data sweeping clockwise, as with a radar
    Bar

    Expired Data Points

    Bars alternating for each graph
    Plot

    Expired Data Points

    Sequential dots connected by lines
    Scatter plot

    Expired Data Points

    Dots only
    Stacking area

    Expired Data Points

    Areas for each graph, stacked on top of each other
    Stacking bar

    Expired Data Points

    Bars for each graph, one stacked on top of the other
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

 


Turning a Chart Legend On and Off

A chart's legend identifies each graph on the chart. Each line in the legend shows the color and graphic used to plot the data points and identifies the data source for the graph.

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. Check the Legends checkbox to display the legend, or uncheck it to hide the legend.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

Alternatively:

  1. Display the view containing the chart.
  2. Right-click anywhere in the chart.
  3. From the context menu, select Hide Legend to turn the legend off, or select Show Legend to turn the legend back on. (You can also press Alt-L to toggle the legend on and off.)

 


Turning a Chart Scrollbar On and Off

You can use the scrollbar to scroll back through historical data and the attached zoom controls to zoom in and out of data, as explained in Scrolling and Zooming the Data Displayed in a Chart. The scrollbar is hidden by default, however, you can display it and hide it again, as follows:

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in step 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. Check the Scrollbar checkbox to display the scrollbar, or uncheck it to hide the scrollbar.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

Alternatively:

  1. Display the view containing the chart.
  2. Right-click anywhere in the chart.
  3. From the context menu, select Hide Scrollbar to turn the scrollbar off, or select Show Scrollbar to turn the scrollbar back on. (You can also press Alt-S to toggle the scrollbar on and off.)

 


Changing Chart Foreground and Background Colors

The foreground color for a chart includes the color of the text used for the legend and the color of the X- and Y-axis lines and values. The background color is the color used for the background of the entire chart.

  1. Select the chart and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Chart Properties.
  2. Click the Colors > Foreground subtab to change the foreground colors, or click the Colors > Background subtab to change the background colors.
  3. Select your preferred color chooser, by clicking one of the subtabs: Swatches, HSB, or RGB.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Chart Properties.

 


Setting Individual Graph Properties

When you create a graph in a chart, it is created with default visual and control properties. To change those properties:

  1. Select the Views tab and select the view containing the chart with the graph whose properties you want to change.
  2. In the View panel, select the graph in either of the following ways:
    • Shift-click anywhere on the graph.
    • Shift-click on the legend entry for the graph.
  3. Select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab to display controls for changing graph properties.
  4. Make changes by setting the properties in the Properties > Selected Item tab, as described in the following sections:
  5. Click the Apply Changes button to apply your changes to the selected chart.
  6. Alternatively, click Discard Changes to restore the settings that were in effect when you started changing them, or click Restore Defaults to restore the WLDF Console Extension default settings for charts.

    Note: Applying a change to a property doesn't save it for future use. See step 6.
  7. If this graph is in a chart in a custom view, you can save the changes so they will be restored the next time you open the WLDF Console Extension. (You cannot save changes to a chart in a built-in view.) To save a custom chart, you must save the view, as follows:
    1. Select the Views tab.
    2. Click the Save button.
    3. Alternatively, on the toolbar, click the Expired Data Points (Save All Modified Views) button.

      Note: You cannot save changes to the properties of a chart in a built-in view.

 


Changing a Graph Name

When you drag an item onto a chart to create a graph of the item's data points, a name is assigned by default. This name appears in the legend for the chart containing the graph. You can change the name, as follows:

  1. Select the graph and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Individual Graph Properties.
  2. Click the General subtab.
  3. Enter a new name in the Name field.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Individual Graph Properties.

 


Changing a Graph Scaling Factor

Adjusting the scaling factor for a graph adjusts the units used for the Y-Axis. For example, if a Y-Axis unit of 60,000 is scaled to 1, and you change the scaling factor to 10, the units are changed to 600,000. Changing the scaling factor of a graph is useful when a chart contains more than one graph, and you want to adjust the different graphs to be able to see them in relation to each other.

  1. Select the graph and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Individual Graph Properties.
  2. Select the General subtab.
  3. Select a scaling factor from the Scale dropdown list.
  4. Apply, revert, or save the changes, as explained in steps 5 and 6 of Setting Individual Graph Properties.

 


Changing a Graph's Colors

The foreground color for a graph includes the color of the line and symbols used to plot data in the graph, where appropriate. The background color is the fill color for the graph, where appropriate for the selected graph style. These colors are assigned by default, but you can change them, as follows:

  1. Select the graph and select the Properties > Selected Item Properties tab, as explained in steps 1-3 in Setting Individual Graph Properties.
  2. Click the Colors > Foreground subtab to change the foreground colors, or click the Colors > Background subtab to change the background colors.
  3. Select your preferred color chooser, by clicking one of the subtabs: Swatches, HSB, or RGB.

 


Setting Global Properties

Global properties apply to all active views. To set global properties, click the Properties tab, then click the Global Properties subtab. You can set the following properties:


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