Creating and Viewing Dashlets

Pages Used to Create and View Dashlets

Page Name	Definition Name	Navigation	Usage
KPI Dashboard	KP_DASHBOARD	select Key Performance Indicators, then select View/Modify KPI Dashboard	Create and view KPI dashboards.
Create new Dashboard	KP_NEW_DASHBOARD	On the KPI Dashboard page, click Create New Dashboard.	Name a new KPI dashboard.
Dashlet Definition - Basic Information	KP_DLET_WIZARD_1	On the KPI Dashboard page, click the Configure Dashlet button.	Specify dashlet format and time period.
Dashlet Definition - Data	KP_DLET_WIZARD_2	On the Dashlet Definition - Basic Information page, click Next or 2. Click the number 2 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.	Define the KPI data to use for a dashlet.
Choose KPIs	BC_DO_SELECTION	On the Dashlet Definition - Data page, click Select KPIs to Display.	Select the KPIs to include in a dashlet.
Choose Dimension Members	BC_DO_SELECTION_1	On the Dashlet Definition - Data page, click Select Dimension Members.	Select the dimension members to include in a dashlet.
Dashlet Definition - Table Details	KP_DLET_WIZARD_3	On the Dashlet Definition - Data page for a table-based dashlet, click Next or 3. Click the number 3 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.	Specify table display options.
Dashlet Definition - Chart Details	KP_DLET_WIZARD_3C	On the Dashlet Definition - Data page for a chart-based dashlet, click Next or 3. Click the number 3 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.	Specify chart display options.

Understanding the KPI Dashboard

The KPI Dashboard enables you to view and create KPI dashlets. KPI dashlets are small pages that provide display-only snapshots of KPI results. You can create dashlets that contain KPI data in either a graphical or grid-based table format. The KPI Dashboard includes a control panel, the dashlet display area, and the KPI Dashboard Wizard. When you access the KPI Dashboard component, the system displays the default dashboard. Initially, the default dashboard is the delivered dashboard configuration, My Dashboard (Default). which contains two empty dashlets in the dashlet display area. Subsequently when you access the component, whichever configuration you save as your default configuration will be active. You can either modify and save the My Dashboard (Default) configuration or create a new dashboard and set it as your default dashboard. If at some point you delete all saved dashboard configurations, the system generates a new My Dashboard (Default) configuration with two empty dashlets in the dashlet display area.

Image: KPI Dashboard

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the KPI Dashboard. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

KPI Dashboard Wizard

The KPI Dashboard Wizard provides a user-friendly, browser-based graphical user interface (GUI) that leads you through the series of steps involved in creating and publishing a KPI dashlet.

You do not need to have PeopleSoft-specific application development tools or skills to use the KPI Dashboard Wizard to create dashlets. During the dashlet-creation process, the KPI Dashboard GUI presents a series of numbered steps. Each step appears in a numbered path at the top of the KPI Dashboard Wizard pages to indicate where you are in the dashlet-creation process.

Image: KPI Dashboard Wizard

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the KPI Dashboard Wizard. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

This labeled path assists you in navigating through the steps, and it enables you to review or edit dashlet definition values. When you've completed a step, KPI Dashlet Wizard automatically takes you to the next appropriate step. The Dashlet Wizard GUI leads you through the following steps that are used to create a dashlet:

Select the display format.
Specify the timeframe.
Define the KPI data to use.
Configure the chart or table, and preview the chart.

KPI Dashboard Control Panel

The dashboard control panel is a collapsible group box on the KPI Dashboard page that enables you to:

Load, save, and delete dashboard configurations.
Specify which business unit, scenario, fiscal year, and period to view.

The system automatically uses the business unit and scenario that are specified in your profile definition, but you can specify other values. If you have not yet established a profile, the system automatically transfers you to the My Profile page, where you can define these values. You can save multiple dashboard configurations, identifying them by assigning a name.

Common Elements Used in This Creating and Viewing Dashlets

Cancel

Click to quit the wizard without saving any changes that you made to the dashlet configuration.

Finish

Click to quit the wizard and retain any changes that you made to the dashlet configuration.

Click a number to access that specific page number within the wizard. The number for the current page is indicated by boldface and a different color than the other wizard page numbers.

KPI Dashboard Page

Use the KPI Dashboard page (KP_DASHBOARD) to create and view KPI dashboards.

Navigation

select Key Performance Indicators, then select View/Modify KPI Dashboard

Image: KPI Dashboard page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the KPI Dashboard page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Dashboard Control Panel - <dashboard name> (<year and period>)

Dashboard

Select the name of the dashboard configuration to view.

Business Unit

Select the business unit for which to view KPI data. This field contains the business unit that is specified on your profile by default.

Scenario ID

Select the scenario for which to view KPI data. This field contains the business unit that is specified on your profile by default.

Time

Specify the timeframe for which to view KPI data. Options are:

Current: Select to view data from the current fiscal year and period.

Choose: Select to use data from a particular timeframe. You must also complete the Fiscal Year and Period fields when you use this option.

Fiscal Year

Select the fiscal year for which to view data. This field is available for entry only if Time is set to Choose.

Period

Select the accounting period for which to view data. This field is available for entry only if Time is set to Choose.

Apply

Click to activate any changes that you have made and refresh the screen.

Restore to Defaults

Click to revert to the last saved version of the dashboard that you are currently viewing.

Set as Default

Click to save the current dashboard configuration settings as the default dashboard configuration.

Save

Click to save the current settings to the name that is specified in the Name field. If a configuration already exists using that name, then it is overwritten.

Name

Enter a name for the dashboard configuration. When you click Save, the system saves the current settings to the name that you enter in this field.

Delete Dashboard

Click to delete the active dashboard configuration.

New Dashboard

Click to access the Create new Dashboard page, where you can enter a name for a new dashboard to create.

Dashlet Rows

The area of the page below the Dashlet Control Panel group box contains your dashlets. When you first access this page, it contains a single row with two undefined dashlets. Use the following buttons to interact with the dashlets:

Click the Configure Dashlet button to access the Dashboard Wizard, where you can configure the dashlet.

Click the Delete Dashlet button to delete the dashlet.

Click the Insert Row button to insert an additional dashlet row.

Click the Delete Row button to delete a dashlet row.

Dashlet Definition - Basic Information Page

Use the Dashlet Definition - Basic Information page (KP_DLET_WIZARD_1) to specify dashlet format and time period.

Navigation

On the KPI Dashboard page, click the Configure Dashlet button.

Image: Dashlet Definition - Basic Information page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Dashlet Definition - Basic Information page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Specify Display Options

Table

Select to configure a dashlet that displays information using a grid.

Chart

Select to configure a dashlet that displays information using a chart.

Time Period(s)

Specify the time period for which to display KPI data.

Use Period from Control Panel

Select to view KPI data from the fiscal year and period that is specified in the control panel of the KPI Dashboard page.

Single Period, Fixed

Select to view KPI data from a specific period.

If you select this option, you must also complete the Year and Period fields. The drop-down lists for year and period include values for which KPI assessments have been generated.

Multiple Periods

Select to view KPI data from several periods. Then select one of the following options to indicate which periods to view:

Previous N Periods: Select to view one or more prior periods. Specify how many prior periods by entering a value in the Number of Periods (N) field.

Range: Select to view data from periods within a specific date range. Specify the date range by selecting values for the Starting Year and Period and for the Ending Year and Period.

Same Period over Multiple Years: Select to view data from the same period over several years. Specify the period and years by selecting values for the Starting Year, Period, and End Fiscal Year fields.

Dashlet Definition - Data Page

Use the Dashlet Definition - Data page (KP_DLET_WIZARD_2) to define the KPI data to use for a dashlet.

Navigation

On the Dashlet Definition - Basic Information page, click Next or 2.
Click the number 2 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.

Image: Dashlet Definition - Data page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Dashlet Definition - Data page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Primary Data

Specify the primary criteria for defining the data to use for your dashlet. Options are:

By KPI: Select to use one or more specific KPIs as your main source of data.

By Dimension Member: Select to use one or more dimension members as your main source of data.

The underlying data for either option is the same, as in both cases you select KPIs and dimension members from a single dimension. The difference is the order in which you make your selections. If the primary data is by KPI, then in step 1 you specify the KPIs, and in step 2 the dimension members. If the primary data is by dimension member, then in step 1 you specify the dimension members, and in step 2 the KPIs. For example, if you want see the "Profitability by Customer" KPI for all your customers you would select primary data by KPI. On the other hand if you are responsible for a region and want to view all the KPIs for your region you would pick primary data by dimension member.

Dimension

Select the dimension to use. This field limits subsequent selections for KPIs to those that are based on only this dimension.

Step 1

If the primary data is by KPI, the KPIs to Display grid appears in this section of the page. It lists the KPIs that are included. Click Select KPIs to Display to access the Choose KPIs page, where you can select which KPIs to use.

If the primary data is by dimension member, the Dimension Members to display grid appears in this section of the page. It lists the dimension members that are included. Click Select Dimension Members to access the Choose KPI Dimension Members page, where you can select which dimension members to use.

Step 2

If the primary data is by KPI, the Dimension Members to display grid appears in this section of the page. It lists the dimension members that are included. Click Select Dimension Members to access the Choose KPI Dimension Members page, where you can select which dimension members to use.

If the primary data is by dimension member, the KPIs to Display grid appears in this section of the page. It lists the KPIs that are included. Click Select KPIs to Display to access the Choose KPIs page, where you can select which KPIs to use.

Dashlet Definition - Table Details Page

Use the Dashlet Definition - Table Details page (KP_DLET_WIZARD_3) to specify table display options.

Navigation

On the Dashlet Definition - Data page for a table-based dashlet, click Next or 3.
Click the number 3 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.

Image: Dashlet Definition - Table Details page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Dashlet Definition - Table Details page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

Table Title

Enter the text to use for the table.

Data Columns to Include

Insert rows as needed and complete the fields within this grid to define the columns and layout for the table.

Data Item

Select the data to use for the column.

Column Heading

Displays the title that is used for the column. This field automatically contains the description of the data item, but you can override it by entering your own text for the title.

Column Order

Enter a value to control the order of each column. The system populates this field automatically when you add a row, but you can override it.

Sort Order

Optionally, enter a numeric value to sort the column. The column with the lowest sort order is used as the primary sort; any additional sorts are done based on the ascending value of their sort order.

Sort Direction

For each column that is sorted, select whether to sort the data in that column in ascending or descending order.

Dashlet Definition - Chart Details Page

Use the Dashlet Definition - Chart Details page (KP_DLET_WIZARD_3C) to specify chart display options.

Navigation

On the Dashlet Definition - Data page for a chart-based dashlet, click Next or 3.
Click the number 3 from any of the other pages in the KPI Dashboard Wizard.

Image: Dashlet Definition - Chart Details page

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Dashlet Definition - Chart Details page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

To generate a chart pagelet using Pagelet Wizard, you include information that is related to the chart's x axis and y axis. The y axis is the axis that contains the KPI data. In most charts, the y axis is the vertical axis. However, in a horizontal bar chart, the y axis is the horizontal axis. The x axis is the axis against which the y-axis data is measured.

Chart Options

Chart Type

Select the type of chart to use to display the KPI data on the dashlet. Available chart formats are those supported by the PeopleCode Chart class.

See PeopleTools: PeopleCode API Reference"Chart Class," Understanding the Chart Class

X-Axis Field

Select the KPI data field from which to derive x-axis values for the chart.

X-Axis Title

Enter the text to use as a title for the x-axis.

X Label Angle

Enter the angle at which you want the text of the x-axis labels to appear along the x-axis on the dashlet.

Y Axis Data

Data in Separate Columns: Select to explicitly specify the columns that are used to group the graph data. When you select this option, you must also complete the Y-Axis Fields grid.

Data in Rows: Select to group the graph data by the KPI specified in the KPI ID field on the Dashlet Definition - Data page. When you select this option the Y axis field value is displayed for distinct values of the Y series field in groups for each X-axis field member.

Note: When you use the Data in Rows option you don't have a choice over the color of the bar; the system automatically uses the assessment color for that KPI and dimension member. When you use the Data in Separate Columns option, you can override the default assessment color to any color that you prefer.

Y-Axis Fields

Select the KPI data fields that you want to use to derive y-axis values for the chart.

If you set the Y Axis Data field to Data in Separate Columns, you can select up to four y-axis fields to create a chart that displays data for multiple fields. For example, if you track sales figures for several departments over multiple years, you can assign each department its own y-axis value.

Color

Select the color for the y-axis data. If you select multiple y-axis fields, selecting a different color for each field improves usability. This option is available only if the y-axis data is in stored columns.

Y Series

This field is available if the Y Axis Data field is set to Data in Rows. Select the field to use to generate a color-coded series of y-axis data. Colors are automatically assigned, but you can override them by supplying custom XSL.

Y-Axis Title

Enter the text to use as a title for the y-axis.

Y Label Angle

Enter the angle at which you want the text of the y-axis labels to appear along the y-axis on the dashlet.

Advanced Options

3D Angle

If you select a 3D chart type, enter the angle at which you want the 3D data to be displayed.

Chart Legend

Select the area of the pagelet where the chart legend appears. Options are:

Bottom
Left
None
Right
Top

Chart Height

Enter the height of the chart in pixels.

Chart Width

Enter the width of the chart in pixels.

If you do not enter height or width values, the chart is automatically sized based on the pagelet position and size (narrow or wide).

Overlay Fields

Select up to three fields for which you want to display data using a line drawn over the background chart. Overlays apply to all chart types except 2D and 3D pie charts.

Pagelet Preview

This collapsible group box displays a preview of the pagelet using the most recently saved display option settings on this page.

Refresh Chart Preview

If you've changed any chart parameters, click to refresh the preview chart using the new values.