Create a column visualization for a time series widget

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 5 minutes to read

    • To emphasize the indicator scores over time instead of the trend in scores, create a time series widget with a column visualization. You can also use column visualizations to compare indicators.

    Before you begin

    Role required: pa_power_user or admin

    About this task

    Note:
    This feature is part of the Core UI front end. It is not supported on Platform Analytics dashboards or UI Builder pages, except to a limited extent when migrated in compatibility mode. To build Platform Analytics components, see Data visualizations in Platform Analytics or Filters in Platform Analytics.

    This feature is in maintenance mode and is no longer being augmented or changed. Only security fixes to this feature will be addressed.

    If you want to emphasize indicator scores instead of the trend in scores over time, use a column visualization. Column visualizations are also useful for comparing the scores of several indicators. To compare indicators, add indicators to the widget, or place several widgets with column visualization next to each other in a dashboard.

    Figure 1. Column visualization
    A column visualization in a time series
    To help see whether there is a correlation between two indicators, add a second indicator to the widget. For best results, select an indicator that has discreet values as the main indicator and a continuous set of data as the secondary indicator.
    Figure 2. Column visualization examining correlation
    Image showing a column visualization of new critical incidents as a percentage with the total new incidents as a line

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to All > Performance Analytics > Widgets and click New.
    2. In the Name field, give the widget a name that reflects the information being displayed.
    3. In the Type field, select Time series.
      If you change the value of Type after you fill in other fields, those fields are cleared.
    4. In the Visualization field, select Column.
    5. In the Indicator field, select the main indicator for which you want to show scores.
    6. Fill in any of the following fields:
      Field Description
      Breakdown and Element Only the scores that match the specified element of this breakdown are shown. Select values for both Breakdown and Element. Otherwise, only scores that are not associated with any element of the breakdown are shown.
      Note:
      Instead of specifying an element for the first-level breakdown, you can specify an elements filter in the Elements Settings tab. Use elements filters for creating personal visualizations. For more information, see Additional settings for time series widgets.
      Important:
      If the widget is for a formula indicator, all contributing indicators in the formula must support the breakdown. Otherwise an error message instead of a value appears in the widget on a dashboard.
      2nd Breakdown and Element Drill down to a second level of breakdown and element, if a first-level breakdown and element have been specified.
      Note:
      • Second-level breakdowns must be enabled on the indicator record, in the Collect breakdown matrix tab.
      • Follow element must be disabled. Dashboard breakdowns count as one breakdown level of the two that are possible.
      Time series Runs a function on the indicator scores for a specific time period, such as a 7-day sum or average. For more information, see Applying time series aggregations.
      Note:
      Business and fiscal calendars do not support time series aggregations. You cannot set a time series aggregation on a widget for an indicator that uses such a calendar.
      Previous period chart Compares the scores of the main indicator in similar periods.

      The Column visualization works well for previous period charts. Also consider setting a Color scheme.

      Activating Previous Period Chart disables any secondary Widget Indicators.
      Label Specifies a custom label for the main indicator.
      Color A single color that applies only to the scores for the main indicator. This field overrides any color selected in Color scheme.
      Color scheme A spectrum of colors for the scores for all indicators. If only one indicator is shown, only the first color is used.

      If you do not specify a color scheme, the default color scheme defined by the glide.ui.chart.default.colors property applies.

      You can create your own color scheme instead of using a provided color scheme. For more information, see Create a color scheme.
    7. To have the widget follow the breakdown elements that are selected on a breakdown dashboard, follow these steps:
      1. Select Follow element.

        Selecting this option removes the ability to set a second breakdown and element on the widget.

      2. Optional: Set which of the available breakdowns to follow in Followed breakdown.
        Breakdown dashboards let you select a breakdown source and elements. However, an indicator can use more than one breakdown that is based on the same breakdown source. Use this setting to determine which of these breakdowns to apply in a breakdown dashboard.

        For example, the indicator Number of open incidents uses two breakdowns: Assigned to, and Opened by. Both breakdowns are based on the Users.Active breakdown source. Consider the case where you create a widget for this indicator and you have the widget follow elements on breakdown dashboards. You want the widget to display separate values for the elements of the Assigned to breakdown. Therefore, you select Assigned to in the field Followed breakdown.

      3. In Show multiple elements as, select whether to show each element separately or to show an aggregate of elements based on the indicator aggregation.
        Neither all widget visualizations nor all indicators support both aggregate and separate views. For automated and external indicators, only COUNT, SUM, MAX, and MIN data aggregations support aggregate views. COUNT DISTINCT and AVG do not. For more information, see Showing multiple elements separately or aggregated.
      Important:
      Do not specify a breakdown and element on the widget record when you want the elements for that breakdown to be selected on a breakdown dashboard. The element on the widget record overrides any elements selected on the breakdown dashboard for that breakdown.
    8. Optional: Review the Settings tabs and change settings as desired.
      For more information, see Additional settings for time series widgets
    9. Click Submit.

    What to do next

    To compare your indicator to other indicators, perform one of the following actions:
    • Add indicators to the Widget Indicators related list. Use the Column visualization for those indicators.
    • Create widgets with Column visualizations for each of the other indicators. Place these widgets next to each other in a dashboard.

    To view the widget, add it to a dashboard or a portal.