Did you know that it’s possible to show a large dynamic text value in your KPI in place of a standard chart? Perhaps you may want to use a particular kind of KPI showing a large number display where a typical chart visualization is less important.

For example:

Using NetCharts Performance Dashboards (NCPD) this trick can easily be done by configuring a KPI to disable and remove the chart portions of the visualization as shown in the image above.

Here’s how:

1. The first step when adding dashboard content is to select a Multiple Measures, No Dimensions as KPI Type. When added to your dashboard you will see a Meter visualization (Horizontal Bar) that will look something similar to this:

   

2. Click the gear icon in the upper right hand corner to open the Edit Preferences panel.

   

3. In the Series Name: text box, replace the Series 0 text with something meaningful.

   

4. With the Edit Preferences panel open click the Add button to add a new data series.
   
   Note: Adding a second data series, which normally shows the goal, allows for centering of the text label of the first data series.

   

5. Replace the New Series text in the Series Name: text box like what was done in previous step 3. Then click on the Customize pencil icon to the right of the Visualization dropdown. This will open a Visualizations Options window.

   

6. In the Visualizations Options window, the General tab is pre-selected. Select Classic in the Style: dropdown. In the Title: checkbox, uncheck Autogenerate. While optional, you can add your own text here or leave the Title box blank.

   

7. Click the Value Axis tab, uncheck Autogenerate in the Title: checkbox. While optional, you can add your own text here or leave the Title blank.
   
   Note: Make sure you choose the desired format for your data in the Format: dropdown.

   

8. In the Bar tab you will see two widths defined each for the two bars. Select the bar with a 60px width by double clicking the text label None in the Label Style box to bring up a dropdown option. Select Middle, then click the Update button. The Label Style will now show as Middle.

   

9. In the Legend tab, uncheck the Show: checkbox.

   

10. Finally, as the last step, copy the following 4 CDL parameters and paste them into the CDL: text box under the Advanced tab.
    
    Note: The ColorTable param sets the bar colors of both datasets to white. The BarValueLabel param defines the font color, font type, and size. The BottomTics param sets the color to be transparent with a small font size to minimize the footprint. The BottomScale param is set to use a small max and step value to ensure the text label remains centered.

    
    ColorTable = xffffff,xffffff;
    BarValueLabel = (“”, black_160, “Arial”, 70, 0, CENTER);
    BottomTics = (,xffffff_0, “Arial Plain”, 1, 0, CENTER, , CENTER);
    BottomScale = (0, 0.1, 1);
    

    

11. Click OK to close the Visualization Options window, then click the cog wheel icon to close and Leave Edit Preferences and you’re done!

    Since all titles and labels have been removed, as a finishing touch, rename the default KPI label by going to the top menu Edit -> Alter Dashboard Layout edit area. Your restyled and finished KPI will now look like this:

    

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at support@visualmining.com!