Widgets in Datarails are the building blocks of dashboards, designed to help visualize and analyze data effectively. Whether you want to showcase trends, comparisons, or detailed tables, widgets provide a dynamic and customizable way to present your financial and operational metrics.

Widget Structure

Each widget is comprised of several components:

• Title and Header: Displays the widget name and often the applied filters.

• Visualization Area: The core space where the chart, table, or graph appears.

• Toolbar: A functional bar at the top-right offering actions such as edit, clone, delete and export. 

Widget Toolbar

The toolbar includes:

• • Rename: Change the widget's title.

  • Edit: Opens the Widget Editor.

  • Move to: Move the widget to another dashboard.
  • Copy to: Creates a duplicate of the widget.

  • Delete: Remove the widget from the dashboard.

  • Sort: Adjust sorting options for data in the widget.

  • Show Table: Toggle the table view of the widget data.

  • Add to Storyboard: Include the widget in a storyboard presentation.

  • Share Widget: Generate a shareable link.

  • Download: Export the widget as an image or get a PPT link.

  • Expand: View the widget in full-screen mode.

Display Period

Widgets reflect data based on the dashboard's reference date or a specific time period set in the widget editor. This ensures alignment with reporting needs.

For example, if the reference date indicates December 2024 and the widget is set to Rolling 12 Months, it will display data starting from January 2024 up to and including December 2024.

Drill Down

Widgets support comprehensive drill-down capabilities that allow users to explore the underlying details of a dataset with ease. There are several types of drill-down options available:

Widget Drill Down: This is configured directly within the widget editor. It allows users to predefine multiple levels of data hierarchies for exploration. For example, you can set the top level as Reporting Month and then add additional layers such as Account Group, Account Name, etc. In the dashboard, any data point with further drillable levels will be underlined, indicating that users can click to reveal deeper insights.

Drill Down List: This functions similarly to Excel's drill-down capability. When clicking on a value, it opens a detailed list of all transactions or records that contributed to that specific number. The list can be viewed directly on the web or downloaded to Excel for further analysis.

Drill Down By: This method is accessed by clicking on a specific data point (e.g., a column, bar, or cell). It does not require prior setup. Users can dynamically choose which field to drill by, making it a flexible tool for ad-hoc analysis. Read more about Drill Down By.

Comparative Analysis: This feature enables users to compare data points across different filter values or periods. It provides a clear view of variances and trends between selected dimensions. You can read more about Comparative Analysis.

Add new Widget

Add New Widget Options

Widgets can be added either from the Widget Library or created as Custom Widgets:

• From Library: This option opens the Widget Library, allowing you to select from pre-configured widgets. Once selected, you can modify the widget to suit your specific needs using the widget editor.

• Custom Widget: Selecting this option will prompt you to choose the widget type (e.g., table, chart), assign a widget name, and select a data table to base it on. This opens a blank instance of the Widget Editor.

Creating a Custom Widget

1. Click New, then Add Widget, and select Custom.

2. Choose your Widget Type (e.g., Table, Column Chart, Pie Chart).

3. Enter a Widget Name and select the appropriate Data Table. Click Next.

4. The Widget Editor will open with sections tailored to the selected widget type:

   • For example, a Table widget includes sections for columns, rows, values, and filters.

   •  A Column Chart widget includes x-axis, date series, values, and filters.
     

5. Drag and drop fields from the data panel to the relevant areas based on the widget type.

6. Apply filters. You can filter fields directly within the widget sections. Alternatively, drag fields into the Filters section to apply filters without displaying the fields in the widget.

7. Add fields to sections to enable drill-down functionality. The order of fields determines the drill-down levels.
   

8. Click Sort to define the data sorting logic.

9. Click the option menu to adjust the widget. You can add and adjust labels, tooltips and titles, create variance and more.  
   Use the Aggregation or Display Period buttons to define how data is summarized and which time frame it reflects.
   

10. Use the Top Toolbar to adjust formatting. Apply number formats (e.g., accounting, percentages), control decimal places, add comma separators and more.

11. The Widget Editor allows you to override the default dashboard color palette for each individual widget. You can customize the colors to better align with your branding or highlight specific data. Click the colors button to select and apply your desired color palette.
    

12. Click on Filter by value to filter the widget to display only specific values (e.g., top 15 accounts).
13. Click Save. The widget will be added to the dashboard, where you can continue to adjust its layout and layering as needed. To learn more about dashboard customization, visit the Dashboard Customization article.

Clone an Existing Widget

To clone a widget:

1. Hover over the widget you want to duplicate.

2. Click Edit, then select Copy to.

3. The Copy to interface will open. Update the widget name and select the destination dashboard.

4. The Edit Widget interface will open, allowing you to customize the new widget as needed.

5. Customize the new widget and click Save. 

Widget Editor

To edit an existing widget:

1. Hover over the widget.

2. Click Edit from the toolbar.

This opens the Widget Editor, which allows you to change data sources, adjust visualizations, and modify settings.

Refer to the Add New Widget section for a step-by-step guide, as the interface is shared.

Widget Filters

Filters refine the data displayed in widgets and offer flexible control over how data is presented.

• Dashboard Filters: These filters apply across all widgets in the dashboard by default.

• Widget-Specific Filters: These apply only to the widget in which they are configured and can override dashboard filters if set to do so.

Add a widget filter

1. Open the Widget Editor. 

2. Locate the relevant field in the fields panel.

3. Click the Filter icon next to the field.

4. Choose Show in Dashboard to make the filter visible in the widget preview.

5. To override a global dashboard filter, check the Override Global Filter option. This ensures the widget uses its own filter value, even if a dashboard-wide filter is applied.

Widget Types

Widgets come in several types to support varied visualization needs:

• Column & Bar Chart: Great for comparing categories over time or side-by-side. 

• Table: Displays detailed data in rows and columns, suitable for audits or financials. 

• Pie Chart: Ideal for illustrating a part to whole relationship. Learn how to create a Pie Chart. 

• Combo Chart: Combines bar and line charts for multi-metric analysis.

• Waterfall Chart: Visualizes incremental changes leading to a final result. Learn how to create a Waterfall Chart. 

• Gauge widget: Measures progress toward a goal or a KPI. Learn how to create a Gauge Widget. 

Updated May 21, 2025 12:34