Create a Summary Label Visual

Summary Label Visual

A Summary Label is a type of Visual that uses text and symbols to summarize key data points. This is helpful when you need to highlight certain metrics while including small details such as variance from the last period. Another use-case is to use the Summary Label to create a separator or title for your dashboard. 

When connecting the summary labels to data sources, you can use dynamic variables that'll display up-to-date information when the underlying data is updated. This saves you tons of time in updating your chart. 

Here are some examples of Summary Labels:

Steps to Create a Summary Label

1. Navigate to Analytics -> Visuals.
2. Click on New Visual button.
3. Select Summary Label type.
   
   
4. Name your visual by replacing the 'Untitled Visual' with your (internal) visual name, this will make it easier for you to find it later. Tab or click anywhere outside the box to save your changes.
   
   
   
   
5. Next, optionally link your data source by clicking on +Add Data Source. It will bring up a list of data sources. To select the data source you want to use to create your visual, click on the row. Note that if you're creating a text-only summary label, such as a title or separator, you do not need to connect to a data source.
6. By default, the first section is added for you. A section is a canvas that you can format how information appears. You can use text or predefined variables to display your information in the WYSIWYG editor within the section. 
   

Explore the following topics for an in-depth look into creating summary labels:

• Using the Section Editor
• Defining Column Variables
• Defining Summary Variables
• Defining Indicator Variables
• Using Variables in Sections

Using the Section Editor

By default, when creating a Summary Label, it automatically creates a section (Section1). You can add more sections if you like, to separate the information you display. 

Tip
Sections are stacked vertically and they can be independently formatted.

 

Formatting Text

The Section editor uses a robust WISIWYG editor that supports various text formatting options. You can format text using the editing options provided. The editor supports basic editing shortcuts as well. When you finish making the changes in the editor, tab out to view the results on the preview panel. 

Tip
To create a text-only summary label, such as a title or separator, enter your text in the editor, format it the way you like it, tab out or hit enter, and you're done.

In the example above, the information in the Section combines Column variables (denoted by #[CVn]), an Indicator variable (denoted by #[IVn]) and text.

Defining Column Variables

You can use column variables to dynamically retrieve information from a specific column in a data source. Once it's defined, you can then display them in your summary editor saving you lots of time as it will automatically display the latest information based on what's in your data source.

Tip
Before creating a column variable, ensure your summary label is connected to a data source.

To create Column Variables in your Summary Label

1. Click on the 3 dots to the right of the Variables header and select Add Column Variable. A column variable follows the naming convention of #[CVn], where n is a sequential number starting from 1. You can change the variable name to something easier to remember in the Column Variable tab. 
   
   
2. By default, #[CV1] is defined from the first column of your data source. To change the column, click on the column variable #[CV1], and in the window below, click on the Column Variable tab. In the Column dropdown, select the desired column.
   
   
   
   In the example above, #[CV1] is taking the MAX value from the column 'Price per litre'.
   
   
3. Select an Aggregation method for the variable from SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, COUNT, LAST, and SECOND LAST (for Number or Date type columns), and COUNT, LAST and SECOND LAST (for Text type columns). Note that LAST and SECOND LAST refers to the row index in an unsorted (as-is) data source where values exist. 
4. You can use conditions to narrow your result by clicking on Add Condition and then selecting the column you'd like to filter on.
5. If the variable is of type Date or Number, a Formatting tab will appear. The formatting defined at the data source level will be reflected in the variable, however, you can overwrite the formatting here.

Defining Summary Variables

Use Summary Variables when you need to perform mathematical operations. You can include summary variables when defining the conditions in the Column or Indicator variable. Examples of summary variable use are: Calculating the variance between two periods (where each period is defined with column variables), percentage increase, and so forth. Summary variables have 4 output types: Number, Date, Time, and Duration. 

 

To create Summary Variables in your Summary Label

1. Click on the 3 dots to the right of the Variables header and select Add Summary Variable. A summary variable follows the naming convention of #[SVn]. You can change the variable name to something easier to remember in the Summary Variable tab. 
2. Select the Output Type from Number, Date, Time, and Duration.
3. In the Variable Formula field, enter a formula. To include your column variable in your formula, use #[CV(number)], or if you've changed your variable name, simply replace CV(number) with your custom variable name. For the list of supported Math operators, please see Using Formulas in Analytics.
   
   
   
   In the example above, a summary variable #[USDollar] finds the US$ equivalent by taking the column variable #[CV1] and multiplying it by 0.71 to give us the result of type Number. 

Defining Indicator Variables

Indicator variables are used to return icons and/or text through the evaluation of set conditions. This is useful to provide the viewer with a visual aid to easily highlight important information. 

To create an Indicator Variable for your Summary Label

1. Click on the 3 dots to the right of the Variables header and select Add Indicator Variable. An indicator variable follows the naming convention of #[IV(number_starts_with_1)]. You can change the variable name to something easier to remember in the Indicator Variable tab. 
2. Click on Add Condition to add your conditions. A default row is provided where you can define the catch-all condition. 
   
   
   
   In the example above, one of the indicator variable's #[IV1] condition is defined using the result of the summary variable #[SV1]. When #[SV1] is greater than or equal to 1, then it shows a red down arrow with the text "down 58.2% from 2019" in black.  

Using Variables in Sections

When all the required pieces are defined, you can use them to build the summary label. There are two ways to use the predefined variables in a Section.

1. Drag and drop the variable into the editor 
2. Type '#' to enable variable suggestion

1. Drag and drop the variable into the editor

To drag the variables into the editor, head over to the variables list. Click and hold on the variable you'd like to use and drag it over to the editor, with your mouse cursor guiding where you'd like to drop the variable. To drop the variable, simply release your mouse. Next, tab out of the editor to see a preview of how the information will display.

2. Type '#' to enable variable suggestion

With your cursor in the editor, typing '#' will trigger a list of pre-defined variables to be displayed. You need to have defined either a column, summary or indicator variable in the summary label you're working on for this to work.

With the pre-defined variables list open, once you see the variable you'd like to use, either select it with your mouse or hit enter once it's in focus. It will then automatically populate the Section with your selected variable.

Important
Variables should not be modified in the WYSIWYG editor. When edited, the variable will lose its effectiveness in displaying its data. If you accidentally change the variable, just delete the variable in the editor and add it back in.