Create time series data visualizations

Show changes in data over time. Use different time series visualizations to emphasize different aspects of the data, such as trends or individual values.

Before you begin

Role required: Anyone with access to data can create a visualization of that data on any dashboard that they can edit. Users with the itil, report_user, admin, or viz_creator role can create a visualization in the Visualization Designer. When you create a visualization in the Visualization Designer, it is saved to the Library. For more information on access, see Report_view access control and Platform Analytics roles.

About this task

A time series is an ordered sequence of metrics taken continuously over time. The following business cases are some of the uses of a time series:

• Identifying trends, patterns, and outliers in data.
• Identifying turning points, such as whether a change in policy led to a change in indicator scores.
• Evaluating the relationships between data sources.

When you are selecting a visualization for a time series, consider whether you want to emphasize the trend in the data or specific changes in the data. Also consider whether you want to show one data source or compare several related data sources.

For information about the use of a Time series visualization in a dashboard, see the Developer Site. This site gives information about Time series data visualization components in the UI Builder, and some configuration options may differ from the Visualization Designer.

For an example of creating a time series visualization, see Time series data visualization example.

Procedure

1. Navigate to All > Platform Analytics > Library > Data Visualizations, or open an in-line dashboard and select Edit.

2. Select Create data visualization.

3. Configure the Header and border. Header and border options are the same for all data sources.

1. Choose a data source.

   For general descriptions of the data sources, see Data sources for data visualizations.

   • Table (available in the base system). When you select a table, you can filter it by custom or preconfigured conditions. Custom conditions can include questions or Service Catalog variables.

     Configured report sources appear in the Predefined conditions list. For more information, see Report sources.

     To help you create a custom filter, there is a preview list of records that would be included in the visualization. You can change which fields are shown as columns and the width of columns in the list actions.

-   Indicator \(available in the base system\). You can filter the indicator scores by breakdowns and elements.

    **Note:** Benchmark indicators are not supported.

    **Note:**

    You might have a multiple select \(is one of\) or dynamic \(is \(dynamic\)\) operator on the breakdown element filter. These operators require the indicator and breakdown to support them. For more information about the configurations that support these operators, see ["Is one of" and "Is \(Dynamic\)" operators on breakdown conditions in data visualizations](performance-analytics/condition-operators-ind-bkdowns.md).

-   MetricBase \(available if MetricBase is enabled\). When you select a MetricBase data source, you have the option of constructing a custom filter for it using conditions and related list conditions, as with Table data sources.
-   Usage Insights \(available with the User Experience PAR Integration application, to users with a required role\). Choose one of up to three KPIs included with this application, depending on the visualization type. For more information, see [Usage Insights data sources for data visualizations](uxa-data-sources.md).
**Note:** You can select multiple data sources for this visualization, but they must be of the same type: table, indicator, Usage Insights, or MetricBase. For more information, see [Multiple data sources](multiple-data-sources.md).

1. Select the options for your data source.

   • If your visualization represents table data, go to Table data options for time series data visualizations.
   • If your visualization represents indicator data, go to Indicator data options for time series data visualizations.
   • If your visualization represents Usage Insights data, go to Usage Insights data options for time series data visualizations.
   • If your visualization represents MetricBase data, go to MetricBase data options for time series data visualizations.
   • Under Presentation, provide display and color information.

1. Under Chart interaction, set what if anything happens when a viewer clicks a chart or a chart segment on the visualization.

1. Select Save.

   Navigate to All > Platform Analytics > Library > Data Visualizations to return to the Data Visualization list.

What to do next

• Add a visualization to a dashboard from the Visualization Designer
• Share a data visualization in the Visualization Designer

• Bookmark a visualization in the Visualization Designer

• Use cases for different time series visualization types
  Time series visualizations can emphasize the trend in the data or specific changes in the data. They can show one data source or compare several related data sources.

• Table data options for time series data visualizations
  The following Data configuration options are available for all time series type visualizations of table data.
• Indicator data options for time series data visualizations
  The following Data configuration options are available for all time series type visualizations of indicator scores.
• Usage Insights data options for time series data visualizations
  The following Data configuration options are available for all time series type visualizations of Usage Insights data.
• MetricBase data options for time series data visualizations
  The following data options are available for all time series type visualizations of MetricBase data.
• Display settings for time series data visualizations
  Each time series visualization type has a different set of display settings.
• Configure a forecast in a time series data visualization
  If a time series visualization is configured to show forecasts, you can configure the forecasts for that visualization.
• Options for time series data visualizations with multiple metrics
  If you are showing multiple metrics in a time series data visualization, you can set the group by, visualization type, and Y-axis scale for each metric. You can also have filters on a dashboard apply only to specific metrics.
• Time series data visualization example
  Time series visualizations show the changes in data over time. This example starts with a single indicator data source and adds more complexity.

Parent Topic:Creating data visualizations