Describes the visual types configuration properties and values.
This section describes the properties of visualization type configurations, possible values, and the definition of those values for creating or editing visual types (custom charts) for Self-Service Analytics.
You must be an administrator to manage custom visual types.
name - stringname is the name of visual type the configuration file represents, and displays in the user interface. This name must be unique in your Self-Service Analytics instance, or it will overwrite or be overwritten by a visual type using the same name.type - stringtype is one of the properties Self-Service Analytics uses internally to represent and distinguish visual types. Built-in visuals have unique type properties. Any visual you add to the system should use the same value, CUSTOM.controls - array of stringscontrols is the list of things you enable this visual type to do. Supported values are included in the chart below:
Control
Description
UberStyle
Allows an instance of this visual type to use the Style Switcher to switch to other visual types.
Color
Allows an instance of this visual type to show the Color panel within the sidebar or pop-up editor.
Download
Allows instances of this visual type to be downloaded as an image, PDF, or configuration files.
Filters
Allows this visual type to be filtered using the filter editor in the sidebar or pop-up editor.
Publish
Enables this visualization for publication. If this control is not present, the “Filter” option is shown in a context menu.
Settings
Enables the settings panel in the sidebar or pop-up editor. Use the settings panel to edit the variables added to the visualization.
Sort
Enables the Sort & Limit panel in the sidebar or pop-up editor. This panel is used to sort and limit the data returned. Only certain variable types support sort and limit.
Subscribe
Allows the visual type to be the target of filters added from external sources and other visuals on the dashboard.
TimePlayer
Enables the Time panel in the sidebar or pop-up editor. This allows changing the field used for the time bar or turning off the time bar for each instance of the visual.
Undo
Allows users to undo changes they make to instances of this visualization.
Additional properties may be present in a visualization’s controls array but they may deprecated, irrelevant to a custom visual type that does not use the properties.
variables - array of objectsvariables are required for the configuration. This array of objects define data and non-data values associated with instances of this visualization. All supported variable configuration are included in the list below.
attribute variables are represented in the side panel as a button that users use to select a field. This variable’s selected field is not used as part of the data request by default, but the name is provided for other uses or for manual configuration within the visualization’s code.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
box-plot-metric variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a box-plot-metric variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
Edit float variables using a standard browser number input. If minimum, maximum, or both values are specified in the config, a helper message shows below the input to notify the user of these ranges.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
group variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a group variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
histogram-group variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a histogram-group variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller. Other options are not presented to users.
Define this property to enable color configuration for this variable.
count
Try to conform the number of bins to the given value.
width
Try to conform range number of bins to the given value.
binsCount
integer
Default number of bins to display when binType is set to count.
binsCount
number
Default number of bins to display when binType is set to width.
values
string
absolute suggests to the visual type that the actual sum of the bin should be y-axis values. relative suggests to the visual type that the values should be percentages of the whole sum of all bins.
cumulative
boolean
If true, the chart should include a representation of the cumulative value as the bins move from left to right. Typically represented as an overlaid line.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
Edit integer variables using a standard browser number input. If minimum, maximum, or both values are specified in the config, a helper message shows below the input to notify the user of these ranges.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
metric variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a metric variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller.
The name of the color palette to use by default. The value_inherit uses the palette from the currently selected theme. Other available values include DefaultSequential and DefaultQualitative.
metricType
string
Set to color to enable this metric as the color metric. Only set this to one metric on the visualization.
legendType
string
Available values include palette and range.
config
object
All properties are optional.
displayNoneOption
boolean
When set to true, users can select None when choosing a field for this variable.
defaultValue
array of object
Enable to allow setting of a default configuration for the chosen field.
name
string
A value of none combined with config.displayNoneOption set to true will default the selected field to None. A value of count will automatically select the Volumemetric.
colorConfig
object
autoShowColorLegend
boolean
If true, show a legend for this variable by default.
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
multi-group variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a multi-group variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller.
A label to show for each grouping level. The number of entries in this array should match the value set for groupLevel.
groupNames
array of strings
The number of grouping levels to allow.
groupTypes
array of strings
The set of field types to allow for each grouping level. Each entry should be a space-delimited list of all field types to allow. The number of entries in this array should match the value set for groupLevel. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
MONEY
NONE
groupTypes
string
The name of the color palette to use by default. The value_inherit uses the palette from the currently selected theme.
colorGroupIndex
integer
Define this property to enable color configuration for this variable.
autoShowColorLegend
boolean
If true, show a legend for this variable by default.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
multi-metric variables are not represented on the settings panel. Enable editing a multi-metric variable by adding an axis label for the variable using the createAxisLabel method on the controller.
The name of the color palette to use by default. The value_inherit uses the palette from the currently selected theme. Other available values include DefaultSequential and DefaultQualitative.
metricType
string
Set to color to enable this metric as the color metric. Only set this to one metric on the visualization.
legendType
string
Available values include palette and range.
defaultValue
array of object
Enable to allow setting of a default configuration for the chosen field.
name
string
A value of none combined with config.displayNoneOption set to true will default the selected field to None. A value of count will automatically select the Volumemetric.
colorConfig
object
autoShowColorLegend
boolean
If true, show a legend for this variable by default.
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
colorNumb
integer
The number of colors to include in the color palette by default. 0 will choose the smallest palette available.
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
If the values property is provided, the variable is represented by a multi-select tag input.
If values is not provided, the variable is represented by a control that provides an arrangeable list of fields that includes an edit button. Users can select which fields should and should not be included.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
{ "name": "Tile Provider API Key", "type": "string", "descr": "API key for the tile provider chosen. OpenStreetMap does not require an API key.", "required": false }
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
{ "name": "Text Property", "type": "text", "descr": "API key for the tile provider chosen. OpenStreetMap does not require an API key.", "required": false }
ungrouped variables are represented by a series of buttons to allow users to select a set number of fields matched up with labels. Below the field buttons is a number input to choose a limit to the number of records that should be returned. By default, the labels provided are used to attempt to select the correct fields. If no fields match the labels, the first n fields are selected.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.
ungroupedList variables are represented by two styles of control depending on the presence or absence of the groupLevel and groupNames properties in the config.If no groupLevel and groupNames properties are defined, the control provides only an arrangeable list of fields with an edit button which allows selecting or deselecting which fields should be included.If groupLevel and groupNames are defined in the config, the variable is represented by a combination of the UI from the ungroupedvariable and the UI shown above. This allows you to supply a set number of fields as named properties as well as an undefined number of additional fields for other purposes. When selecting the field for any named properties or for the additional fields list, the fields selected for other uses will not be selectable.
The name of the property. It must be unique among all variables on the visualization. This name is used to access the data accessor and/or variable value on the controller provided to the visualization.
descr
string
A description of the variable for your reference. This is not displayed in the UI.
attributeType
array of strings
A list of field types to include when selecting fields for this variable. Accepted values:
ATTRIBUTE
TIME
NUMBER
INTEGER
required
boolean
Triggers the UI to require a value for certain variable types. Not used for this variable type.