Selecting data to add to a widget

This guide explains how to select data that you want to analyze and use to create visualizations in Explore.

Introduction

To create widgets in Explore, you first need to select the data you want to analyze in your table or visualization widget. You can add the following types of field to your widgets:

Dimensions
Metrics
Calculated KPIs (for more information, see Using calculated KPIs and adding them to widgets)

The selected fields are automatically added to a data table. You must select at least one dimension and one metric to create a data table. You can then create a visualization based on the data table.

Prerequisites

Before you complete the procedure in this guide, perform all of the following actions:

Load your collected data into Explore & Present.

Selecting dimensions and metrics

To create a widget, select at least one dimension and one metric. You can select fields more than once. You can select any combination of dimensions and metrics from your datastreams, and/or dimensions and metrics provided by Adverity.

To select the dimensions and metrics you want to add to a widget, follow these steps:

Go to the Explore page.
In the Dimensions & Metrics list on the left, select at least one dimension from your data. Dimensions are displayed in blue.
In the Dimensions & Metrics list on the left, select at least one metric from your data. Metrics are displayed in green.

The Dimensions and Metrics lists show all the dimensions and metrics that are available in Explore.

To make dimensions and metrics available in Explore, you must fetch data in a datastream, assign a Data Mapping to the fields you want to use, and load a data extract containing these fields into Explore & Present.

(Optional) In the Dimensions & Metrics list on the left, select at least one dimension and/or metric provided by Adverity.

Dimensions and metrics provided by Adverity are separated into two categories in the Dimensions & Metrics list:

Adverity

This group contains metadata dimensions, such as Create UTC, Datasource, Datastream, Datastream Extract, Channel, and other.

Time

Week-related dimensions and date range filters are based on the first day of the week set in your workspace.

To change the first day of the week on a workspace level, contact Adverity support.

This group contains dimensions and metrics of the following types:

Dimensions specifying date information: Week, Month, Quarter, Day of week, Day of month, Day of year.
Dimensions accumulating data by time periods: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly. For example, the Weekly dimension displays a weekly summary of the data.
Metrics showing the number of Days, Weeks, Months or Years for which data is available within the selected date range.
Date comparison dimensions, that allow you to compare data over the specified time periods. For more details, see the following table.

Date comparison dimension	Description
Previous N periods	Include data for a period of the same length as the selected date range preceding the selected date range. The parameter "N" defines how many preceding periods will be included. For example, select a date range of one week and add the Previous N periods dimension with N equal to 1. The This period dimension will show data for the selected date range, and the Previous period dimension will show data for the previous week.
Same period N weeks/months/quarters/years ago	Include data for a period of the same length as the selected date range that occurred N weeks/months/quarters/years before the selected date range. The parameter "N" defines how many historic periods will be included. For example, select a date range of one week (e.g. April 1 to April 8) and add the Same period N months ago dimension with N equal to 1. The This period dimension will show data for the selected date range, and the Same period 1 month ago dimension will show data for the selected dates in the previous month (e.g. March 1 to March 8).

Date comparison dimension

Description

Previous N periods

Include data for a period of the same length as the selected date range preceding the selected date range.

The parameter "N" defines how many preceding periods will be included.

For example, select a date range of one week and add the Previous N periods dimension with N equal to 1.

The This period dimension will show data for the selected date range, and the Previous period dimension will show data for the previous week.

Same period N weeks/months/quarters/years ago

Include data for a period of the same length as the selected date range that occurred N weeks/months/quarters/years before the selected date range.

The parameter "N" defines how many historic periods will be included.

For example, select a date range of one week (e.g. April 1 to April 8) and add the Same period N months ago dimension with N equal to 1.

The This period dimension will show data for the selected date range, and the Same period 1 month ago dimension will show data for the selected dates in the previous month (e.g. March 1 to March 8).

Selecting calculated KPIs

In addition to dimensions and metrics, you can add calculated KPIs to your widget.

Calculated KPIs are metrics created based on a combination of other metrics, such as a sum or a ratio. Calculated KPIs can be used in Explore and Present to analyze and visualize your data. Adverity displays calculated KPIs in green with the sign.

Calculated KPIs can be loaded into Explore & Present but not external destinations.

To add a calculated KPI to your widget, select it from the Dimensions & Metrics list on the left.

For more information on calculated KPIs and how to add them to your widget, see Using calculated KPIs and adding them to widgets.

Filtering the data you add to a widget

Filter data in widgets and dashboards to display only the information that you find relevant.

You can apply the following filters to a widget:

Date range filters: Use date range filters to narrow down the date range of the displayed data.
Dimension filters: Use dimension filters to narrow down the displayed data based on the values of a dimension. For example, use a dimension filter to exclude the data of a specific campaign.
Metric filters: Use metric filters to narrow down the data displayed based on the values of a metric. For example, use a metric filter to only display campaigns with more than 10,000 impressions.

For more information on how to create and configure date range, dimension, and metric filters for widgets, see Filtering the data shown in widgets.

Changing default dimensions in widgets

When you create a widget in Explore, the Datasource dimension is added to the view by default. You can change the dimensions that are added to widgets by default in the Administration page by changing the Default columns setting.

To view and change the dimensions that are added to widgets by default, follow these steps:

Go to the Explore page.
In the top left corner, click Select workspace, then Administration.
In the Explore section of the Administration menu, click Default columns.

Here, you can see the dimensions that are added to widgets by default. This setting applies to the current workspace.
To change the default dimensions, deselect the Use default checkbox, then perform any of the following actions:
- To add default dimensions, click Edit. Type in and select the dimensions you want to add.
- To remove one or more individual dimensions, click Edit. Click the × icon next to the dimensions you want to remove.
- To remove all default dimensions, click Clear.
- To undo all changes and go back to the default setting (Datasource as the only default dimension), select the Use default checkbox.
Click Update.

As a result, the dimensions listed under Default columns for Explore are added by default to each new view in the Explore element.

What's next?

The data you have selected appears in the data table. For more information on data table configuration, see Configuring data tables.