Metric Editor (Data, Stoplights, Alerting, Charting, Associations)
Settings available in the Metric Editor:
- Where is the data from? How often data is updated? - Data tab
- Are there any expectations for collected Values? Are higher or lower Values better? - Stoplights tab
- What Alert Rules are applied to this Metric? Is there a History of Alerts sent from this Metric? - Alerting tab
- How the Chart and the Values on it should look? - Charting tab
- How is this Metric connected with other ones? Can I connect them for further analysis? - Associations tab
For step-by-step instructions on creating a Metric, refer to one of the following articles depending on your Use Case:
- Create a Simple (Undimensioned) Metric
- Create a Simple Dimension + Dimensioned Metric (with a separate chart per each Dimension Value)
For creating Metrics and Reports sourced from the supported plugins, refer here:
- For Tableau-related resources: Tableau and Metric Insights - all you need to know
- For Qlik Sense, Qlik View, Sisense, Microstrategy and other Plugins: Connecting To Data Sources
via Content > Elements
- Access Content > Elements. The list of all types of elements available in Metric Insights is going to be opened.
- Filter the elements by keywords and other available parameters.
- Find the element in the refined list and click its name. You are going to be redirected right to the editor.
- [6.1.0] As of Release 6.1.0, it is possible to flag elements and then Migrate Content using our Export/Import Migration Scripts. Click for details: Scripted Migration Utility
- Measured: Select a Measurement Interval applied to this Metric. The chosen Measurement Interval instantly applies a set of adjustments to the Metric's behavior, Alert parameters, default naming conventions, Charting Intervals, and Labels. These predefined settings are modifiable, for details refer to: Update Measurement Interval Settings
- Dimension it by: A dimensioned Metric includes a separate tile and Chart for each Dimension Value for which data has been collected. You can create a Dimension with either automatically or manually collected Values on the go by clicking the Plus button or at Content > Dimensions. For details refer to Creating Dimensions
- Collecting is: This setting defines whether this Metric is "active" and whether it is going to be updated upon a schedule set up in a Data > Data Collection Trigger.
- Make visible on Homepage: Define whether this Metric should be accessible via a tile on a Homepage or only at Content > Elements or via other element's Associations.
- Category: Category Membership is used to group elements in order to organize system content, enhance the process of giving access to Users / Groups. A new Category can be created on the go by clicking the Plus button or at Content > Categories. For details refer to: Create a Category
- Certified: Certification is a means for Admin and Power Users to identify elements that have been approved as being valid and accurate. For details refer to: Certifying an Element
- Tags (are referred to as Topics in Versions prior to 5.1): Tags / Topics are used to relate elements to each other for purposes of identifying similar Charts when the See Related drop-down list in the Metric Viewer is populated allowing a more in-depth analysis of trends. For details refer to: Create a Topic / Tag
This page is dynamic and it is going to have a different set of options depending on the selected Data Source.
The given example is for the Metric built from a configurable Data Source (Plugin - Tableau).
- Data Source: Define the source of fetching data for this element. For details refer to Understanding Data Sources
- Data Collection Trigger: Specify how often the data for this Metric should be recollected. A new Trigger can be created on the go by clicking the Plus button or at Admin > Data Collection Triggers. For details refer to: Create a Data Collection Trigger (Scheduled / Externally Triggered)
- Tableau Worksheet (This field is specific to the selected Plugin Data Source): When a Metric is sourced from a Plugin, this field is named with respect to how elements are called in a source system. The given example is for a Tableau and elements in Tableau are called "Worksheets"; for other systems, this can be called a "Report", an "Object", etc. The main function of this field is to map Metric Insights to a specific element in the source system, so this is a so-called "path" for the systems with a multi-level hierarchy.
- Filters (applicable for Tableau, Qlik, Sisense Data Sources only): are used to pre-filter data before sourcing it from the source limit. This functionality allows focusing on the exact slice of data that is required for analysis and exclude the data that is irrelevant to you and your research. For details refer to:
- Command (is applicable for configurable Data Sources: SQL or Plugin): Data for Metrics is extracted via a plugin command, consisting of parameters specifying what data should be fetched. The command can be entered manually or via the Visual Editor (if a plugin supports it).
- Values are additive across time periods: field will be set to 'yes' if, for example, the daily values can be aggregated to create weekly and monthly values.
- Omit current <Measurement Interval> from Chart: This setting depends on the Measurement Interval chosen for this Metric (day/month/year). If you set this field to 'yes', current day/month/year etc. is not going to be displayed on the Chart.
- Insert 0 for missing values: if this setting is enabled and no data is found in the source upon data collection, then the missing data is replaced with a zero and a timestamp.
Setting up the options in this tab activates the Statistical View in the Metric Viewer.
A Stoplight is a visual indicator of how well a Metric is doing. A Metric can have an underperforming, performing, or outperforming depending on the conditions specified in this tab. The result is denoted by different background shading in the various Metric views over time. Stoplight bands are shown even if Metric is represented as a single data point.
For details refer to: Define a Metric's Stoplight.
- Alert History: Review all Alerts that have been generated for this Metric, who are subscribed to them, their preferred delivery method and whether the alert notification was delivered to them.
- Alert Rules associated with this Metric: This section lists all the Alert Rules (KPI and Global) assigned to this Metric. To add a new KPI Alert Rule, click [+ New KPI Alert Rule] button and create one on the go. Reference articles:
- Alert Rules Sending this Metric: This setting allows associating Alert Rules with this Metric, meaning, when the selected Alert is generated, the image from this Metric's Chart is going to be applied to a notification.
- Alert Window: Sets value used that determines if a Metric value is too old for alert processing. In this example, if data is recollected for 2 months, alerts will only be generated for the most recent 10 day period. This setting will over-ride the default Alert Window from the Measurement Interval - see Update Measurement Interval Settings.
Chart Settings
- Define the Chart layout and appearance with a set of available options.
- Determine how Statistical View is set:
- Statistical view to _(NUMBER) standard deviation: set the amount of variation you want to chart
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"Exclude anomalies from Standard Deviation and Moving Average" :
- When "No" is set, all data is used to determine Standard Deviation and Moving Average
- When "Yes" is set, then large anomalies are excluded from the calculations
- Include a moving average of: select number and time period. Сurrent data point is excluded from the moving average calculation. EXAMPLE: The Moving Average for the data point on 8/1 would be based on the 30 days from 7/3 to 8/1, inclusive. The Moving Average for 8/1 would be based on the 30 days from 7/2 to 7/31, inclusive.
- [Optional] Select Show "maximum ever" line.
- Show summary: Define whether the statistics summary information should be displayed in the Metric Viewer.
- Chart values smaller/greater than: optionally set to exclude specific values.
Value Display
Settings in this section influence the Value display on the Element's Tile on a Homepage:
- Override Display Mask: Metric's default Display Mask is defined at Metric Viewer > Overlay Metric (a button under the Chart) > Display Mask of Left Axis. To change the value display mask for Metric's tile only, choose another mask in this field.
- Units: type in the text that should be displayed above the element's current value.
- Show percent change from: Choose the period for calculating percent change.
- Default view: set the View all Users will see as a default.
Targets
Linking a Metric to an enabled Target activates the Target View in the Metric Viewer.
Targets allow analysis of performance related to organizational goals, such as a forecast or budget. For details refer to Targets Overview.
Projections
Setting the Project future values field to 'yes', Setting up the options in this tab activates the Projection View in the Metric Viewer.

Projections predict values based on calculation settings that you specify. These Future Projections appear on a special Projection View of your Metric Viewer. Reference articles:
- Associations: Select Metrics to be included in the Measurement Interval drop box in the Viewer.
- Aggregate Metrics: you can create new aggregate Metrics for other intervals in a couple of clicks: Create Multiple Aggregates from a Single Metric
- Detail Reports / Further Amalysis: Reports added here are going to serve as Drill Path for more detailed analysis of a situation: Establish a Drill-Path from a Metric to another Element (Metric Associations)
Ownership & Access
- Business owner: Making either a Regular or a Power User the Business Owner of any Element provides NO View Access to the element or access to its Dimension/Values (if any).
- Data steward: [5.4.1 version] Optional and Informational only. Used to specify User responsible for any existing regulatory or government data rules. When displayed, this field provides a "mail:to" link for specified User.
- Technical owner: Power User designated as the Technical Owner receives Edit Access to the element. Regular User cannot be a Technical Owner.
- This Metric is public/internal: If this Metric is "internal", it cannot be shared with users who have no account in Metric Insights. For details refer to Sharing elements with users not registered in Metric Insights.
Other
- Email URL override: When a user clicks on the metric link in a digest, he can be redirected to the external portal/application. Provide a link to the page where a user should be redirected in this field.
- Attach file to Digest: If you choose to attach this Metric's chart and info, define a file format from the drop-down list.
- Embed codes: Metric Chart can be embedded into other web pages. For details refer to Embedding Overview