Working with Charts
Basic chart display and its controls
In the basic chart view, all users can navigate through the history, adjust the display settings, and export data.
Data series display
in the Props submenu, you can view the data series that are enabled on the component and have history tracking enabled. From there, you can select the series you want to display. Using the three dots, you can also add multiple data series to a single chart.
A data series can also be temporarily hidden in the legend below the chart.
By clicking the + button in the Props submenu, you can add a data series from another component.
In the window, you can select from all available FLOWBOX components or search for a component by name.
Example |
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The heat consumption seems too high, and I want a one-time comparison of the temperature at the same time. Or I have a production chart from the PV system and want to check the irradiation data. |
This feature is intended for quick comparisons, simple analyses, and one-time data export.
Data granularity and time interval
The data granularity and time interval can be selected in the Props submenu. You can move forward or backward in time by the selected interval using the arrow buttons. Alternatively, you can set the exact start and end date of the period.
Chart legend
In the chart legend, each data series also displays information about the total sum, the highest value, and the lowest value within the selected interval (for cumulative units such as energy consumption). For state units (e.g., power, temperature), the legend shows the average, highest, and lowest values.
The back arrow allows you to compare the current interval with the previous one directly in the chart.
By dragging in the chart, you can manually zoom in or out. However, this does not affect the values shown in the legend — they always correspond to the selected interval and do not change when zooming.
Export
Using the export button, you can export the current chart view along with its settings — including all enabled data series (even if hidden) in the selected granularity and interval. Several export formats are available, such as CSV, Excel, SVG, PNG, PDF, and others.
Export to Excel or CSV includes three sheets: Records, Summary (containing aggregate values for each data series), and Export Info.
Advanced Properties
In the advanced controls (three dots), you can enable or disable the tooltip at the mouse cursor, incidents, weekend markers, the Y-axis, or contracts.
Clicking the refresh button reloads the data, while clicking the cross button clears all settings and resets the chart to its default state as defined in the component settings.
Chart settings
Please note, you have to have adequate user privileges to access component settings. Ask your administrator to grant you an access.
In the hamburger menu, click Edit component.
In the History tab, you define which data series are tracked on the component. These series are then available for selection in the chart. An enabled eye icon indicates that the series is visible in the default chart settings.
Next to the eye icon, you can set the default color of a data series so that it is displayed consistently everywhere. If no color is set, FLOWBOX assigns one automatically.
In the default chart view, you can set the default interval and granularity.
It is also possible to set advanced properties by default.
Comparison Chart
Please note, you have to have adequate user privileges to access component settings and add new components. Ask you administrator to grant you an access.
This is used to create a permanent chart that combines several components for comparison, analysis, or reporting purposes.
In Application Settings go to Manage Components and click on New Component
In the component catalog, select Comparison Chart.
In the Settings tab, name the chart and configure its default settings, including granularity, interval, and advanced options.
In the Series, select the data series you want to include in the chart. Search for the component you want to include, and then click the Add button. Finally, click the Create button.
You can change the color of a data series using the box in front of the component name.
The gear icon — Service Config — opens additional settings.
Custom label — custom naming of a data series. This is reflected in the name in the settings, in the chart legend, and in the tooltip.
Stacking Group - Series with the same stacking group will be stacked in the chart. Only works with some chart types (volume based charts), e.g. column. If not specified, all series with the same unit are stacked.
If you want to display a data series next to the others, or show all of them side by side, use a different stacking group.
You can view the settings in the hamburger menu by clicking Component Control Page.
To return to editing, open the hamburger menu and click Edit Component.
Chart type - FLOWBOX automatically selects a suitable chart type, but you can change it in this field.
Unit - set automatically, but can be changed here.
Scaling of Y-axis
Y axis min/max - Setting the minimum and maximum fixed limits of the Y-axis and the color used to display these limits in the chart.
Name for Calc - Series name for use in computed series. This should be a letter or a short word, e.g. A. It can contain numbers, letters and underscore and must not start with a number.
It appears next to the name of the data series. This allows you to add a computed data series to the chart — for example, the sum of consumptions.Adding computed data serie
To do this, click More (three dots), enter the calculation for the given series, and then click Add.After that, you can configure it just like any other data series. You can hide a series from the display using the eye icon (however, it can still be included in computed data series).
Subchart Name - By filling in the Subchart Name field, you create a subchart from the data series (or multiple series) — a separate chart or charts displayed alongside the existing one.
Creating a report from a chart
In FLOWBOX, there is a component called Chart Report Builder. Go to Manage Components and select New Component. Select Chart Report Builder from the component catalog and click Create.
In the Settings, enter a name and select a component (for example, the comparison chart created above).
Next, configure the users who should receive the report by email, or enter an email address directly.
Next, set the report interval, the required default granularity, and the report format.
The following options are available:
Merge files — creates a single file containing all data series included in the component.
Automatic report — automatically sends the report after the interval ends.
Export all series — also exports data from series that are not visible in the chart.
Export incidents — exports incidents.
Finally, you need to add a name, which will be used as the file name.
If you want to run the report manually, by button, or temporarily change the interval, you can do this in the Run tab.