Using a gadget

A subscribed dashboard contains one or more gadget files that display data. Each gadget on a dashboard has general options, common to all gadgets, and special options based on the gadget type.

Some gadgets offer additional interactivity, depending on the gadget contents, for example report gadgets can include toolbars, launch browser-based tools or contain hyperlinks to other Information Console documents or web sites.

Users interact with gadget content depending on the type of gadget:

n	Charts can be drilled through or contain links to other reports.

n	Cross tabs can be maximized to edit in BIRT Data Analyzer.

n	Data selectors filter data displayed in other gadgets.

n	All gadget content can be filtered or refreshed

n	Reports and tables can be modified and formatted using Interactive Viewer.

These tools and links enable dashboard users to quickly access and analyze the desired information. For example, using a list gadget, a user selects a month from a list. The user selection updates a linked chart gadget to display data for the selected month.

Gadgets on a dashboard offer users a menu to interact with the gadget and its contents, as shown in Figure 3-32. Users can refresh data, interact with gadget content, or maximize gadgets to launch browser-based tools, from subscribed dashboards. Users can move, resize, share, and edit gadgets on user dashboards.

Figure 3-32  Gadget menu

Table 3-2 lists the menu choices available on gadgets.

Table 3-2  Gadget settings

Option	Description	Subscribed	Personal
Always Show Header	Choose to display the gadget header, which includes the gadget icons.		√
Analyze	Maximizes selected gadget and launches appropriate browser-based tool.	√	√
Bring To Front	Move a floating gadget in front of other gadgets.		√
Delete	Remove the selected dashboard gadget.		√
Dock	Change a gadget floating freely to a gadget that is docked to a dashboard column.		√
Edit	Display general gadget options and any special options available to the selected gadget.		√
Float	Change a docked gadget to a floating gadget that can be moved freely.		√
Link	Choose one or more data selection gadgets on the current dashboard that can filter data in the current gadget.		√
Maximize	Maximizes selected gadget and launches appropriate browser-based tool.		√
Refresh	Reload the content of the selected gadget.	√	√
Rename	Change the name of the selected gadget.		√
Send To Back	Move a floating gadget behind other gadgets.		√
Share	General sharing options and permissions.		√
Show Linked Gadgets	Display an outline around gadgets that are linked together on the dashboard.	√	√

Copyright Actuate Corporation 2011