Gadgets can link to data selection gadgets, such as a list gadget, either automatically or by user configuration. Automatic linking helps users build dashboards quickly. Developers assign manual links to interact with different data objects, to add scripts to gadget event communication, and to disable selected links on a dashboard.

The following gadgets can filter data by linking to data selection gadgets:

Developers can choose to link gadgets to any data selection gadget. For example, filter a long list of city names by linking a list gadget displaying city names to a list gadget displaying country names. Only cities in the selected country are displayed.

Other gadgets such as import gadgets or HTML gadgets can also link to data selection gadgets, such as a list gadget. The dashboard developer must add JavaScript to these gadgets to receive and process values and events that they receive.

For example, an HTML gadget links to a list gadget displaying country names. The dashboard developer adds JavaScript to the HTML gadget that sends the selected country name to a remote map server. The remote map server sends back the selected map to display in the HTML gadget.