Composer 22.4 Enhancements

This topic provides details about the enhancements in Composer 22.4 and later.

• 22.4.5 Feature Enhancements
• Hierarchies Support for Pivot Tables
• Self Service Sharing of Dashboards
• Widget Settings
• Rich Text Snippet Support
• Alerts Updates
• Context Menu
• Bulk Update Field Capabilities
• Conditional Formatting Options for Pivot Tables
• Stored Procedure Support For Microsoft SQL
• Fields Statistics Update
• Elasticsearch Updates
• KPI Chart Label Positions
• Filter Values Entity Support
• Composer Web Graceful Shutdown Support
• Tracing Improvements
• Date and Time Format

Email [e-mail] or [e-mail] to purchase Composer.

22.4.5 Feature Enhancements

Hierarchy Support Update

Hierarchical field support is now enabled by default in Composer. Work with technical support to enable or disable as needed. See Hierarchical Fields and Structures.

Hierarchical fields are enabled by default at the server level. Work with Technical Support to disable.

Context Menu Updates

VisualAPI is now available for visual-clicked, visual-right-clicked, series-clicked, and series-right-clicked events. You can also use VisualAPI API in custom options in the context menu.

InitialFilters for Dashboards

The functionality of the initialFilters object has been expanded. Use the applyFiltersStrategy property and the value overrideSamePath to override existing filters along the same path, or the value replaceExisting to remove all filters and use only defined initialFilters. See Embedded Dashboard Properties and Objects.

Hierarchies Support for Pivot Tables

Hierarchical fields are disabled at the server level. Work with Technical Support to enable.

Composer now supports common hierarchical structures you can use to visualize and organize your data. Hierarchies create parent-child tree-based, and field-level hierarchical structures using your source data. Transform your data further by applying row filters to your data.

When you organize your data in Composer in hierarchies, it's easier to access for analytical processing, for data traversal, and keyword searching. To view your data in a hierarchical format, create a data source that defines a adjacency list hierarchy, add one or more hierarchy fields to your data source, then optionally define hierarchical groups or filters to apply to pivot table visuals. See Hierarchical Fields and Structures.

Define a Hierarchical Data Source

1. Create a new data source, or edit a data source to include a facts table and at least one hierarchy lookup table.

2. Add the first data entity, including appropriate connection, schema, and entity options or Custom SQL. The first data entity can be, but does not have to be, the facts table.

3. Add the second data entity, your hierarchy lookup table, including appropriate connection, schema, and entity options or Custom SQL.

4. Select Add a Join to connect the hierarchy lookup table to the facts table.

5. If only one hierarchy is used, we recommend you use a left join from a hierarchy lookup table to a facts table.

   1. Select left join to see the entire hierarchical tree, and filter all of the data.

   2. If you select inner join, the hierarchy is limited to data in the facts table. This may break your hierarchy structure, separating nested items from parents, making the nest items top-level items.

6. Select Save to save your source, then define a hierarchy field for your data source.

Define a Hierarchy Field for Your Data Source

1. Open the Fields tab of your source.

2. Select Add Hierarchy Field. The Add Hierarchy Field work area opens.

3. Select the Parent Field, the Child Field, and optionally select a Label Field if applicable. If you do not select a Label Field, the value selected for Child Field is used.

4. Select Save to save your new hierarchy field.

5. Optionally, disable the Time Bar on the General Settings tab.

6. Select Save Settings to save your changes.

You can now create a pivot table visual using the hierarchical data referenced by this hierarchy field.

Apply Hierarchical Groups

1. Create a pivot table visual that includes your hierarchical data source.

2. Select the Settings sidebar menu, then select Edit Row Groups ().

3. Select a hierarchical field to use.

   You can't use other fields in row groups if you have selected a hierarchical field. The hierarchical field will be the only row in the rows dimension.

4. Select metrics to use in your pivot table. Optionally, enable Rollup for the metrics, if supported. This shows the rolled up value of all child values at each hierarchy level.

5. Optionally, select Edit Column Group () to add a field or fields to column groups.

6. Select Apply to apply your changes. You can now expand and collapse the hierarchical data you defined in your visual.

   Not all data in your sources may display in your visual due to rows per page settings. The default display of rows is 200, including the parents and root node. Adjust the Rows per Page in the Display Settings.

Apply Hierarchical Filters to a Pivot Table Visual

1. Open the Filter sidebar menu of a pivot table that uses a hierarchical group.

2. On the row tab, select an available Hierarchy to filter. The Select Values work area opens.

   The default Operator, Equals or Descendants Of, is selected. When used in this filter, Composer selects data for nodes equal to the selected node, and its descendents.

3. Select the node to use. Composer selects the node, data for nodes equal to the selected node, and its descendants. Select Continue to apply your changes.

4. Optionally, add any other attribute filters you need.

5. Select Apply to apply your filters.

Apply Hierarchical Filters to Visuals

1. Open the Filter sidebar menu of a visual that uses a hierarchical data source and a hierarchical field.

2. Select Add Filter. On the row tab, select an available Hierarchy to filter. The Select Values work area opens.

   The default Operator, Equals or Descendants Of, is selected. When used in this filter, Composer selects data for nodes equal to the selected node, and its descendents.

3. Select the node to use. Composer selects the node, data for nodes equal to the selected node, and its descendants. Select Continue to apply your changes.

4. Optionally, add any other attribute filters you need.

5. Select Apply to apply your filters.

Limitations

• Cycles in hierarchies are not supported.
• Hierarchical groups are only available in the Pivot Table visual.
• Visuals are limited to use of one hierarchical group.
• Data roll-ups are limited to the hierarchical data.
• Data sharpening and viewing data changes using the time bar are not available.
• By default, simple metrics are included; enable Use Rollup to roll data up to the parent levels.
• Aggregate filters are not available.
• Not all data in your sources may display in your visual due to rows per page settings. The default display of rows is 200, including the parents and root node. Adjust the Rows per Page in the Display Settings.

Self Service Sharing of Dashboards

You can now allow your users to share dashboards more easily among themselves in a user-friendly manner that doesn't require a complex process of defining granular permissions. Your users can now grant and revoke VIEWER access level to a dashboard, along with its underlying visuals and sources.

Control the visibility of this feature in Composer Embed mode by enabling or disabling Share Dashboard in Dashboard Interactivity Settings. See Share a Dashboard with Users Inside Your Account.

Widget Settings

Use Composer's Widget Settings sidebar menu to manage the appearance of your visuals and rich text snippets on a dashboard. Access by selecting Settings from the More menu, then changing the Display Name, Description text, or Header options. See Use the Visual Sidebar Menu.

Header Control Options

We have expanded your control over header visibility options for visuals and rich text snippets in dashboard widgets. The default setting is Show; this displays the header at all times. Show on Hover hides the header unless users perform a hover action over the widget where the header is temporarily hidden. Hide completely hides the header from visibility.

The More menu option Edit Visual is renamed the Settings for visuals and rich text snippets.

Rich Text Snippet Support

You can now add Rich Text Snippet snippets to your Composer dashboards. Annotate your dashboard, describe data on your dashboard in context, and link external resources, such as user guides, or images. Add during dashboard creation, or at any time using the Composer UI, or using the dashboard API. See Manage Rich Text Snippets.

Rich Text Snippet Widget Options

• Create, edit, and copy your rich text snippet as needed.
• Select to resize or adjust the placement of the widget in your dashboard.
• Export as a PDF or Screenshot (PNG).
• Use the Widget Settings sidebar menu () to update its Display Name, add an optional Description, and define Header options.

If you delete a snippet or dashboard that contains a snippet, it can't be recovered. Recreate as needed.

Create a Rich Text Snippet

1. Select Add Rich Text on a new or existing dashboard to add a new rich text snippet to the dashboard. A rich text work area opens.

2. Add a title for this snippet, then add and format your text.

   

   Selections for body text formatting include Body, Heading 1, and Heading 2. Other formatting options allow you to define alignment (), as well as assign font weight and underline properties (). Select Clear Formatting () to remove font weight and underline properties from text.

3. Optionally, add lists (), links (), or images () if needed.

   1. Bullet and number lists are simple, without nesting.
   2. Provide link Text and a Link URL for your link in the Add Link pop up dialog.
   3. Add an Image URL, and optionally, Alt image text for images.
      1. Select an image's resize handles to scale and adjust the size of the image.
      2. Select align () to adjust the alignment of the image.

4. When you are satisfied with your changes, select Edit () to hide format options and save your widget changes.

Alerts Updates

Alerts are no longer an experimental feature of Composer. Create alert definitions, determine a schedule to evaluate the alert condition, and define how notifications are handled when an alert condition is met. You can use the API or Composer UI to define and update these conditions, so you can alert your users when a metric reaches a specific threshold. See Create an Alert Definition and Alerts API.

• Create an Alert Definition
• Alerts API
• Create an Alert Definition - Alerts API
• Alert Definition Object Structure
• Alert Definition Data Query Structures
• Alert Definition Notification Structure
• Alert Definition Examples
• Tracking Scheduled Alert Status

Context Menu

The Context Menu provides your users a way to view more information about specific data points in visuals. This menu replaces the functionality of the radial menu, providing streamlined options for working with data.

Define how to embed the context menu in your Composer instance by specifying default options for right and left mouse selection. If needed, you can also add custom controls to the context menu for embedded visuals. See Use the Context Menu.

Bulk Update Field Capabilities

You can now update field capabilities for fields at the source level in bulk. Select Update Field Capabilities in the Fields tab to open the Bulk Update Field Capabilities work area. Search and sort fields as needed, then optionally enable or disable settings for one or more fields. Enable or disable Details, Filtering, Grouping, Metrics, and Playing. See Field Capabilities and Update Field Capabilities.

Conditional Formatting Options for Pivot Tables

You can now format Pivot Table visuals by adding color and text formats based on conditional rules. See Define Conditional Formatting for a Pivot Table Visual.

Stored Procedure Support For Microsoft SQL

You can now create Microsoft SQL sources that include the use of stored procedures. Use exec or execute in your custom SQL during source creation, with or without parameters. Supported stored procedures return raw data only.

Fields Statistics Update

You can now use an additional subordinate field of statistics, lookup, in the Fields API to set dynamic filter values overrides for a specific field. See API Updates and Filter Values Entity Support.

Elasticsearch Updates

Composer includes expanded support for several Elasticsearch features.

• Elasticsearch 7 and 8 connectors recognize the numeric field types scaled_float, half_float, and unsigned_long for use in visuals.
• Multi valued fields detection: When enabled, Composer uses automated field type detection to mark nested fields as multi_valued fields. Add the property elasticsearch.describe.mark-all-nested-fields-as-multi-valued to your Elasticsearch configuration files to treat all nested fields as multi_valued fields, then create a new source to connect to your data. Recreate existing sources to use multi valued fields.
• Elasticsearch connectors work with GeoPoint field types, supporting the use of location fields as location.latitude and location.longitude in map visuals.

KPI Chart Label Positions

You can now adjust the position of labels in KPI Chart visuals. Use the options in the Position section of the Settings sidebar menu to rename your labels and adjust the position of the labels as needed. See KPI Charts.

Filter Values Entity Support

Composer now supports filter values entities you can use to provide an alternative source of metadata values. Use these entities in a dynamic override on Filter Values Tab in Fields to improve the filter experience of heavy data entities. See Filter Values Menu - Fields Tab.

Control the interactivity by adding Filter Values Entity and Filter Values tab for your users as needed.

Composer Web Graceful Shutdown Support

Composer Web now includes a graceful shutdown option to close the active web sockets. The default shutdown period is 25 seconds, encompassing a 5 second propagation and 20 seconds to shutdown active tasks.

Tracing Improvements

Composer now supports tracing for Zoomdata-Web and Query Engine combined in the same trace ID. All requests to connectors are traced using a common trace ID.

• Zoomdata-Web supports tracing of: the REST API, Spring service, DAO service calls, and WebSocket messages.
• Query Engine supports tracing of: REST API calls and WebSocket Messages.

Date and Time Format

You can now format your time fields at the source to show or hide the day of the week. By default, Composer hides the day of the week field. See Configure Date and Time Formatting.