Add Self-Service Options for Visualizations
By enabling Qrvey self-service options in your visualizations, dashboard users can interact with their charts dynamically.
Overview
Dashboards often need to serve different user needs. Some users prefer a fixed, standardized view, while others require the flexibility to explore data directly.
Qrvey’s self-service options empower dashboard users to interact with charts, apply filters, change visualizations, and save their preferences using End User Personalization.
By the end of this guide, you will be able to:
- Enable self-service options for individual visualizations.
- Control which interactions are available to end users.
- Save user preferences for future sessions.
Self-Service Options
Self-service options define the level of interactivity that an end user has over a specific visualization inside a dashboard. These settings can be toggled on or off at the chart level, allowing creators to customize the flexibility of each visualization.
Most chart types support self-service options. However, available settings can vary depending on visualization type.
End User Personalization
When enabled, any adjustments users make through self-service (such as sorting, filters, or column changes) can be saved and restored each time they access the dashboard, creating a tailored analytical experience for each user.
Use Case
A sales dashboard contains a bar chart showing total revenue by region. When the dashboard creator enables Filtering, Sorting, and Chart Selection self-service options, dashboard users can perform the following tasks:
- Filter results to view only specific regions.
- Sort bars by ascending or descending revenue.
- Switch from bar chart to line chart to analyze trends over time.
These interactions are saved to each user profile. Each time the user logs in, that user sees the view that best fits their needs.
Before You Begin
Before setting up self-service options, make sure you have access to the following:
- Qrvey Composer with permissions to edit dashboards.
- A dashboard with one or more visualizations added.
- (Optional) End User Personalization enabled in your Qrvey environment to persist user preferences.
Implementation
You can enable self-service from the visualization panel in the dashboard editor.
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Log into Qrvey Composer and navigate to the application that contains the dashboard to modify.
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Open Chart Builder using one of the following actions:
- Create a new chart.
- Edit an existing chart already placed on the dashboard.
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Enable self-service features as needed for your users.
a. In Chart Builder, locate the General tab in the panel to the right and scroll to the Self-Service Options section.
b. Use the toggles to enable the following dashboard actions for your users:
Option Enables Filtering Apply filters directly to the chart, refining the data displayed by specific criteria. Sorting Sort data in ascending or descending order. Chart Selection Switch the chart type to another compatible visualization (for example, change a bar chart to a line chart). Download Download chart data or specify the download file format (CSV, XLSX, and so on). Fit To Panel Select the Fit to Panel button to resize the visualization to its container. Column Replacement Change the category, value, and series columns directly from the chart panel. Column Aggregation Modify how data is aggregated (sum, average, count, and so on). Date Grouping Adjust the time interval for grouping data (for example, day, month, year) when using date fields. Column Arrangement Rearrange the order of columns. Column Resizing Manually adjust column widths. Visualization Options Switch between numeric values and bar visualizations inside tables. Adding/Removing Columns Add or remove columns in a table visualization. -
Select Apply to save your changes and close the Chart Builder.
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Select Save Dashboard to store your changes and make self-service capabilities available to dashboard users.
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Test the user experience.
a. Preview the dashboard in Interact mode.
b. Verify self-service behavior by manipulating the visualization.
c. If End User Personalization has been enabled, make a few changes (for example, sort or filter), then save and refresh the dashboard. Your changes should persist automatically.
Troubleshooting
The following table displays common issues encountered when setting up self-service options and steps used to resolve them.
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Options are not visible in the dashboard. | Self-Service toggles were not enabled in the visualization panel. | Re-open the visualization settings and enable the desired toggles. |
| Limited options for some charts. | Certain chart types support only a subset of self-service features. | Check Qrvey documentation for supported options by chart type. |
| Performance degradation. | Too many interactive options have been enabled on complex visualizations. | Limit self-service to the most relevant features for your dashboard users. |
Best Practices
- Enable only the self-service options your audience needs to reduce complexity.
- Combine filtering and chart selection to provide control and clarity to your users.
- Focus on column resizing, column arrangement, and visualization options to promote optimal usability for tables.
- Test in Interact mode to confirm the user experience matches expectations.
- Use End User Personalization to maintain user preferences and continuity.