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Metrics and Graphics

Custom reports can contain metrics and graphs of counts, averages, and sums on any field.  Single and two-level metrics are supported and multiple metrics can be included in one report.  Output options include table, bar, and pie charts.  You must select the Metrics and Graphics or Combo style option.

These options appear in the Metrics section of the Custom reports:

  1. Type—Each metric can represent one of the following types:
  2. Count—A count on field data.  Applies to virtually any field, including Status, Priority, and most Issue Information and Contact Information fields. Does not apply to Title, Description, and multi-line text fields, as these usually contain unique data.  For example, a count on the Status field would return the number of Issues in each status.
  3. Average—An average on the sum of all field data for the Issues returned.  Only applies to built-in statistics and custom number fields. The built-in statistics available are:
  4. Age of Issue—The elapsed time since the Issue was created (should only be applied to reports that report on active Issues).
  5. Time to Close—The elapsed time from when the Issue was created until the Issue was closed (should only be applied to reports that report on closed Issues).
  6. Total Billing—Total amount billed for the Issue based on time tracking data and users' hourly billing rates.
  7. Total Time—Total work time spent on the Issue based on time tracking data.

Note

The Total Billing and Total Time statistics are based on the total life of the issue, regardless of date ranges or users selected in the report criteria.  For time tracking data for specific users and date ranges, please use the Time Tracking Reports.

  1. Sum—The sum of all field data for the Issues returned for the field specified.  Only applies to built-in statistics mentioned above and custom number fields.
  2. Field—Select the field for which to create a metric. The fields available depend on the fields in the current Workspace and the metric type (see above).
  3. Subtotal By—A two-level metric can be reported by selecting a second field here.  For example, if Average Age of Issue was selected as the first field and Assignee is selected here as the subtotal, the average age of Issues is broken down by Agent assigned. This feature is optional.

If, in the Subtotal By field, the user selects a date or date/time field, a dependency drop-down is displayed so that the user can specify that the subtotal be broken down by day, week, month, year, quarter, day of week, day and hour, or hour.

  1. Format—Select the output style for the metric. Options are:
  2. Table—Displays data in a text-based table.
  3. Chart—Displays data in a color graphical chart (see below). Custom chart controls, colors and fonts can be administered by clicking in the background area of a chart (not on the bars or pie slices). This only works when the metrics report is using a single lookup. When reporting using a subtotal in the Metrics configuration, this functionality is not available.
  4. Table and Chart—Both tables and charts are displayed (default).
  1. Chart Type—If Chart or Table and Chart are selected, select a chart type. Options are:
  2. Bar—Color bar graph, with one bar for each value. For two-level metrics, one long bar chart or multiple charts can be created.
  3. Pie—Displays data in a color pie chart. For two-level metrics, a series of pie charts are displayed.
  1. Sort—Select how the data is sorted in the output:
  2. By Field/Subtotal data—Data is sorted by alphabetical or logical field data order.
  3. By metric values—Data is sorted by frequency or amount descending.  If the metric is a count by Status, then the statuses are displayed in the chart from highest to lowest: Open-34, Pending-22, Waiting for Approval-4, etc.
  4. For two-level metrics, the second field is sorted within each group of the first field.
  1. Display Position—Select whether to place metrics before or after detailed Issue data (Combo reports only).
  2. Click Add to add the metric to the report.  The metric is added to the dialog box to the right.
  3. Continue to create additional metrics following the steps above.
  4. To remove a metric, highlight it in the dialog box and click Delete.  
  5. Select choices for the other report options, including Heading, Report Criteria, etc.  When the report is generated, it includes the metrics that were selected above.

Note

The options above are for selecting the metrics to be reported on.  The results are affected by the criteria selected for the report in the Report Criteria section.  For example, if a metric of count on Status is selected, the number of Issues per Status returned is different if the criteria limits the report to only high priority Issues, as opposed to all priorities.  The criteria must be selected carefully to ensure meaningful metrics.