NetResults ProblemTracker
Metrics

The Metrics operation is a way to gather and display statistical information based on your ProblemTracker data. The information can be displayed as bar, pie, or line charts using system defined or user defined Chart Layouts to specify the format for the chart. You can limit the records used as input to the statistical calculations (Input Records) by specifying a Saved Query. Only those records which match the Saved Query will be used when performing the statistical calculations. Chart parameters can be stored away for future runs as Saved Charts (for global, group, or personal use).

Generating a Chart

A chart can be generated using the "Project Status (Default) [Users]" Saved Chart or any other saved chart that has been added by a ProblemTracker user with the appropriate privilege(s) by performing the following steps:

  1. Select a chart from the "Saved Chart" pulldown field (by default, only the default saved chart "Project Status (Default) [Users]" will appear in this field
  2. The options displayed in the Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title fields will be automatically filled with the settings in the Saved Chart selected. If desired, make other selections for the Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title fields.
  3. Click on the "Show Chart" button to display the chart.
  4. Make changes to the formats of the chart displayed by using the Dynamic Chart Layout Options. Details on the options available can be found in the Chart Layout Options section.
  5. To change the parameters used to display the chart, click on the "Change Parameters" button to return to the Chart Selection page.

Printing a Chart

After generating a chart, you can click on the Print icon to print the chart.

Note: Any changes made to the chart layout (such as changing from 2D to 3D chart layout) after you generated it will not be in the printed version.

Exporting Chart Data

After generating a chart, click on the Export icon to export the chart data to a CSV (comma separated values) file. You can then open this file with another tool such as Microsoft Excel or Crystal Reports.

To create a chart in Microsoft Excel from the exported data, "rubber band" (left-click mouse and drag a rectangle around) the data plus column and row titles (exclude rows 1 through 3, but include the individual row/column titles in row 4 and column A along with the data in your selection) and click the Chart Wizard icon (or select Insert->Chart...). Click the Finish button in the Chart Wizard to accept the Microsoft Excel default settings for the chart; or make selections, click Next button, then click Finish to create a chart with custom settings. Please review the Microsoft Excel Help for further information on Excel charts.

Set a Default for the Metrics Page

You can set a default such that whenever you click on the Metrics icon a particular Saved Chart, Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title will be ready to be displayed by clicking on the "Show Chart" button. By setting a default, you will be one click away from seeing your default chart when you go to the Metrics page. This is useful if there is a particular chart you will be displaying on a frequent basis.

To set a default for the Metrics page:

  1. Select a Saved Chart, Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title to be used to generate your default chart
  2. Click on the Set as Default button at the top

Save

The "Save" operation allows you to change the saved chart layout, input records, or chart title associated with a saved chart. You must have the appropriate privilege to perform this operation on a group saved chart. To make changes to a saved chart on the Metrics main page:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. In the Saved Chart pulldown, select the saved chart you wish to modify
  3. In the fields for Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title make the desired changes
  4. Click on the "Save" button

Save as New

The "Save as New" operation allows you to save a new chart based on the settings displayed on the "Select a Saved Chart" page or when previewing a saved chart. On the "Select a Saved Chart" page, this operation allows you to create a new saved chart with different selections for Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title.

To use the "Save as New" operation on the "Select a Saved Chart" page:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. Make selections for the Saved Chart, Chart Layout, Input Records, and Chart Title
  3. Click on the "Save as New" button
  4. Enter a name for the new saved chart, then select whether the saved chart will be a group or personal saved chart. If you select "Group" for the "Saved Chart Type" field, select the group that should have access to this saved chart in the "Group" field.
  5. Click OK to complete the operation

To use the "Save as New" operation after previewing a saved chart, click here for instructions.

Adding a Saved Chart

To create a saved chart, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. Click on the "Add" button to the right of the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  3. Enter a name for your Saved Chart in the "Saved Chart Name" field
  4. In the "Saved Chart Type" field, select whether this chart will be a personal or group saved chart. Selecting "Group" indicates that any member of the user group selected in the "Group" field below will be able to access this saved chart.
  5. If "Group" is selected in the field "Saved Chart Type" above, select which user group will be able to access this saved chart in the "Group" field. You will only be able to select from user groups in which you are a member (However, the ProblemTracker Administrator can add saved charts for all user groups).
  6. Click "Next" to continue
  7. Select the criteria for the Saved Chart. Click here for full details of the criteria selections for a saved chart.
  8. Click on the Add button

Editing a Saved Chart

To edit a saved chart, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. Select a saved chart in the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  3. Click on the "Edit" button to the right of the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  4. Make changes to the criteria of the saved chart
  5. Click OK to save the changes

Deleting a Saved Chart

To delete a saved chart, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. Select a saved chart in the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  3. Click on the "Delete" button to the right of the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  4. Click OK to confirm the operation

Preview a Saved Chart

The preview operation allows you to make changes to the criteria of a saved chart before using the "Show Chart" operation to display the chart. This operation is useful when you want to display a chart with a change in the criteria for a saved chart, but want to preserve the saved chart's original settings. This is also useful for creating a new saved chart based on the criteria of an existing saved chart.

To preview a saved chart, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. Select a saved chart in the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  3. Click on the "Preview" button to the right of the "Saved Chart" pulldown
  4. If desired, make changes to the criteria
  5. Click "Save" to save your changes. To create a new saved chart with the criteria displayed, click on the "Save as New" button. Otherwise, click on the "Show Chart" button to display the chart.
  6. If you clicked on the "Save as New" button, you will be prompted to select a name, chart type, and group for the new saved chart.

Saved Chart Criteria

Each saved chart has criteria which defines the data and formats that will be displayed when the chart is generated. The options available when creating a saved chart are explained below:

Saved Chart Layouts

A saved chart layout provides the formats used to display a saved chart. A saved chart cannot be displayed without selecting a saved chart layout. Examples of the formats that a saved chart layout provides are:

To create a saved chart layout, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. In the "Chart Layout" field, select the default saved chart layout that corresponds to the chart type you wish to use. For example, if you wish to create a saved chart layout for a bar chart, select the default saved chart layout called "Bar - default [Users]"
  3. Click on the "Add" button to the right of Chart Layout field
  4. Enter a name for your saved chart layout in the "Chart Layout Name" field
  5. In the "Chart Layout Type" field, select whether this layout will be a personal or group layout. Selecting "Group" indicates that any member of the user group selected in the "Group" field below will be able to access this saved chart layout.
  6. If "Group" is selected in the field "Chart Layout Type" above, select which user group will be able to access this saved chart layout in the "Group" field. You will only be able to select from user groups in which you are a member (However, the ProblemTracker Administrator can add saved chart layouts for all user groups).
  7. Click "Next" to continue
  8. Select the options for the Saved Chart Layout. Click here for full details of the options available for a saved chart layout. A sample chart is displayed in the lower right corner of the page. As you make selections to the chart layout options, the sample chart will reflect these changes.
  9. Click on the Add button to save the chart layout

Chart Layout Options

The Chart Layout Options determine the formats used to display the data of the saved chart selected.

The following chart options are available for any chart type (bar, pie, line):

Each chart type (bar, pie, line) has its own set of chart layout options as follows. Click on the link below to see the options that correspond to the chart type selected. For all chart types, checking the box to the left of the option enables the option to be applied to the chart layout:

Bar Chart Options
Pie Chart Options
Line Chart Options

Bar Chart Options

Pie Chart Options

Line Chart Options

Edit a Chart Layout

To edit a chart layout, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. In the "Chart Layout" field, select the layout you wish to modify
  3. Click on the Edit button to the right of the "Chart Layout" field
  4. Make changes to the layout, then click OK

Deleting a Chart Layout

To delete a chart layout, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar
  2. In the "Chart Layout" field, select the layout you wish to modify
  3. Click on the Delete button to the right of the "Chart Layout" field
  4. Click OK to confirm the operation

Summary Reports

To obtain a summary report, click on the Metrics icon in the top button bar, then click on the "Go To Summary Reports" button. The following summary reports are currently supported: