Configuring the Automatic Refresh Option for Charts

WebFOCUS Designer allows you to integrate real-time streaming data with your charts using the Automatic refresh option. For example, if you configured a connection to a streaming data source using the Kafka adapter, the Automatic refresh option can be enabled to update your chart dynamically at a specified interval (in seconds). Depending on your specific use case or requirements, you can configure multiple charts using the Automatic refresh option and add them to a page, portal, or workbook. Each chart will refresh independently with updated data based on the specified refresh rate.

Considerations

As of WebFOCUS Designer 8206, the Automatic refresh option is supported for all chart types, except for maps (for example, Proportional Symbol and Choropleth maps). Support for maps will be provided in a future release. The Automatic refresh option is not available for reports in WebFOCUS Designer. In addition, this option is not included in InfoAssist.

Procedure: How to Enable and Configure the Automatic Refresh Option for a Chart

To enable and configure the Automatic refresh option for a chart:

1. From the WebFOCUS Home Page, click the Designer tab.
    
2. Click Chart.
    
3. Select an existing data source or connect to a new data source, and click Select.
    
4. Choose a chart type from the chart picker, as shown in the following image.

   

5. Add measures and dimensions according to your requirements by dragging them onto the canvas.
   
   Note: You can also double-click a measure or dimension to add it to the relevant bucket or drag it into the relevant bucket.
    
6. Apply any required formatting or styling to your chart (for example, adding a header or footer).
    
7. Click More from the WebFOCUS Designer toolbar and select Automatic refresh from the context menu, as shown in the following image.

   

   By default, the Automatic refresh option is disabled (set to None).
    
8. Select Refresh every to enable the Automatic refresh option, as shown in the following image.

   

9. Specify the refresh rate in seconds, which is the period of time to wait until the chart polls the corresponding data source to reflect any updated data.
   
   Note: You can specify a maximum value of 120 seconds (two minutes) as the refresh rate.
    
10. Click OK.
    
    You can continue to build and modify your chart as required.
    
    Before you save your chart, you can also create a thumbnail, which is used to show an image of the chart on the Home Page or when you create a page in WebFOCUS Designer. To create a thumbnail, on the WebFOCUS Designer toolbar, click Thumbnail.
     
11. When you are finished, click Save on the WebFOCUS Designer toolbar to save your chart.
     
12. To test and verify that your chart is being refreshed correctly, locate it on the Home Page, right-click it and select Run from the context menu.
    
    Observe your chart while it is running and make a note of any adjustments that should be made. For example, if the chart is being refreshed too quickly, then you should consider increasing the number of seconds specified for the Automatic refresh option.

Procedure: How to Disable the Automatic Refresh Option for a Chart

To disable the Automatic refresh option for a chart:

1. Locate your chart on the Home Page, right-click it and select Edit from the context menu.
   
   Your selected chart opens in WebFOCUS Designer.
    
2. Click More from the WebFOCUS Designer toolbar and select Automatic refresh from the context menu, as shown in the following image.

   

3. Select None to disable the Automatic refresh option, and then click OK.