Waterfall chart parameters for LookML dashboards

This page demonstrates how to add and customize a LookML dashboard element of type: looker_waterfall with LookML dashboard parameters in a dashboard.lkml file.

For information about building a waterfall chart through the Looker UI, see the Waterfall chart options documentation page.

Example usage

An N indicates that a numeric value is required. Single quotation marks indicate descriptive text and should not be included in live code.

## BASIC PARAMETERS
name: element_name
title: 'Element Title'
type: looker_waterfall
height: N
width: N
top: N
left: N
row: N
col: N
refresh: N (seconds | minutes | hours | days)
note_state: collapsed | expanded
note_display: above | below | hover
note_text: 'note text'

## QUERY PARAMETERS
model: model_name
explore: explore_name
fields: [view_name.field_name, view_name.field_name, …]
dimensions: [view_name.field_name, view_name.field_name, …]
measures: [view_name.field_name, view_name.field_name, …]
sorts: [view_name.field_name asc | desc, view_name.field_name, …]
fill_fields: [view_name.field_name, view_name.field_name, …]
limit: N
column_limit: N
filters:
  view_name.field_name: 'Looker filter expression' | 'filter value'
filter_expression:  'Looker custom filter expression'
listen:
  dashboard_filter_name: view_name.field_name
hidden_fields: [view_name.field_name, view_name.field_name, …]
query_timezone: 'specific timezone' | user_timezone
merged_queries:
- 'primary query definition'
- 'next source query definition'
  join_fields:
  - field_name: view_name.field_name
    source_field_name: view_name.field_name

## SERIES PARAMETERS
up_color: "hex string" | 'CSS named color string'
down_color: "hex string" | 'CSS named color string'
total_color: "hex string" | 'CSS named color string'
color_application:
  collection_id: 'collection ID'
  palette_id: 'palette ID'
  options:
    reverse: true | false

## VALUE PARAMETERS
show_value_labels: true | false
label_color: ['color value']

## X-AXIS PARAMETERS
x_axis_scale: auto | ordinal | time
show_x_axis_label: true | false
show_x_axis_ticks: true | false
x_axis_zoom: true | false

## Y-AXIS PARAMETERS
show_y_axis_labels: true | false
show_y_axis_ticks: true | false
y_axis_gridlines: true | false
y_axis_zoom: true | false

Parameter definitions

Parameter Name	Description
Basic Parameters
name (for elements)	Creates the element
title (for elements)	Changes the way the element name appears to users
type (for elements)	Determines the type of visualization to be used in the element
height (for elements)	Defines the height of the element in units of tile_size for layout: tile and layout: static dashboards
width (for elements)	Defines the width of the element in units of tile_size for layout: tile and layout: static dashboards
top	Defines the top-to-bottom position of the element in units of tile_size for layout: static dashboards
left	Defines the left-to-right position of the element in units of tile_size for layout: static dashboards
row	Defines the top-to-bottom position of an element in units of rows for layout: newspaper dashboards
col	Defines the left-to-right position of an element in units of columns for layout: newspaper dashboards
refresh (for elements)	Sets the interval at which the element will automatically refresh
note_state	Defines whether the note will be collapsed or expanded if it is too big to fit on a single row within the element's width
note_display	Defines where the note is displayed on the element
note_text	Specifies the text displayed in the note
Query Parameters
model	Defines the model to be used for the element's query
explore (for elements)	Defines the Explore to be used for the element's query
fields	Defines the fields to be used for the element's query. This can be used in place of dimensions and measures.
dimensions	Defines the dimensions to be used for the element's query
measures	Defines the measures to be used for the element's query
sorts	Defines the sorts to be used for the element's query
fill_fields	Defines the dimensions that utilize the dimension fill option
limit	Defines the row limit to be used for the element's query
filters (for elements)	Defines the filters that cannot be changed for the element's query
filter_expression	Defines a custom filter that cannot be changed for the element's query
listen	Defines the filters that can be changed for the element's query, if filters (for dashboard) have been created
hidden_fields	Specifies any fields to use in the query but hide from the chart
query_timezone	Defines the time zone that should be used when the query is run
merged_queries	Defines a merged results query
Series Parameters
up_color	Sets the color of positive value bars in the chart
down_color	Sets the color of negative value bars in the chart
total_color	Sets the color of the total value bar in the chart
color_application	Applies a color collection and palette to the chart
Value Parameters
show_value_labels	Shows labels for each data bar
label_color	Specifies a color value for labels
X-Axis Parameters
x_axis_scale	Specifies how the x-axis scale is calculated
show_x_axis_label	Shows or hides the x-axis label
show_x_axis_ticks	Shows values on the x-axis
x_axis_zoom	Specifies whether to allow zooming along the x-axis
Y-Axis Parameters
show_y_axis_labels	Shows or hides the y-axis label
show_y_axis_ticks	Shows values on the y-axis
y_axis_gridlines	Extends gridlines from the y-axis
y_axis_zoom	Specifies whether to allow zooming along the y-axis. Disabled if x_axis_zoom: false.

Basic parameters

When defining a LookML dashboard element, you must specify values for at least the name and type basic parameters. Other basic parameters, such as title, height, and width, affect the appearance and position of the element on a dashboard.

name

This section refers to the name parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

name can also be used as part of a dashboard filter, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

Each name declaration creates a new dashboard element and assigns it a name. Element names must be unique. Names are sometimes referenced in the elements parameter when you're using layout: grid dashboards.

- name: orders_by_date

title

This section refers to the title parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

title can also be used as part of a dashboard, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

title can also be used as part of a dashboard filter, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

The title parameter lets you change how an element's name will appear to users. If unspecified, the title defaults to the element name.

Consider this example:

- name: sales_overview
  title: '1) Sales Overview'

If you used this format, instead of the element appearing as Sales Overview, it would appear as 1) Sales Overview.

type

This section refers to the type parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

type can also be used as part of a dashboard filter, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

type can also be used as part of a join, described on the type (for joins) parameter documentation page.

type can also be used as part of a dimension, described on the Dimension, filter, and parameter types documentation page.

type can also be used as part of a measure, described on the Measure types documentation page.

The type parameter determines the type of visualization to be used in the element.

- name: element_name
  type: text | looker_grid | table | single_value | looker_single_record |
        looker_column | looker_bar | looker_scatter | looker_line | looker_area |
        looker_pie | looker_donut_multiples | looker_funnel | looker_timeline |
        looker_map | looker_google_map | looker_geo_coordinates | looker_geo_choropleth | looker_waterfall | looker_wordcloud | looker_boxplot

See the type (for LookML dashboards) documentation page for an overview of the different types of LookML dashboard elements.

height

This section refers to the height parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

height can also be used as part of a dashboard row, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

For dashboards with tile or static layouts

The height parameter defines the height of an element, in units of tile_size (which is defined in pixels), for layout: tile and layout: static dashboards.

For example, the following code specifies tile_size: 100 and height: 4, making the orders_by_date element 400 pixels in height.

- dashboard: sales_overview
  tile_size: 100
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    height: 4
    ...

For dashboards with newspaper layout

The height parameter defines the height of an element, in units of row, for layout: newspaper dashboards.

A dashboard with newspaper layout defaults to an element height of 6 rows, or about 300 pixels. The minimum height is 1 row for dashboards with a preferred viewer parameter set to dashboards-next. The minimum height is 2 rows for dashboards with a preferred viewer parameter set to dashboards.

For example, the following code sets an element to be 12 rows tall, or twice as tall as other elements that are set to the default:

- dashboard: sales_overview
  layout: newspaper
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    height: 12
    ...

width

This section refers to the width parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

width can also be used as part of a dashboard, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

The width parameter defines the width of an element, in units of tile_size, for layout: tile and layout: static dashboards.

For example, the following code specifies tile_size: 100 and width: 4, making the orders_by_date element 400 pixels in width.

- dashboard: sales_overview
  tile_size: 100
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    width: 4
    ...

The width parameter defines the width of an element, in units of columns, for layout: newspaper dashboards.

A dashboard with newspaper layout defaults to a width of 24 columns.

For example, the following code sets the element to half the width of the dashboard:

- dashboard: sales_overview
  layout: newspaper
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    width: 12
    ...

top

The top parameter defines the top-to-bottom position of an element, in units of tile_size, for layout: static dashboards.

For example, the following code specifies tile_size: 100 and top: 4, positioning the top edge of the orders_by_date element 400 pixels from the top of the dashboard.

- dashboard: sales_overview
  tile_size: 100
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    top: 4
    ...

left

The left parameter defines the left-to-right position of an element, in units of tile_size, for layout: static dashboards.

For example, the following code specifies tile_size: 100 and left: 4, positioning the left edge of the orders_by_date element 400 pixels from the left side of the dashboard.

- dashboard: sales_overview
  tile_size: 100
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    left: 4
    ...

row

For layout: newspaper dashboards, the row parameter defines the row that the top edge of an element is placed on.

A dashboard begins with row 0 at the top of the dashboard. A dashboard with newspaper layout defaults to an element height of 6 rows, meaning the dashboard elements at the top of a dashboard (row: 0) would default to taking up rows 0-5.

Each row is 50 pixels tall, which means the default element height of 6 rows is 300 pixels.

For example, the following code sets an element to be set on the second row of elements in the dashboard, assuming elements are set at the default height:

- dashboard: sales_overview
  layout: newspaper
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    row: 6
    ...

col

For layout: newspaper dashboards, the col parameter defines the column that the left edge of the element is placed on.

Dashboards are divided into 24 columns. A dashboard begins with column 0 at the left of the dashboard. A dashboard with newspaper layout defaults to an element width of 8 columns, meaning the dashboard elements at the left of a dashboard (col: 0) would default to taking up columns 0-7.

For example, the following code sets an element to be set in the third column of elements in the dashboard:

- dashboard: sales_overview
  layout: newspaper
  ...

  elements:
  - name: orders_by_date
    col: 16
    ...

refresh

This section refers to the refresh parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

refresh can also be used as part of a dashboard, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

The refresh parameter allows an element to reload automatically on some periodic basis, thereby retrieving fresh data. This is often helpful in settings where a dashboard is constantly displayed, such as on an office TV. Note that the dashboard must be open in a browser window for this parameter to have an effect. This setting does not run in the background to "pre-warm" the dashboard cache.

The refresh rate can be any number (without decimals) of seconds, minutes, hours, or days. For example:

- name: orders_by_date
  refresh: 2 hours

Use caution when setting short refresh intervals. If the query behind the element is resource-intensive, certain elements may strain your database more than desired.

note_state

The note_state parameter defines whether a note will be collapsed or expanded if it is too big to fit on a single row within the element's width. If you choose collapsed and the note is too long, the note will end in a clickable ellipsis (...) that can be used to read the full note. If you choose expanded and the note is long, the note will run onto additional lines.

note_display

The note_display parameter defines where a note is displayed on an element. above places the note at the top of an element, below places it at the bottom of an element, and hover requires the user to hover their mouse over a ? icon to see the note.

note_text

The note_text parameter specifies the text displayed in an element note.

Query parameters

When defining a LookML dashboard element, you must specify values for at least the model and explore query parameters, and at least one field must be specified using the dimensions parameter, the measures parameter, or the fields parameter. You can also use the other query parameters described below to control the way data is displayed in a dashboard element.

model

The model parameter defines the model to use for the element query. If unspecified, it will default to the model where the dashboard resides.

- name: orders_by_date
  model: ecommerce

The model parameter accepts LookML constants. You can define a constant in the manifest file for your project, then use the syntax "@{constant_name}" to set the constant as the value for model. Using a constant lets you define the name of a model in one place, which is particularly useful if you're updating the name of a model that is used by multiple dashboard elements.

For more information and an example of using constants with LookML dashboards, see the constant parameter documentation page.

explore

This section refers to the explore parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

explore can also be used as part of a model, described on the explore parameter documentation page.

explore can also be used as part of a dashboard filter, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

The explore parameter defines the Explore to use for the element query.

- name: orders_by_date
  explore: order

The explore parameter accepts LookML constants. You can define a constant in the manifest file for your project, then use the syntax "@{constant_name}" to set the constant as the value for explore. Using a constant lets you define the name of an Explore in one place, which is particularly useful if you're updating the name of an Explore that is used by multiple dashboard elements.

For more information and an example of using constants with LookML dashboards, see the constant parameter documentation page.

fields

The fields parameter defines the fields to use for the element query. Use the syntax view_name.dimension_name to specify the fields.

## single field example
- name: orders_by_date
  fields: order.order_date

## multiple fields example
- name: orders_by_date
  fields: [order.order_date, order.order_count]

If you use the fields parameter, you do not need to use the dimensions and measures parameters.

dimensions

The dimensions parameter defines the dimension or dimensions to use for the element query. Use the syntax view_name.dimension_name to specify the dimension. Don't include dimensions if the query doesn't have any.

## single dimension example
- name: orders_by_date
  dimensions: order.order_date

## multiple dimension example
- name: orders_by_date
  dimensions: [order.order_date, customer.name]

measures

The measures parameter defines the measure or measures to use for the element query. Use the syntax view_name.measure_name to specify the measure. Don't include measures if the query doesn't have any.

## single measure example
- name: orders_by_date
  measures: order.count

## multiple measure example
- name: orders_by_date
  measures: [order.count, order_item.count]

sorts

The sorts parameter defines the sorts to be used for the element query. The primary sort is listed first, then the secondary sort, and so on. Use the syntax view_name.field_name to specify the dimension or measure. Don't include sorts if you want to use Looker's default sort order. Descending sorts are suffixed with desc; ascending sorts don't need a suffix.

## single sort example
- name: orders_by_date
  sorts: order.order_date desc

## multiple sort example
- name: orders_by_date
  sorts: [order.order_date desc, customer.name]

fill_fields

The fill_fields parameter defines the dimensions that utilize the dimension fill option. Use the syntax view_name.dimension_name to specify the dimensions.

- name: orders_by_date
  fill_fields: [orders.created_date, orders.shipped_date]

limit

The limit parameter defines the row limit that should be used for the element query. The limit applies to the number of rows before any pivots are applied.

- name: orders_by_date
  limit: 100

filters

This section refers to the filters parameter that is part of a dashboard element.

filters can also be used as part of a dashboard, described on the Dashboard parameters documentation page.

filters can also be used as part of a measure, described on the filters parameter documentation page.

The filters parameter defines the non-changeable filters that should be used for the element's query. If you would like filters that a user can change in the dashboard, you should set up the filters using filters for dashboards, then apply them to the elements using listen.

The syntax for filters is:

- name: element_name
  filters:
    orders.created_date: 2020/01/10 for 3 days
    orders.status: Shipped
    # You can create multiple filter statements

Each filter can accept a Looker filter expression or a value constant. You can also use the _localization or _user_attributes Liquid variables in the filter expression for flexible filter values.

filter_expression

The filter_expression parameter defines a non-changeable custom filter for the element's query. If you would like filters that a user can change in the dashboard, you should set up the filters using filters for dashboards, then apply them to the elements using listen.

- name: element_name
  filter_expression:
  - diff_days(${users.created_date},${user_order_facts.first_order_date}) > 60

The Looker filter expressions documentation page lists the Looker filter expressions.

listen

Dashboards can have filters that allow users to change the data behind dashboard elements. These are set up by using the filters for dashboards parameter. For a filter to impact an element, the element must be set up to "listen" for that filter, using the listen parameter.

The syntax for listen is:

- name: element_name
  listen:
    filter_name_goes_here: dimension or measure on which to apply
                           the filter using view_name.field_name syntax
    # You can add more than one listen statement

For example, you might create a filter called Date that requires a user to enter a date into the filter field in the UI. You could then apply the value that the user enters to the orders_by_date element like this:

- dashboard: sales_overview
  ...

  filters:
  - name: date
    type: date_filter

  elements:
 - name: orders_by_date
    listen:
      date: order.order_date
    ...

This concept is described in more detail on the Building LookML dashboards documentation page.

hidden_fields

The hidden_fields parameter indicates which fields, if any, are used in the query but hidden in the chart. Any hidden fields will appear in the data table section of an Explore.

hidden_fields: [inventory_items.count, distribution_centers.id]

query_timezone

The query_timezone parameter specifies the time zone in which the query will be run. The time zone options are shown on the Values for timezone documentation page. If you want the query to run using the viewer's time zone, you can assign the value as user_timezone.

- name: orders_by_date
  query_timezone: America/Los Angeles

- name: orders_by_customer
  query_timezone: user_timezone

merged_queries

The merged_queries parameter defines how to merge results from several queries. You define the component queries under the merged_queries parameter and use the join_fields subparameter to define the merge rules.

The syntax for merged_queries is:

  merged_queries:
  - 'primary query definition'
  - 'next source query definition'
    join_fields:
    - field_name: 'field from the source query using the view_name.field_name syntax'
      source_field_name: 'joined field from the primary query using the
        view_name.field_name syntax'
    # more join_fields definitions as needed
  - 'next source query definition'
    join_fields:
    - field_name: view_name.field_name
      source_field_name: view_name.field_name
    # more join_fields definitions as needed
  # additional source queries and join_fields definitions as needed

The first query defined under merged_results is the primary query, and the other queries will be merged with that one.

For example, by joining on the stock symbol, company name, and Facebook username, you can merge two queries to return results for company name, company Facebook username, IPO year, stock symbol, number of employees, and job count:

- name: merged_results_element
  title: Merged Results Tile
  merged_queries:
  - model: market_research
    explore: company_info
    fields: [company.name, company.facebook_username, ipo.public_year, ipo.stock_symbol]
    filters:
      company.facebook_username: "-NULL"
      ipo.valuation_amount: NOT NULL
    sorts: [ipo.public_year desc]
  - model: crunchbase
    explore: companies
    fields: [companies.name, ipo.stock_symbol, companies.facebook_username,
      companies.number_of_employees, jobs.job_count]
    filters:
      companies.number_of_employees: NOT NULL
      ipo.stock_symbol: "-NULL"
      companies.facebook_username: "-NULL"
    sorts: [jobs.job_count desc]
    join_fields:
    - field_name: ipo.stock_symbol
      source_field_name: ipo.stock_symbol
    - field_name: companies.name
      source_field_name: company.name
    - field_name: companies.facebook_username
      source_field_name: company.facebook_username

Then you can apply element parameters to style the visualization as you desire.

Series parameters

The parameters described in this section correspond to the options in the Series menu of the visualization editor for waterfall charts.

up_color

Set the color of the positive value bars in the chart. The color value can take a hex string enclosed in quotes, such as "#2ca6cd", or a CSS named color string, such as mediumblue.

up_color: blue

The up_color parameter overrides the color_application parameter, if it is used.

down_color

Set the color of the negative value bars in the chart. The color value can take a hex string enclosed in quotes, such as "#2ca6cd", or a CSS named color string, such as mediumblue.

down_color: "#ff0000"

The down_color parameter overrides the color_application parameter, if it is used.

total_color

Set the color of the total value bar in the chart. The color value can take a hex string enclosed in quotes, such as "#2ca6cd", or a CSS named color string, such as mediumblue.

total_color: yellow

The total_color parameter overrides the color_application parameter, if it is used.

color_application

The color_application parameter, and its subparameters collection_id and palette_id, can be used to apply a specific color collection and palette to a dashboard element. For an overview of Looker's native color collections, see the Color collections documentation page.

If you have the collection ID and palette ID for the palette you want to use, you can enter those IDs into the collection_id and palette_id subparameters. A collection ID or a palette ID may be an alphanumeric code or be based on the name of the color collection. Alphanumeric codes are used for Looker's native collections. They are instance-specific and look like this:

color_application:
  collection_id: 1297dk12-86a7-4xe0-8dfc-82de20b3806a
  palette_id: 93c8aeb7-3f8a-4ca7-6fee-88c3617516a1

Custom color collections use collection and palette IDs based on the name of the color collection, which are portable across instances and look like this:

color_application:
  collection_id: blue-tone-collection
  palette_id: blue-tone-collection-categorical-0

You can also use the UI to find the colors, collections, or palettes that you want and generate the LookML to add them to your dashboard. Navigate to a piece of user-defined content (like a Look, a dashboard, or an Explore), and apply the colors, collection, or palette that you want to that content's visualization using the UI. Once you've done that, you can follow the steps to get dashboard LookML, copy the LookML that was produced, and paste it in the color_application section.

color_application and the Positive, Negative, and Total Value Bars

By default, the first color of the designated palette is applied to the positive value bars in the waterfall chart, the second color of the palette is applied to the negative bars of the waterfall chart, and the third color of the designated palette is applied to the total bar of the waterfall chart. The optional subparameter reverse changes the application to the last color, second-to-last color, and third-to-last color, respectively.

color_application:
  collection_id: blue-tone-collection
  palette_id: blue-tone-collection-categorical-0
  options:
    reverse: true

The up_color, down_color, and total_color parameters override any colors designated in the color_application parameter, if both types of color parameters are used.

Value parameters

The parameters described in this section correspond to the options in the Values menu of the visualization editor for waterfall charts.

show_value_labels

Display the value of a bar, line, or point next to the data point.

show_value_labels: true | false

## default value: false

label_color

The label_color parameter accepts a color value for the labels. The color value can be formatted as a hex string, such as #2ca6cd, or as CSS named color string, such as mediumblue.

label_color: [blue]

X-axis parameters

The parameters described in this section correspond to the options in the X menu of the visualization editor for waterfall charts.

x_axis_scale

This parameter determines how the x-axis scale is calculated.

• auto: The scale will be inferred from the underlying data. This is the default setting.
• ordinal: The data will be plotted as evenly spaced, discrete entries.
• time: The data will be plotted as time and the axis will be labeled appropriately. This will not work if the underlying data can't be converted to dates.

x_axis_scale: auto | ordinal | time

## default value: auto

show_x_axis_label

This parameter determines whether the x-axis label is shown.

show_x_axis_label: true | false

## default value: true

show_x_axis_ticks

This parameter determines whether values are shown on the x-axis.

show_x_axis_ticks: true | false

## default value: true

x_axis_zoom

This parameter specifies whether users can zoom into the x-axis of the visualization. When x_axis_zoom is set to true, zooming is available. When x_axis_zoom is set to false, zooming is not available.

If x_axis_zoom is set to false, y_axis_zoom is disabled.

x_axis_zoom: true | false

# default value: true

Y-axis parameters

The parameters described in this section correspond to the options in the Y menu of the visualization editor for waterfall charts.

show_y_axis_labels

This parameter determines whether the y-axis label is shown.

show_y_axis_labels: true | false

## default value: true

show_y_axis_ticks

This parameter determines whether values are shown on the y-axis.

show_y_axis_ticks: true | false

## default value: true

y_axis_gridlines

This parameter determines whether gridlines are extended from the y-axis.

y_axis_gridlines: true | false

## default value: true

y_axis_zoom

This parameter specifies whether users can zoom into the y-axis of the visualization. When y_axis_zoom is set to true, zooming is available.

When y_axis_zoom is set to false, users cannot zoom into smaller portions of the y-axis. However, users may still be able to zoom into smaller portions of the x-axis if the x_axis_zoom parameter is set to true.

If x_axis_zoom is set to false, y_axis_zoom is disabled.

y_axis_zoom: true | false

# default value: true