To be able to work with a data widget of any type, once you've selected which data sources you want to use, you'll need to add dimensions and metrics. These can be simple, aggregate, or custom. To be in a position to be thinking about dimensions and metrics, you need a template - see one of the articles below for guidance on creating a template.  

NinjaNote: Before getting started, it's important to note that you may sometimes be limited by dimension and metric combination limits. These limitations are unfortunately defined by the API of the data provider and are most often beyond NinjaCat's control.

 

Section Links  

Adding a Data Widget to Your Template

Data Widget Settings Inspector Features

Add a Data Source To Your Widget

Adding a Data Source-Specific Dimension

Using Aggregate Dimensions

Using Custom Dimensions

Adding Metrics To Widgets

Adding a Custom Metric

 

Adding a Data Widget to Your Template

1. Access the NinjaCat Template Builder

2. Select either an already existing template or a new template from scratch

3. Click on the first tab of the four at the top of the inspector near the right to reveal the widget browser

4. Click on the "Data" heading in the widget browser to reveal the data widgets

5. Click on the icon that corresponds to the desired widget

 

Data Widget Settings Inspector Features

NinjaNote:

• When a widget is selected and you select Add Datasources / Dimensions / Metrics... the cursor will automatically be in the search bar (w/o an additional click)
• When a widget is selected and you are selecting options from the Datasources, Metrics, and/or Dimensions lists in the widget settings near the right, if nothing is selected, clicking on the “Enter” button will automatically select the first option at the top of the list.
• Clicking on “ESC” will close the data sources, dimensions, and/or metrics section.
• You have the ability to click on an “X” button within the search input area to clear any typed text.

 

• Data

  

 

- The main subject of this article, this section, connects to a data source and specifies the details of your initial widget data request

• • Data source - details below
  • Dimensions - details below
  • Metric - details below

 

• Style

  

   

  • Font - Widget data content text typefaces
  • Title - Widget title bar text typefaces

 

• Dimension Overrides

  
  • Font - Multiple options for Dimension specific typeface changes

• Metric Overrides

  
  • Comparison Setting - Specific Metric options for the display of the Comparison values
  • Font - Multiple options for Metric specific typeface changes

• Properties

  
  - Widget specific customizable details that affect the widget as a whole

 

Add a Data Source to Your Widget

NinjaNote: Select an account from the accounts drop-down in the top right so that you can pull data into your table as you're building it and make sure you're hitting your data story goals. Also, ensure the account you've selected to preview the data with has data sources set up for all of the data sources you're using in the widget.

1. Click on your data widget to open up a list of configuration options in the 'Widget Inspector' If the list of configuration options doesn't open click the "wrench" icon in the top right

NinjaNote: Each widget has specific minimum requirements: these are explained in the red text in the widget itself when first created, displayed until you've met the widget criteria. See the Data Widget Requirements article for more info.

2. Click on "Add Datasources" under the Data Sources subheading inside the widget's inspector

3. Search for the data source(s) you want to add using the search box and select the data source(s) by clicking on each one in turn. Once selected, the data source(s) will show ticks next to it. 

4. Click on the back arrow next to the Datasource header to return to the main widget inspector page.

NinjaNote: You won't be able to save your template at this stage - It is not possible to save a template while any widget is in an incomplete stage. Remember, it's good practice to only work on one widget at a time to avoid confusion when it comes to saving!

 

Adding Data Source-Specific Dimensions

1. To add a simple Dimension, click on the small plus (+) next to the Dimensions subheading inside the widget inspector. This will open up a list of all dimensions.

2. Search for the dimension(s) you want to add using the search box, and select clicking on it. Once selected, the dimensions will show a tick next to it. 

The Dimensions are listed under headings taking the name of the data source you've added showing the data source specific dimensions, and also as under the heading of Aggregate - in this instance, these are common dimensions that are available across multiple data sources, such as Account, Date, Day of Week, Campaign Name, etc.

NinjaNote: If you've added more than one data source, you'll need to either use the aggregate dimensions presented in the dimensions list, which is done as in the section or, if the dimension you're looking for isn't there, create a 'Custom Dimension'.

3. Once you've selected your dimension(s), click on the back arrow next to the Datasource header to return to the main widget inspector page. 

4. Next you need to add a Metric. 

NinjaNote: You still won't be able to save your template at this stage - It is not possible to save while any widget is in an incomplete stage. Remember, it's best practice to only work on one widget at a time! 

 

Using Aggregate Dimensions

1. If you've added more than one data source to your widget, navigate to the widget inspector, scroll down to the Dimensions section. Click on 'Add Dimension' to expand the available Dimensions list. 

2. Use the search box to type the name of the Dimensions you're looking for if you know it, or scroll through the list to find your Dimension.

NinjaNote: You will notice in this instance there are ONLY aggregate dimensions listed. If you want any specific data source dimensions, you will need to use the custom dimension builder. We'll explore that next.

3. Click on the name of any aggregate dimension(s) you want from the list to add them to your widget. You'll see your dimension show at the top of the dimensions list with a tick next when you've successfully selected it. 

4. Once you've selected your dimension(s), click on the back arrow next to the Datasource header to return to the main widget inspector page. 

NinjaNote: You still won't be able to save your template at this stage - It is not possible to save while any widget is in an incomplete stage. Remember, it's best practice to only work on one widget at a time!

 

Using Custom Dimensions

NinjaNote: Custom Dimensions allow you to build a dimension - for example if one data source calls its dimension 'landing page title', and the other data source calls the same dimension 'landing page name', you can use the custom dimension builder to instruct NinjaCat to view these as the same Dimension, which you can then custom name.

1. Click on the three vertical dots next to the small plus (+) next to the Dimensions header in the widget inspector, then select 'Custom' from the resulting menu

2. Appropriately fill in the fields in the Custom Dimension Editor

• Name - Title of your dimension
• Hide - Toggle on (Toggled Right) to not display the dimension visually in the widget
• Non-Segmenting - Toggle on (Toggled Right) to not segment the data by this dimension
• Display As - Select the format for how you want the dimension to appear

3. Under the Dimensions to Aggregate section, for each data source, select the appropriate dimension you want to include from the list of available dimensions. 

4. Click on OK to create your Custom Dimension. 

NinjaNote: You still won't be able to save your template at this stage - It is not possible to save while any widget is in an incomplete stage. Remember, it's best practice to only work on one widget at a time!

 

Adding Metrics To Widgets

NinjaNote: At least 1 Metric is required for all data widgets  - it's the measurement of performance. In many of the data widgets, you can add one or more metrics to provide greater detail on overall performance, such as displaying Impressions alongside Clicks, Cost, and CPC. 

1. To add a simple Metric to your data widget, click on the small plus (+) next to the Metrics subheading inside the widget inspector. This will open up a list of all available metrics.

2. Search for the metric(s) you want to add using the search box, and select clicking on it. Once selected, the metrics will show a tick next to them. 

NinjaNote: The Metrics are listed under headings 'Aggregate' meaning these are metrics that are common across multiple data sources, and also by the data source you've added showing the data source specific metrics that we have not identified as easy to aggregate.

3. Once you've selected your metric(s), click on the back arrow next to the Metrics header to return to the main widget inspector page. 

4. You are now able to save your template as your widget is deemed to be complete.  

 

Adding a Custom Metric

NinjaNote: Custom Metrics allows you to combine metrics from individual data sources to build very specific calculations. - for example, if you're measuring clicks from one data source, but cost from another, the aggregate CPC metric won't give you what you want. Creating metrics in the custom metric editor allows you to specify exactly the calculation you want to use. 

1. Click on the three vertical dots next to the small plus (+) next to the Metrics header in the widget inspector, then select 'Custom' from the resulting menu

2. Appropriately fill in the fields in the Custom Metric Editor

• Name - Give your Custom Metric a Name.
• Hide - Toggle on the 'Hide' switch if you DO NOT want to display your metric.
• Display As -  dropdown, select the most appropriate display option for your custom metric: 
• Decimal Formatting - option is the most relevant to your metric - you'll see the option you've chosen from the drop-down demonstrated to the right of the Decimal formatting box. As default, this will use the Template settings, defined in the global settings. 
• Formula - Use the Insert Metric Box, Insert Operator, Insert Constant, and Insert buttons to build your metric.
• Insert Metric -
  • Search for the first metric you want to include from the Insert Metric dropdown - as usual, the search box reduces the need for scrolling through the list of all available metrics if you know the name of the metric.
  • Once you've found the metric you want to include, either aggregate or data source-specific, click on it from the list to highlight it. Then click Insert to insert it into the formula bar. 
  • Next, click insert operator to insert the relevant operator (Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, or brackets) to build your formula. In this example, we're going to look to build CPC as "Analytics cost / Facebook Clicks" displayed as a currency.
  • Continue to build your formula, inserting metrics and operators until your formula is complete. If you want to include the number of accounts or rows in your formula, you can insert this from the 'Insert Constant' dropdown.
  • Once your formula is complete, check that it is valid - there is a red error message at the bottom of the custom metrics editor window next to the OK and Cancel buttons which will tell you if your formula is Invalid, or valid. 
  • Click OK to include your metric in your widget, or cancel to go back to the widget inspector without adding the custom metric.  

3. You can now save your template.