Overview
Live settings allow charts to automatically refresh with up-to-date data, making them well-suited for dashboards where real-time visibility matters. There are two live types available: Snapshot and Stream. Some chart types support both; others are limited to Snapshot only.
Snapshot
A “Live Snapshot” chart refreshes automatically on a configured interval, always displaying data from a defined time window. It looks identical to a non-live chart; the difference is that instead of requiring a manual refresh, the chart updates itself automatically.
Pie charts are an example of a chart type that supports Snapshot only. Because a pie chart shows the distribution of data at a point in time, a streaming timeline is not applicable.
Configuration
A “Live Snapshot” has two configurable settings:
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
Time Frame |
The window of data the chart displays — for example, the past 2 hours. |
Refresh |
How often the chart automatically updates — for example, every 5 minutes. |
Both settings can be adjusted independently. For example, a chart could be configured to always show the past 15 minutes of data, refreshing every minute to reflect the latest values within that window.
Stream
A “Live Stream” charts a rolling timeline of data points, plotting new values at a set interval. Rather than showing a single snapshot, a Stream chart reveals how data trends over time,making it particularly useful on dashboards where monitoring patterns is as important as seeing current values.
Configuration
A “Live Stream” has three configurable settings:
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
Scope |
The total time window visible in the chart — for example, the past 2 hours. |
Interval |
How frequently a new data point is generated and plotted — for example, every 15 minutes. |
Refresh |
How often the chart checks for and renders new data. |
Once a Stream is active, a vertical line marks the point where the stream began. As new data points are added over time, this line gradually shifts left until it moves off-screen.
Snapshot vs. Stream
Snapshot |
Stream |
|
|---|---|---|
What it shows |
Current data within a defined time window |
A rolling timeline of data points plotted over time |
Best for |
Distribution charts and current-state views |
Trend analysis and time-series monitoring |
Configurable settings |
Time Frame, Refresh |
Scope, Interval, Refresh |
If charts are being added to a dashboard, configuring Live Settings is strongly recommended to ensure the data stays current without manual intervention.