The Collection widget allows you to quickly replicate another widget to seamlessly display data of multiple devices in those copies without having to create them manually. This feature is ideal when you need to display the same type of data for several devices, such as tracking the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) for each machine in a factory. By automating the widget duplication process, the Collection widget saves time, reduces errors, and ensures a consistent visual experience.
Collection widgets can only be created in dynamic dashboards. |
Requirements
An Ubidots account with Industrial plan or higher.
1. What is a Collection Widget?
Simply put, a Collection widget is a container that houses copies of an existing widget, where each copy shows the data of a different device, eliminating the need to create copies manually in scenarios where the same type of data has to be visualized across different devices. These copies preserve the original widget’s characteristics, including its color logic and custom style.
There are multiple options to choose the source of the devices and you can change certain appearance characteristics of the copies and the container so that the Collection widget fits your dashboard’s overall style and needs.
2. How to Create a Collection Widget
To create Collection widgets, follow these steps:
1. Go to any dynamic dashboard where there’s a widget you’d like to copy (or create it).
2. Click on the “+” button located at the upper right corner of the dashboard.
3. Scroll down to the “advanced” section or type “collection” in the search bar. Click on the Collection option.
4. Using the “source” drop down menu, choose where the devices that will be used to create each copy of the widget will be sourced from. The available options are:
Set by dashboard: the devices selected in the dashboard device picker will be used to create the collection. Every time other devices are selected here, the widget will change accordingly.
Dashboard devices list: all the devices of the dashboard will be used.
Selected devices: a manual selection of devices will be used.
Device group: all the devices of a specific group will be used.
Device type: all the devices of a specific type will be used.
Device tag: all the devices that have a specific tag will be used.
5. If the selected source is either “selected devices”, “device group”, “device type” or “device tag”, now specify which specific devices, group, type or tag will be used.
6. Select the existing widget that will be replicated by the Collection.
7. Optionally, head to the “appearance” tab in the widget’s settings and define parameters such as the width and height of each copy of the widget, as well as the margins, internal spacing, background color, and background image of the container.
8. Finally and once you’re satisfied with the configuration, click on the “save” button to create the Collection widget.
Collection widgets can only be created in dynamic dashboards. |