Analyse: Chart workbench
Overview
Use this page to add query rows that overlay and compare measurements or counters from one domain on a single time chart. Chart workbench is an ad hoc charting surface: you pick a domain, such as Load & Performance, then build a comparison chart row by row instead of browsing to a pre-built dashboard panel.
The measurements and counters you chart come from configuration already in place for that domain, such as datasources or uptime checks. A chart here is temporary until you act on it: Save to folder keeps it as a saved chart, and Save to dashboard adds it as a dashboard panel other users can see.
On this page you choose a domain, add or remove query rows to overlay series, and add transform rows to compute a derived series such as a ratio, delta, or rate. You also set the time window the chart covers and, for the uptime domain, overlay incident markers before saving the result.
Key concepts
- query row - An independent series definition, a chosen measurement or counter, that is plotted as its own line on the chart. Each row is identified by an auto-assigned letter (A, B, C...) unless you give it a custom label.
- transform row - A row that computes a derived series, such as a ratio, delta, or rate, from the raw data of your existing query rows, rather than plotting a measurement or counter directly.
- domain - The data category the chart draws from, such as Load & Performance. It determines which measurements and counters are available to query rows, and a chart can use only one domain at a time. (related: Analyse: Overview)
- incident markers - Overlay markers on the chart's availability lines showing recorded incidents, available only when Domain is set to the uptime domain. (related: Uptime Monitoring: Incidents)
- run window - The time range the chart's query rows are plotted over. It can be a fixed period or a rolling window that keeps re-resolving, for example last 24 hours, while the page stays open.
When to use it
- You need an ad hoc comparison of several measurements or counters from the same domain without building a full dashboard panel first.
- You're reviewing a test run or incident and want to overlay related counters to spot correlation before deciding what belongs on a permanent dashboard.
- You want to compute and chart a derived series, such as a ratio, delta, or rate, from two existing measurements.
- You want to check whether a multi-series chart is worth keeping before committing it to a dashboard or folder.
- You're working in the uptime domain and want to overlay incident markers on an availability chart.
Before you begin
- At least one measurement or counter available for the domain you plan to chart, set up via the relevant source configuration, such as Configuration: Datasources.
- Know which domain you want to chart before you start: the workbench charts one domain per chart, and switching the Domain dropdown after adding rows clears those rows.
- An existing dashboard in Analyse: Dashboards if you plan to use Save to dashboard, or access to Analyse: Saved charts if you plan to use Save to folder.
Common workflows
Build and save a comparison chart to a dashboard
Persona: Load-test operator reviewing a recent test run
- Set the Domain dropdown to the data category you want to chart, for example Load & Performance.
- Expect: The chart canvas remains on the Add a query below to build a chart placeholder, now scoped to the selected domain.
- Select Add query and choose the measurement or counter for the first row.
- Expect: A new query row labeled A appears and its series is plotted on the chart.
- Select Add query again to add a second row for the series you want to compare.
- Expect: A second row labeled B appears and its series is overlaid on the same chart as row A.
- Select Run window and choose the time range the comparison should cover.
- Expect: The chart redraws both series over the selected time range.
- Select Save to dashboard.
- Expect: A Saved to dashboard confirmation message appears and the chart is added as a panel on the destination dashboard.
Verify: Open Analyse: Dashboards and confirm the new panel shows both query rows plotted over the same run window you configured on Chart workbench.
Add a derived (transform) series
Persona: Performance analyst investigating a trend
- With two query rows already added, for example rows A and B, select Add transform.
- Expect: A transform row appears below the query rows.
- Choose the calculation (ratio, delta, or rate) and the query rows it should compute from.
- Expect: The chart adds a third line showing the computed series alongside rows A and B.
- Select Save to folder to keep the chart for later.
- Expect: A Saved to folder confirmation message appears and the chart, including the transform row, is saved.
Verify: Reopen the saved chart from Analyse: Saved charts and confirm the transform row's computed series still appears alongside the original query rows.
Steps
Step 1
Open Chart workbench from the Analyse section.
Expected result: The page loads with the Domain dropdown set to Load & Performance and an empty chart canvas showing Add a query below to build a chart; no query rows exist yet.
This empty state is the starting point for building a comparison chart: you set the domain, then add rows.
- Domain dropdown defaults to Load & Performance.
-
Run window, Save to folder, and Save to dashboard are visible but have nothing to act on until a query row is added.
Field reference
| Field | Purpose | Format / Validation | Required | Default |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domain | Selects which data category the chart's query rows draw from, for example Load & Performance. A chart supports only one domain: choosing a different domain after you've added rows clears them, because their parameters are domain-specific, so decide the domain before building out multiple rows. | dropdown | No | Load & Performance |
| custom label (optional) | Overrides a query row's auto-assigned letter (A, B, C...) in the chart legend with a name you choose, making a chart with several rows easier to read at a glance. | text | No | auto-assigned letter (A, B, C...) |
Column reference
| Column | What it shows | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| row letter (A, B, C...) | Identifies each query row in the chart legend when no custom label is set. | The letter is assigned by the highest existing letter plus one, so it stays stable and is not reused even after you remove an earlier row. |
Controls reference
Run window
Opens the time-range control that sets the window of time the chart's query rows are plotted over.
When to use: Before or after adding query rows, to focus the chart on a specific period, such as the duration of a test run.
Side effects: Read-only on your underlying data; it changes which time range is queried and displayed. A rolling window (such as last 24 hours) keeps re-resolving while the page stays open.
Save to folder
Saves the current chart configuration, domain, query rows, and transforms, to a folder for later reuse.
When to use: When you want to keep an ad hoc chart without adding it to a dashboard.
Side effects: Mutating: creates a saved chart entry and shows a Saved to folder confirmation message.
Save to dashboard
Saves the current chart as a panel on a dashboard.
When to use: When the chart is useful enough to monitor on an ongoing basis alongside other panels.
Side effects: Mutating: adds the chart as a panel to a dashboard and shows a Saved to dashboard confirmation message.
Add query
Adds a new independent query row, overlaying another measurement or counter as its own series on the chart.
When to use: Whenever you want to compare an additional series on the same chart, up to the maximum number of rows allowed.
Side effects: Mutating to the in-progress chart only, not saved until you use Save to folder or Save to dashboard. The new row is assigned the next letter and duplicates the previous row's source so you only need to change the metric.
Add transform
Adds a transform row that computes a derived series, ratio, delta, or rate, from your existing query rows.
When to use: When you need a calculated metric, such as the rate of change between two measurements, rather than the raw series alone.
Side effects: Mutating to the in-progress chart only. The transform computes over the raw query-row data, independent of any display overrides applied to those rows, up to the maximum number of transform rows allowed.
Remove transform
Deletes a single transform row from the chart.
When to use: When a derived series is no longer needed.
Side effects: Mutating: removes that row's computed series from the chart immediately.
Incidents
Toggles incident markers over the availability lines on the chart.
When to use: Only available when Domain is set to the uptime domain, to correlate dips in availability with recorded incidents.
Side effects: Read-only overlay toggle; it does not change the underlying data, only adds or removes markers on the chart.
Verify the result
When the primary task succeeds, the chart canvas shows one line per query row, each labeled with its letter or custom label, plotted over the selected run window instead of the empty-state placeholder. Adding a second query row overlays a second line on the same chart so you can visually compare the two series. If you added a transform row, its derived line (ratio, delta, or rate) also appears alongside the raw query rows. If a series is missing, confirm the Domain dropdown still matches the row you expect, since switching domains clears all existing rows, and check that the measurement or counter has data within the selected run window.
Troubleshooting
- Symptom: The chart still shows Add a query below to build a chart after you thought you added a row. Fix: Confirm you selected Add query and that the Domain dropdown still matches the domain you built the row in; switching Domain clears existing rows.
- Symptom: Add query has no effect. Fix: You've reached the maximum number of query rows for a chart; remove an existing row before adding another.
- Symptom: A transform row's computed series doesn't match what you expected. Fix: Transforms compute over the raw query-row data, not any display overrides you've applied to a row; check the underlying rows rather than their custom labels.
- Symptom: The Incidents control isn't visible. Fix: Incident markers are only available when Domain is set to the uptime domain; switch Domain to see it.
- Symptom: Save to folder or Save to dashboard appears to do nothing. Fix: Look for the brief Saved to folder or Saved to dashboard confirmation message; if it doesn't appear, the chart has no query rows yet to save.
Related articles
- Next step: Analyse: Dashboards - charts saved with Save to dashboard appear here as panels
- Next step: Analyse: Saved charts - charts saved with Save to folder are stored and reopened here
- Prerequisite: Configuration: Datasources - query rows need configured measurement or counter sources to plot
- See also: Uptime Monitoring: Incidents - the Incidents overlay correlates chart dips with recorded incidents in the uptime domain
- See also: Analyse: Overview - explains the available domains and how Analyse pages relate to one another