Creating dashboards

Basic dashboards - a quick look at operational data

The OmniMES system offers two types of dashboards, the first of which is an integral, built-in part of the system. This dashboard type was designed for a clear presentation of data from already configured machines and their signals. The user can intuitively modify the dashboard layout by moving and removing visual elements, but cannot edit the source data or the way it is acquired. This dashboard has an informational function and provides a quick look at the production state - without interfering with the system configuration.

Redash dashboards - flexibility and data sharing

The second type of dashboards in the OmniMES system are advanced dashboards, which give the user full control over their appearance, content and the scope of presented data. Importantly, they can be shared publicly - even with people who do not have an OmniMES account. This solution is particularly useful in projects carried out for external clients who want to monitor the progress of an order in real time. Dashboards can be refreshed automatically at defined intervals - from 1 to 60 minutes - or run without refresh, depending on the needs.

This chapter discusses the process of creating dashboards using the integrated Redash tool, which is an integral part of the OmniMES system.

The process of creating a query for a dashboard chart

The data source for a chart is a local query. In the Desktops → Queries module, click Add and choose the query type:

Most often you create a Base query (JSON) - the OmniMES wizard in which, without knowledge of SQL, you indicate the machines, event/measurement types and the period (e.g. unplanned downtime from the last 24 hours for the whole machine park). The system itself generates a ready query that will feed the chart. For advanced needs there is also the Query Results (SQL) mode - an SQL editor over the results of the base queries; details in the chapter Desktops.

After saving the query, next to it in the Queries tab select Edit in Redash to build a chart on it.

2. Logging in to Redash
   If you are not logged in, use the same password as for OmniMES; the login is your e-mail address.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

3. Running the query
   In the Queries tab, find your query by its name and click on it.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

4. Then Edit Source and Execute to fetch the data.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

   This is a necessary step before creating a chart.

   
   

5. Creating a chart

   
   

   
   
   

   
   Click Add Visualization and choose the chart type from the Chart Type list. The key fields are:

   
   

   • name_machine - the machine name

   • count - the number of events

   • group by - e.g. name_entry

     
     In addition, you can set colours in the Colors tab, labels in Data Labels, and dynamically display data with the syntax {{count}} stops - {{convert_time}}.

     
     

     This flexible solution lets you create professional dashboards tailored to individual reporting and presentation needs.

Adding a chart to a dashboard and sharing it

The next step in creating an advanced dashboard in the OmniMES system is adding a chart to the panel. To do this:

1. Create a new dashboard by clicking "New Dashboard" and entering its name.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

2. Confirm the choice by clicking "Done Editing" in the top-right corner (the three-dot menu), and then choose the "Edit" option.

   
   
   

   
   

3. Click "Add Widget", choose the name of the previously created chart and select the visualization type as "Chart" - this will add the chart to the dashboard.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

4. Finally, click "Done Editing" again to save the configuration.

   
   

To make the dashboard publicly available:

• Click "Share" and select "Allow public access".

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  Thanks to this the dashboard:

  
  

• Will be visible in the OmniMES system as available to be selected as the main view,

• Can be shared with external people via a link - without the need to log in to the OmniMES system.

  
  

Setting a dashboard as the main panel in OmniMES

After creating and publishing the dashboard in Redash, we go back to the OmniMES system, to the Desktops tab. Our newly created panel should be visible in the list of available dashboards.

To set it as the main panel:

1. Click the "Set as main panel" button.

2. Choose the refresh interval - e.g. every 10 minutes.
   From that moment the dashboard will automatically fetch the latest chart data at the selected interval.

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

   That's all - the dashboard is ready to use as the user's main panel view.
   Of course, the system allows creating and adding many other dashboards and charts with data to the same chart, depending on analytical or operational needs.