As you saw in the overview, VSI has a rich set of components that make up the user interface. We couldn’t do the more complicated elements among them justice in the overview, so here we’ll expand each component and show how in-depth how to use each.
Drilling Down on Dashboards
Many of the dashboards, which are usually presented on enterprise level screens, allow you to double click elements on the dashboard to get more details. There are instructions on the individual dashboard graphs that tell you when such an interaction is available.
Working with Most Graphs
It is often useful to filter the data that appear on many graphs. You can hover over data elements in the legend of our graphs and the graph will highlight that element. You can also click to turn those elements on or off. In the below example, it maybe be useful to turn the two average lines off so we can focus on the data for our Tier 1 storage.
Working with Time Series Graphs
Time series graphs allow the same basic filtering as most other graphs, but they also allow you to interactively change the time periods under review. You ca accomplish this two different ways.
First, you can use the slider at the bottom of the screen. Using your mouse, grab the handles at either end of the blue time graph at the bottom and drag them to include the time periods that interest you. You can scrub the time area while dragging back and forth along the grid.
Secondly, you can precisely set the dates for the start and end of the series that interests you.
In either case, the graph zooms to allow you to see more granular data.
Pro Tip: This is especially useful if your organization uploads every day. In those cases, time series graphs can get crowded after a few months.
Working with the Customizable Data Grid
The customizable data grid is the interactive jewel in the VSI crown. It provides a lot of interactive features such as grouping, sorting, filtering, moving and resizing columns to suit your liking, and showing and hiding different columns. Once you get a grid set up the way you like it, you can save the layout. After saving a layout, you’ll see the report that way each time you login, regardless of whether you are using the same device.
Most grids are also searchable, and exportable should you want to slice and dice your data in a tool like Excel. On many reports, filtering the data will change the contents of any graphs displayed in the same report.
Many report grids, especially those at the enterprise level, allow you to double click rows to view a more detailed set of reports concerning the item you selected.
Let’s look at the major features on the Customizable Data Grid.
Sorting Data
Filtering Data
Grouping Data
Units of Measure
Rearranging Columns
Showing and Hiding Columns
Saving the Column Configuration
Deleting the Column Configuration