Data Definitions

Use data definition to retrieve data from a data source. In the data definition, you specify the connector source and either select query parameters or directly enter a query to fetch data from the selected connector source. You can configure the data definitions according to your dashboard requirements to monitor various data sources. Dashboard Designer displays two types of data definitions, default data definitions and custom data definitions.

Default Data Definitions

The following are the default data definitions that are displayed on Dashboard Designer:
  • aggFilterQuery
  • summFilterQuery
Note: These data definitions are used in default filters only and must not be used elsewhere. Also, you cannot preview these data definitions.

Custom Data Definitions

Use the Set Data Definition Set Data Definition icon icon that is displayed in widgets to either create an assisted data definition or select a saved data definition.

You can create the following types of custom data definitions in Dashboard Designer:
Assisted Data Definition
Assisted data definition involves selecting a connector source and selecting various query parameters such as source, resource type, metrics, and instances in the Dashboard Designer. You can create such assisted data definition directly in a widget and only for the following built-in connectors:
  • APM Connector to connect to multiple Cloud APM data sources.
  • ITM Connector to connect to multiple ITM data sources.
  • ICAM Connector to connect to multiple Monitoring data sources.
  • JDBC Connector to connect to multiple third-party data sources, which support JDBC interface.
  • OMNIbus Connector to connect to multiple Tivoli® Netcool®/OMNIbus REST-compliant services.
  • CEM Connector to connect to IBM® Cloud Event Management REST-compliant services.
Note: Before you create the assisted data definitions, ensure that the data sources for all the listed connectors are already added.

While setting data definitions, use the Create a Data Definition option to create the assisted data definitions. Unlike the manual or saved data definitions, you cannot save assisted data definitions independently nor can you assign them to different widgets. You need to create and save the assisted data definition individually in the widget itself.

For more information about creating assisted data definitions by using connectors, see Setting assisted data definitions.

Saved Data Definition (Manual Data Definition)
Saved data definition involves manually typing SQL queries or REST API requests to retrieve data from a data source. This data definition is also known as non-assisted or manual data definition. You can create and save these data definitions individually. You can also modify, delete, rename, or preview these data definitions without adding them to a widget.

Unlike assisted data definitions, you cannot create these data definitions directly in a widget. You must first create and save them individually, and then assign them to a widget. Use the Create New Data Definition option in the navigation pane of Dashboard Designer to create and save the manual data definitions. You can create manual data definitions only for the following data sources and REST-compliant services:

  • Third-party data sources that use JDBC Connector
  • Cassandra database
  • MongoDB database
  • HBase database
  • Apache Hive data warehouse
  • Real-time data sources
  • Excel workbooks
  • IBM Cloud Event Management, ServiceNow, Salesforce, New Relic, Turbonomic, Humio, Nagios XI, SolarWinds®, QRadar®, Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus, Druid, Prometheus, Elasticsearch, Google BigQuery, Google Sheet, and other REST-compliant service
Note: Before you create the manual data definitions, ensure that the listed data sources and REST API services are already added.

While setting data definitions, use the Select from saved Data Definition option to assign an already saved data definition to a widget.

For more information about creating and saving a manual data definition, see Creating a manual data definition.

For more information about setting a manual data definition in a widget, see Setting manual data definitions.

For more information about configuring data sources for various connectors, see Configuring Connectors and Sources.