KPI and Cards

A KPI shows one number, with an optional comparison and the change against it. Cards shows several measures as a grid of compact KPI cards, one per measure. Use a KPI for a headline figure, and Cards for several measures at once.

Build a KPI or Cards visual

1. Select Edit in the report header. It appears only when you can edit the report; saving is covered on Build a report.
2. In the Visualizations panel, pick KPI or Cards under Tables & cards. The full catalogue is on Visuals.
3. On the Fields tab, drag a measure into Values.
4. For a KPI, drag the measure to compare against into Comparison. For Cards, add one more measure to Values for every card you want.

Read the value and the comparison

• The measure in Values becomes the single number.
• With a measure in Comparison and Show comparison on, a comparison block sits with the number and shows the comparison's title and its value. The title is the Comparison title you set on the Visual tab, or the comparison measure's own name when you leave it empty.
• Hover the number to read its full value, or the comparison block to read its title and value, in a tooltip.
• The number and the comparison each follow their measure's value format. See Format a visual for the controls.
• With compare mode on, the block shows the second side and, while Diff is switched on, an absolute difference line joins the pair. See Compare mode.

Read the trend pill

• A trend shows only when Show comparison is on and a comparison measure exists; without both, the number stands alone.
• The pill carries a small arrow and the change as a percentage, with one decimal place and a plus sign on a rise, for example +12.5%.
• The pill takes a green tone when the change counts as good and a red one when it counts as bad. By default a rise counts as good; for measures where a fall is good news, such as costs, switch on Lower is better under KPI on the Visual tab and the tones swap.
• A flat change shows no pill. When the comparison value is 0, the percentage cannot be computed and the pill shows the plain difference instead.

The number on the tile

• The number scales with the width of its tile: below 180 px it uses its smallest size, and it steps up at 180, 280 and 420 px.
• When its result updates, the number counts to the new value; a device set to reduced motion changes it at once.

Build a set of cards

• Each measure in Values draws one compact card, captioned with the measure's name.
• A card shows its value alone: Cards carry no comparison block and no trend.
• The grid follows the tile: as many columns as fit, every card at least 150 px wide, and never more columns than there are measures. A taller row draws larger cards.
• To pin the layout, set Columns under Layout on the Visual tab: Auto fits the tile, or pick a count from 1 to 10.
• Each card can take its own label and value format; pick the card's measure under Values on the Visual tab and set them there.

Colour the cards

• On the Visual tab, Background under Data colours offers Standard, Series and Custom. Standard leaves the cards plain; Series gives each card a colour from the chart palette; Custom takes colours from the list, matched to each card by its label or key.
• A card that carries a colour draws it as a light background tint, with a border in the same colour.

Questions, answered

Why does my KPI show no trend?

A trend is computed only when Show comparison is on and a measure sits in Comparison. Add the measure to compare against, and check the toggle under KPI on the Visual tab.

Why is my KPI green when the number went down?

Lower is better is switched on for that visual, so a fall counts as the good result. It is meant for measures such as costs, where down is good; switch it off and a rise counts as good again.

What does the percentage on the trend pill compare?

The number against the measure in Comparison: the change is read as a percentage of the comparison, with a plus sign on a rise.

Why is there no percentage when the comparison is 0?

The change is relative to the comparison, and a percentage of zero cannot be computed. The pill shows the plain difference (the value minus the comparison) instead.

Why does the KPI number change size?

It scales with the tile width: its smallest size below 180 px, then a step up at 180, 280 and 420 px. Resize the tile to change it.

Can I show several measures in one KPI?

No; a KPI holds one measure in Values plus one in Comparison. For several measures in one tile, use Cards.

Can a card show a comparison?

No. A card draws its measure's value alone, with no comparison and no trend. Use a KPI tile for a compared number.

How do I colour the cards?

Background, under Data colours on the Visual tab: Standard keeps the cards plain, Series takes each card's colour from the chart palette, and Custom matches colours to cards by label or key.

Why did my cards move into fewer columns?

The grid fits as many columns as the tile allows while keeping every card at least 150 px wide, so a narrow tile drops columns. Widen the tile, or pin the count with Columns under Layout.

Why don't KPI and Cards show limit rows?

They carry no limit rows: a KPI shows one value and each card one value, so there are no rows to page. Other visuals' limits are listed on Visuals.

What does a screen reader announce for a KPI?

The number's label, named as a key performance indicator. When a comparison shows, its title, its value and the change follow; a flat change adds no change text.