Adding Lines to Reports & Forecasts
This document reviews how to add various line types to count over time and segmentation reports. These line types can be horizontal reference lines for target thresholds, or trend lines for progress tracking. The option to add forecasts and progress tracking is also covered.
Add goal lines to reports to count over time reports
Adding goal lines to reports in Ashby is currently supported for count over time and segmentation report types. To add a line, simply click "Add Line" in the View Options section of the report configuration. Once a line is added you will have a new set of line options depending on your report configuration. The two types of lines, reference lines and goal lines, and an optional forecast summary are described below.
Reference Lines
A reference line is a straight-line threshold to be rendered on any report. The reference line has three possible value choices:
- Custom: a line is rendered at the numeric value specified by the user input
- Average: a line is rendered at the average value of the reported data
- Median: a line is rendered at the median value of the reported data
Add a reference line with a custom value
- Select + Add Line in the View Options section
- Enter an optional label for your line
- Select Reference Line as the line type
- Select Custom for the value and enter the target value
Trend Lines & Forecasts
Trend lines can be added to reports to represent a linear target over time. A trend line type requires an end value which represents the target for the end of the time period. The start value of the line is automatically provided to fit the linear growth over the time grouping and target end value provided. However, a custom start value can be entered.
When a count over time Count As is switched to Running Total, the option to forecast progress against the trend line is made available. Enabling the forecast summary provides a forecast based on historic progress in the report.
Adding a trend line with a forecast
- Select + Add Line in the View Options
- Set the report counting to Running Total
- Select the Trend Line line type
- Enter a target value you wish to reach by the end of your time period. The Start Value is optional and will default to a linear extrapolation from your end value
- Toggle on Include forecast?
Forecast Details
The forecast line is determined by your reported performance to date and does a linear extrapolation. When mousing over the forecast line, the current time elapsed, percent to goal, and estimate of your end value based on past activity are shown.
