Long term projects need to be managed. As a project is scoped, requirements get defined and delivery-timeframes are estimated. As work is done, requirements are completed.
One way to track this project progress is with a Waterfall Chart.
This guide will show you how to utilize a Waterfall Chart Widget to easily display the project workflow.
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YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO
- Create a Data Shape
- Create a Thing
- Create an Info Table Property
- Populate an Info Table with appropriate data for a Waterfall Chart
- Create a Mashup
- Utilize a Waterfall Chart to display project progress
NOTE: This guide's content aligns with ThingWorx 9.3. The estimated time to complete this guide is 30 minutes
Step 1: Create Data Shape
In this scenario, we'll store the Waterfall Chart's data in a Property type called an Info Table.
An Info Table is a spreadsheet-like Property, but in order to define the columns of the table, we first have to define a Data Shape. We'll do that in this step.
- In the left-side navigation, click Browse > Modeling > Data Shapes.
- At the top, click + New.
- In the Name field, type TPWC_DataShape.
- If Project is not already set, search for and select PTCDefaultProject
.
- At the top, click Field Definitions.
- At the top-left, click + Add.
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- On the right-side slide-out, in the Name field, type month.
- Note that you want to leave "Base Type" as the default of "STRING".
- Check Is Primary Key.
- Click the "check with a plus" button for Done and Add.
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In the Name field, type amount.
- Change Base Type, to NUMBER.
- Click the "check" button for Done.
- At the top, click Save
.
Step 2: Create Thing
Now that we have our Data Shape, we can create a Thing to document the project progress over time.
As already mentioned, we'll use an Info Table Property, formatted by the previously-created Data Shape, to do so.
- Click Browse > Modeling > Things.
- Click + New.
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- In the Name field, type TPWC_Thing.
- If Project is not already set, search for and select PTCDefaultProject.
- In the Base Thing Template field, search for and select GenericThing.
- At the top, click Save.
Add Info Table Property
Now that we have our Thing instantiated, we want to add an Info Table Property.
- At the top, click Properties and Alerts.
- Click + Add.
- On the right-side slide-out, in the Name field, type InfoTable_Property.
- Change Base Type to INFOTABLE.
- In the Data Shape field, search for and select TPWC_DataShape.
- Note that the Data Shape field will not appear until you set Base Type to INFOTABLE.
- Check Persistent.
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- At the top-right, click the "check" button for Done.
- At the top, click Save.
Set Value of Property
Now that we have a place in which to store spreadsheet-like values, we'll do so manually for testing.
- On the InfoTable_Property row, under the Value column, click the "pencil" icon for Set value of property.
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- On the pop-up, click + Add.
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- Enter the following values in each field as per the table below:
Field Name | Value |
month | January |
amount | 380 |
- Click Add.
- Repeat Steps 2-4 multiples times until all of the below values have been entered.
- Note that amount should be left blank for both Mid-Term and Total.
- Note that you may enter fewer than all the values listed below if so desired, though your final Waterfall Chart will not match the following screenshots.
month | amount |
February | 85 |
March | 50 |
April | 1000 |
May | -300 |
June | 0 |
Mid-Term | |
July | 30 |
August | -655 |
September | -100 |
October | -250 |
November | 350 |
December | -100 |
Total | |
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- On the pop-up, click Save.
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- At the top, click Save.
Step 3: Create Mashup
Now that we have our data in-place for testing (and could be connected to automated systems after we finish testing), we need to visualize the data.
As mentioned, we'll use a Waterfall Chart Widget, but first, we need to create a Mashup into which we can place the Widget.
- Click Browse > Visualization > Mashups.
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- Click + New.
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- Leave the defaults and click OK.
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- In the Name field, type TPWC_Mashup.
- If Project is not already set, search for and select PTCDefaultProject.
- At the top, click Save.
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- At the top, click Design.
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- At the top-left, click the Widgets tab.
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- Drag-and-drop a Waterfall Chart Widget onto the central Canvas.
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- At the top, click Save.
Click here to view Part 2 of this guide.