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Cards

A card is one visual: a chart type bound to data, plus an optional transform that shapes the rows before they render. Cards are what you place on dashboards.

Two ways to create a card​

Every data card has exactly one source:

  • From a dataset -- pick an existing dataset and build on its cached result. Requires the Explorer tier (T2) or above, so most of your organisation can build this way without writing SQL.
  • From SQL -- give the card its own query, run directly against the warehouse. Requires the Builder tier (T4) or above. SQL cards support the same curly-brace parameters as datasets, so dashboard filters work on them too.

Prefer datasets where you can: one shared cached result feeds any number of cards, while each SQL-direct card queries on its own. SQL cards can opt into their own scheduled cache -- see Cache windows.

Transforms​

A transform reshapes the dataset's rows for one card without touching the dataset or the warehouse -- it runs in the browser on the cached result. The steps, applied in order:

  1. Filter -- keep rows matching clauses with the operators =, !=, >, >=, <, <=, in, between and like.
  2. Group by and aggregate -- group on one or more columns and compute sum, avg, min, max, count or count_distinct, each with an optional output name.
  3. Sort -- order by one or more columns, ascending or descending.
  4. Limit -- keep the first N rows, useful for top-10 style cards.

Because transforms are client-side, ten differently-shaped cards on one dataset still cost a single query.

Duplicating​

Duplicating a card creates a fully independent copy -- an owned clone, not a shared reference. Editing the copy never affects the original, and vice versa. The copy keeps the source's size unless you give it a new one. Duplicating requires the Explorer tier (T2) or above.

Favourites​

A favourite is a reusable card template. On a dashboard, select a card and choose Save as favourite: Flynt stores an independent snapshot of the card together with its current size. Favourites appear in the dashboard Insert panel, where placing one copies it onto the dashboard at its saved default size -- again an owned copy, so editing the placed card leaves the template untouched. A Favourites manager page lets you rename, edit or remove templates; removing one never affects cards already placed.

Beyond data cards​

Dashboards can also carry items that reference no data:

  • Text -- headings, body text and captions with alignment, size, weight and colour controls. Available to anyone who can edit the dashboard.
  • Decorations -- shapes (rectangle or ellipse), dividers and images (referenced by URL). These are placed on free-form canvas dashboards and require the Designer tier (T5) or above.

Good to know​

  • A card must have exactly one source; you cannot bind it to both a dataset and its own SQL.
  • Cards and the dashboards that hold them can be certified to signal trust -- see Certification and peer review.