{"id":29541,"date":"2017-08-07T14:39:37","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T06:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/help\/?page_id=29541"},"modified":"2025-08-25T18:21:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T10:21:56","slug":"creating-a-trend-4-5-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oihelp.corporate.ifs.com\/help\/p2-explorer\/trends\/creating-a-trend\/creating-a-trend-4-5-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Trend (4.5.2)"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

This article applies to the Trends in versions 4.5.2 and later of P2 Explorer. For more, see Release History<\/a>. For the latest help, see Creating a Trend<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A trend displays time-series data, such as tags, attribute values and calculations, over a selected period of time.<\/p>\n

To create a trend, you can either open a new blank trend (click New Trend<\/strong> on the Home<\/strong> ribbon tab), and add tags, attribute values and calculations to this. Or you can open a trend from an Explorer Page control, such as an embedded trend, a line chart, or a data label, to trend data from the control (right-click on the control and select Open Trend<\/strong>). You can add extra data to this trend as well.<\/p>\n

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Creating a New Trend from the Home ribbon tab<\/p><\/div>

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Opening a trend from an Embedded Trend on an Explorer Page<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Overview<\/h2>\n

The screenshot below shows a new trend, with four traces. The trend has five main sections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong><\/td>\nTrend Ribbon Tab<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Trend Tab<\/a> on the ribbon is activated whenever a trend is opened and is used for managing and sharing the trend, as well as refreshing data or resetting the trend,\u00a0and choosing some of the trend configuration such as Y-Scale Type, number of allowable hairlines and what type of Y-Axis is used. Click Auto Range<\/strong>\u00a0to reset the minimum and maximum values for the trace items, so that all data points are visible on the trend.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nTrend Controls<\/strong><\/td>\nThe selections you make on the Trend Controls<\/a> affect the time range of the chart, as well as the data collection method and interval.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nTrace Window<\/strong><\/td>\nData is plotted on the Trace Window<\/a>, along with hairlines and comments.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nRange Selector<\/strong><\/td>\nThe highlighted section in the range selector matches the start and end of the trend time range<\/em>. Use the range selector as a longer trend, to help identify highs and lows. You can select smaller periods within the range selector, to pick a new time range<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nTrace Table<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Trace Table<\/a> lists all items (attributes, tags and calculations) in the trend, along with their descriptions and the value at the latest hairline (if any) or end of trend period.<\/p>\n

Use the functionality here to format each trace line (colour, trace style, visibility), add or remove trace lines, add or edit calculation traces, choose a Left or right Y-Axis, and manipulate display minimums and maximums.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Trend Ribbon Tab<\/h2>\n

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Use the buttons on this tab to manipulate the trend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Reload<\/strong><\/td>\nReload the trend to what is was since the last Save (or to a blank trend, if you\u2019ve just started a new trend). E.g. If you add two new tags to the trend and then click \u2018Reload\u2019, these disappear.<\/td>\nSave<\/strong><\/td>\nSave the trend. You can also save it as a different trend, by changing its name in the Save Trend<\/strong> dialogue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Submit<\/strong><\/td>\nSubmit an unpublished trend.<\/td>\nHierarchy<\/strong><\/td>\nToggle button<\/em>: click to show\/hide the Hierarchy Navigator<\/a>. Use this to search for entities, with attributes to drag onto the trend. Hiding the Hierarchy Navigator enlarges the Trace Window.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tags<\/strong><\/td>\nToggle button<\/em>: click to show\/hide the Tags Navigator<\/a>. Use this to search for tags to drag onto the trend. Hiding the Tags Navigator enlarges the Trace Window.<\/td>\nRefresh<\/strong><\/td>\nRefresh the data on the trend. (Note:<\/em> To refresh current data at a steady rate, select \u2018Now\u2019 and choose a 'Duration' in the Trend Controls<\/a>.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Export CSV<\/strong><\/td>\nExport the trend's data to a .csv file for downloading.<\/td>\nSnapshot<\/strong><\/td>\nSave the current selections of the trend as a snapshot<\/a>. Trend snapshots are accessible in the Trend Details window, in the trend's Workspace.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Share Link<\/strong><\/td>\nClick to open the Share Trend<\/strong> dialogue. You can copy the trend's URL and Share the link<\/a>, if you want another user to view the trend with its current selections.<\/td>\nPrint<\/strong><\/td>\nPrint the trend. Use your browser's print settings if required. For example, include background graphics in the settings.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Properties<\/strong><\/td>\nOpen the Trend Properties panel for a summary of trend details.<\/td>\nControls<\/strong><\/td>\nToggle button<\/em>: click to show\/hide the Trend Controls (date selectors, sample method and sample interval). Hiding the Trend Controls allows more space for the Trace Window.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Range Selector<\/strong><\/td>\nToggle button<\/em>: click to show\/hide the Range Selector. Hiding the Range Selector allows more space for the Trace Window.<\/td>\nTrace Table<\/strong><\/td>\nToggle button<\/em>: click to show\/hide the Trace Table. Hiding the Trace Table allows more space for the Trace Window.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto Range<\/strong><\/td>\nClick this to automatically update the individual display minimum and maximum values, so that all of your trace data points are visible on the trend.<\/td>\nY-Scale<\/strong><\/td>\nYou can choose Log (uses logarithmic data points) or Linear (uses actual data points).
\n Notes:<\/strong>
\n Negative values cannot render in the logarithmic scale type.
\n If a trend includes data points of zero, then instead of showing an error for the Log Scale Type, Explorer plots a point that is close to zero, and displays this as zero. <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hairline<\/strong><\/td>\nChoose the number of hairlines allowable on the trend (single, dual, multiple or none).<\/td>\nY-Axis<\/strong><\/td>\nIf you select Shared<\/strong> from the Y-Axis<\/strong> drop-down list, then all traces on the Left Y-Axis (L) are plotted against a single, shared Left Y-Axis, while all traces on the Right Y-Axis (R) are plotted against a single, shared Right Y-Axis.
\n If you want each trace to be plotted against its own axis, select Separate<\/strong> from the Y-Axis drop-down list.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Help<\/strong><\/td>\nOpen the Trends<\/a> landing page on the P2 Explorer Help Center.<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Maximising the Trace Window<\/h3>\n

You can change the trend view to allow more space for the trace window.<\/p>\n

Click any of the buttons in the View<\/em> group of the Trend<\/strong> ribbon, to hide the respective sections: Controls, Range Selector, Trace Table.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This is how the trend looks without the Controls, Range Selector,<\/strong> or Trace Table. Click any of the toggle buttons to show that section again.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Trend Controls<\/h2>\n

The selections you make on the Trend Controls affect the time range of the chart, as well as the data collection method and interval.
\n Read more about how P2 Server fetches the data<\/a>\u00a0using a sample method and a sample interval.<\/p>\n

For a new trend, Now<\/strong> is pre-selected. This is how the controls look with Now<\/strong> selected:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong><\/td>\nTime Setting<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is Duration<\/em> where Now<\/strong> is selected. If you select Fixed<\/em>, the Now<\/strong> check box is cleared. (The table below this one shows the controls where Now<\/strong> is cleared.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nDuration<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the duration leading up to the current date and time (Now<\/strong>). To change the duration,\u00a0select from the drop-down list (e.g. 8 hours, 3 days, 1 year). See Note below on sample method and duration, and how they work together <\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nSample Interval<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the sample interval (for example, 1 hour) that P2 Server uses to collect the trend data. See Note below for how the sample interval is calculated based on the trend's time range.<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nSample Method<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the sample method (for example, Average) that P2 Server uses to collect the trend data. See Note below on sample method and duration, and how they work together<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nNow<\/strong><\/td>\nWhen you select Now<\/strong>, the trend end time is the current time. This refreshes at the Sample Interval<\/em> rate (with 30 seconds as the lowest refresh rate). You can also click the Refresh<\/strong> button on the ribbon for an immediate refresh.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If you clear Now<\/strong>, the time controls change so that there is also an end time (labelled To<\/strong>). This is how the controls look with Now<\/strong> cleared:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong><\/td>\nTime Setting<\/strong><\/td>\nSelect Duration<\/em> or Fixed<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.<\/strong><\/td>\nDuration or Start Time<\/strong><\/td>\nIf the time setting is Duration<\/em>, then this is the duration leading up to the trend end time (To<\/strong>).\u00a0To change the duration, select from the drop-down list (e.g. 8 hours, 3 days, 1 year). See Note below for how sample method and trend duration work together<\/em>.
\n If the time setting is Fixed<\/em>, then select the range start date and time from the Date\/Time Picker<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.<\/strong><\/td>\nTo<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the trend end time.
\n To change the end time, select a date and time from the Date\/Time Picker<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.<\/strong><\/td>\nSample Interval<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the sample interval (for example, 1 hour) that P2 Server uses to collect the trend data.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.<\/strong><\/td>\nSample Method<\/strong><\/td>\nThis is the sample method (for example, Average) that P2 Server uses to collect the trend data. See Note below on sample method and duration, and how they work together<\/em>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.<\/strong><\/td>\nNow<\/strong><\/td>\nWhen you select Now<\/strong>, the trend end time is the current time. This refreshes at the Sample Interval rate (with 30 seconds as the lowest refresh rate). You can also click the Refresh<\/strong> button on the ribbon for an immediate refresh. (The table above this one shows the controls where Now<\/strong> is selected.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Notes on the Trend Controls<\/h3>\n

For performance reasons, the options available in the controls are interdependant.<\/p>\n