How to Build Queries Using the Define Panel in Storyboards

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Prerequisites: Understanding Storyboard editing: Modify Mode and the tile configuration panels – read this article first

What you’ll learn

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to:

• Create a new visualisation from inside a Storyboard using Define.
• Choose a visualisation type and configure a query with metrics, dimensions, and time periods.
• Edit an existing tile’s query without leaving the Storyboard.
• Interact with metric and dimension chips to filter and reorder your data.

Overview

The Define panel is where you build the data query behind a tile. It’s the same kind of query building you’d do in Explore, but it happens directly inside the Storyboard - no switching between tools. You select a visualisation type, add metrics and dimensions, run the query, preview the result, and insert it to the Storyboard in a few clicks.

Define supports all the visualisation types available in Storyboards: Basic Chart, List Table, KPI Chart, Funnel Chart, Sankey Chart, Scatterplot, Pie Chart, GeoMap, and Value Tile. The query builder adapts based on the type you choose - a KPI Chart asks for one metric and a time period, while a Basic Chart lets you add multiple metrics with dimensions and filters and so on.

Before you begin

You need CanExploreData and CanCreateStoryboard permissions (Admin > Application Role > Permissions), plus Storyboard edit permission for the specific Storyboard you’re working on. Your Data Access Role controls which data is available in the query results.

Creating a new visualisation

1. Enter Modify Mode by clicking the Edit (pencil) icon.
2. Click the Add (+) icon to open the tile type menu.
3. Select a visualisation type (for example, Basic Chart). The Define panel opens with a starter guide on the left showing the minimum requirements for that chart type.
4. Use the query builder on the right to add your data. Click the + icon next to Metrics to add a metric, and next to Dimensions or Time Periods to add those.
5. Click Run & Preview Query. The preview appears below the query builder - toggle between the chart view and the Table tab to verify the data.
6. If the result isn’t right, adjust the query and run it again. You can also switch to the Design, Discover, or Describe tabs to customize your tile before inserting.
7. Click Insert to Storyboard. The tile appears on the canvas.
8. Enter a Tile Title, click Save, and Exit Modify Mode.

Tip: Create and save one tile at a time. If you’re adding multiple tiles, insert each one and save before starting the next. This protects your work if anything interrupts your session.

Editing an existing tile’s query

9. Enter Modify Mode.
10. Select the tile, then click the Settings icon on the Tile Configuration Panel.
11. The Define tab opens showing the current query. Update the metrics, dimensions, time periods, or filters as needed.
12. Click Run & Preview Query to check the changes.
13. Click Update to Storyboard to apply, or Cancel to discard.

Working with metric and dimension chips

Once you’ve added metrics and dimensions to a query, they appear as chips in the query builder. Clicking a chip reveals additional options that vary by chip type.

Metric chips (Basic Charts)

Clicking a metric chip in a Basic Chart query reveals settings for that specific metric: series type, horizontal bars toggle, and filtering options (top/bottom N). These settings let you configure each metric independently even when multiple metrics share the same chart.

For a detailed guide to series types, stacking, horizontal charts, and mixed chart configurations, see: Introduction to Chart Types in One Model.

Dimension chips

Clicking a dimension chip opens the dimension selector where you can:

• Choose which level of the dimension hierarchy to display.
• Include or exclude specific nodes using the triple-toggle selector (click once to include, twice to exclude, three times to clear).
• Reorder dimensions by dragging and dropping chips in the query builder.

Time period chips

Clicking a time period chip lets you select the time grain (year, quarter, month, day) and choose specific periods or Time Models. Time Models like "This Year" or "Last 12 Months" update dynamically as new data is loaded, so your tile stays current without manual updates.

Quick reference – visualisation types and their requirements

Next steps

Now that you can build queries, you might want to explore:

• Introduction to Chart Types in One Model – controlling series types, stacking, and mixed chart configurations in Basic Charts.
• Basic Chart Options in Define – detailed reference for data labels, horizontal charts, filtering, and diverging bar charts.
• How to customise Storyboard appearance – refining the visual style after your query is built.
• How to create and configure KPI charts in Storyboards – a focused guide for the KPI tile type.