> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.galvant.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Numbers and gauges

> Track a key metric, compare it with an earlier period or target, and use a gauge to show performance against a meaningful range of colored zones.

Dash can give an important measure its own number card or show it against a range as a gauge. Describe the measure you want to follow; you can also request either format explicitly.

Use a dashboard you own for the editing steps below. On a shared dashboard, **Duplicate and edit** creates your own editable copy.

## Track a key metric

For example, on a sales dashboard, ask:

Show total sales for the selected reporting period as a number, with a comparison to the previous period.

Show total sales for the selected reporting period as a number, with a comparison to the previous period.

On a card you can edit, hover over its header and click **Edit number**, the sliders button. Adjust its **Label** and **Format**, including currency, percentages, and decimal places. These menu changes save directly.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Screenshot placeholder: METRIC-01**
>
> Show a total-sales number card beside Edit number, with its Label and Format controls visible. Keep the reporting period in view.

## Compare periods or a target

Open **Edit number** and use **Compare to**:

> [tab] An earlier period
>
> Choose **Previous period** or **Same period last year**. Read the dates above both values to see exactly what is being compared.
>
> Changing the dashboard's reporting period updates both date ranges together.
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > **GIF placeholder: METRIC-02**
> >
> > Show a sales number with Previous period enabled. Change the reporting-period variable and show both sets of dates and values updating together.
>
> Period comparisons need the card to use exactly one date-range variable. If the options are unavailable, ask Dash to connect the card to the intended [reporting period](https://docs.galvant.ai/dashboards/variables.md#choose-a-reporting-period). These period options are unavailable on Chat cards.

> [tab] A target
>
> Choose **Target** and enter the agreed target in the **Target** field. The card shows the target beside the actual result and the difference between them.
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > **Screenshot placeholder: METRIC-05**
> >
> > Show a number card comparing an actual result with an entered target. Keep the Target field, both values, and the difference visible.

For number and currency metrics, **Show change as** offers **Percent**, **Amount**, or **Both**. Percentage metrics show the difference in percentage points: moving from 30% to 33% is 3 percentage points.

Set **An increase is** to **Good (green)** for measures where higher is better, or **Bad (red)** for measures such as costs or overdue work where lower is better.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Screenshot placeholder: METRIC-03**
>
> Show an overdue-work metric with Bad (red) selected and a decrease displayed as a favorable change.

## Show performance against a range

A gauge places the current value within colored zones. For example, select an existing completion-rate card with **Ask Dash about this card**, then ask:

Show this completion rate as a gauge from 0% to 100%, with red below 70%, yellow from 70% to 90%, and green from 90% to 100%.

Show this completion rate as a gauge from 0% to 100%, with red below 70%, yellow from 70% to 90%, and green from 90% to 100%.

Review and approve the proposed gauge. Use thresholds that match what your team considers low, acceptable, and good performance.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **GIF placeholder: METRIC-04**
>
> Request the completion-rate gauge and approve it. Show its numeric value, needle, and the three defined zones together.

> [accordion] Adjust a gauge's range and zones
>
> On an owned dashboard, open **Edit gauge**. Under **Zones**, open the first zone to set **Starts at**, then set each zone's **Ends at** and **Color**. The last zone's end sets the maximum. Use **Add zone** or a zone's remove control to change the number of zones.
>
> Enter boundaries in the measure's underlying units. Percentage values are fractions: 0.7 is 70%, 0.9 is 90%, and 1 is 100%. Each zone must end above its start.
>
> > [!NOTE]
> >
> > **Screenshot placeholder: METRIC-06**
> >
> > Show Edit gauge with the first zone open and a 0.7 boundary displayed as 70% on the gauge. Include Starts at, Ends at, and Color.

> [accordion] Read values outside the expected range
>
> A gauge's needle stays within the dial even when the actual value exceeds its range. Read the displayed number as well as the needle. For a number comparison whose earlier value is zero, an ordinary percentage change is unavailable, so the card shows the amount of change.

For other visualizations Dash can create, see [Chart cards](https://docs.galvant.ai/dashboards/cards/charts.md).


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