Arranging Visualizations on a Dashboard in Kibana

Kibana is a powerful data visualization and exploration tool that allows users to analyze large sets of data through its intuitive interface. One of the key features of Kibana is the ability to create dashboards, where various visualizations can be combined and arranged in a meaningful way to gain insights and make informed decisions. In this article, we will explore the different methods available to arrange visualizations on a dashboard in Kibana.

1. Creating a Dashboard in Kibana

To begin arranging visualizations on a dashboard, we first need to create a dashboard in Kibana. Follow these steps:

1. Open Kibana and navigate to the Dashboard tab.
2. Click on the Create Dashboard button.
3. Give your dashboard a name and click Create.

2. Adding Visualizations to the Dashboard

Once the dashboard is created, we can start adding visualizations to it. Kibana supports various types of visualizations, such as bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, maps, and more. To add a visualization:

1. Click on the Add button located at the top of the screen.
2. Select the desired visualization type from the list.
3. Configure the visualization by selecting the appropriate data source, metrics, and filters.
4. Click Save and return to add the visualization to the dashboard.

Repeat these steps to add multiple visualizations to the dashboard.

3. Arranging Visualizations on the Dashboard

Once we have added visualizations to the dashboard, we can arrange them in different ways to facilitate data analysis and create a visually appealing layout. Kibana provides several options to arrange visualizations:

3.1. Drag and Drop

The simplest method to arrange visualizations is by using the drag and drop functionality. Hover over a visualization, click and hold the mouse button, then drag the visualization to the desired position on the dashboard. Release the mouse button to drop the visualization in place.

3.2. Resize Visualizations

To resize a visualization, hover over the edges or corners of the visualization until the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow. Click and drag the edges or corners to adjust the size according to your preference.

3.3. Grid Layout

Kibana also offers a grid layout option to define a precise arrangement for visualizations on the dashboard. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Edit button located at the top of the screen.
2. Enable the Grid option. This will display a grid overlay on the dashboard.
3. Click and drag visualizations to specific grid areas to place them.
4. Use the grid overlay as a guide to align and position visualizations accurately.
5. Once the desired layout is achieved, click on the Done button to save the changes.

3.4. Snap to Grid

For quick and precise alignment, Kibana provides a Snap to Grid feature. While dragging a visualization, hold the Alt key to enable snap-to-grid behavior. This ensures that the visualization will align with the gridlines, making it easier to maintain a neat and organized dashboard layout.

4. Customizing Dashboard Layout

Apart from the arrangement options mentioned above, Kibana allows further customization to enhance the dashboard layout:

• Panel Stacking: Change the order of visualizations by stacking them on top of each other. This is useful when you want to display multiple visualizations in a small space.
• Container: Group related visualizations within a container. Creating containers helps to organize the dashboard and highlight specific types of data.
• Filtering: Apply filters to individual or multiple visualizations on the dashboard to focus on specific data subsets and perform comparative analysis.

Conclusion

Arranging visualizations on a dashboard in Kibana is a fundamental step towards gaining insights from large sets of data. By using the drag and drop functionality, resizing, grid layout, and snap-to-grid features, users can create visually appealing and effective dashboards. Additionally, customizing the layout with panel stacking, containers, and filters can further improve data analysis and decision-making capabilities. With Kibana's flexible dashboard options, exploring and visualizing data becomes a seamless process.