Customizing a Numeric Summary Data Display

In this article, the options for creating and customizing a numeric summary data display are explained. For an overview of creating and visualizing and analyzing data in data displays, see the Customizing Data Displays article. 

A numeric summary data display allows you to select a numeric variable from a project’s data set and calculate and display a summary of the variable that you define. This display is good for calculating and adding depth to your visualization with additional information. Examples of the types of information you can visualize this way include: the total count of observations in a data set or filtered data set or the average of a measured value, like water temperature or the number of species counted. There are many numeric summary options discussed below. 

When creating a numeric summary data display, you will see options to (1) use a filter set and (2) configure data. For the first option, you may use the preconfigured “Recent observations” filter set that shows the 25 most recent observations uploaded to a project or you may select a filter set you create.

Option 1

For the second option, select the kind of numeric summary you would like to display and the numeric variable you want to summarize.

Option 2

For example, if you select Average as the summary method and then Water Temperature as the field (as shown below), the data display will display the average water temperature in a filtered set of data. Minimum will display the minimum water temperature and Maximum will display the maximum water temperature. The average, minimum, maximum, and median summary functions methods can be used with discrete and continuous data (data that can take any value and are measurements, like water temperature or height). 

The Sum function totals up the numeric values in the filtered data set and then displays that total. It should only be used with discrete data, or data that can only take on certain values. Discrete data represent counts of objects or organisms. For example, in a trash collection project in which participants report on the number of plastic bags they collect at an event, the summary would show you a total number of plastic bags for all the events included in the filtered data set. Or in a project where participants count trees, the summary would show you a total number of trees counted from all observations included in the filtered data set. 

When you choose Count as your summary function, you do not need to select another variable. The count summary method will calculate and display the number of observations included in the filtered data set.

Learn more about customizing different widgets here:

• Overview
• Histogram/Bar Chart
• Time Series 
• Scatter Plot 
• Range Plot