The gauge component renders a circular dial that visualises a single numeric value against a configurable scale with colour-coded zones. Use it for KPIs where the reader needs to instantly see whether a metric is on target, at risk, or in critical territory.
When to use
- Overall schedule performance index (SPI) or cost performance index (CPI) at a glance.
- Safety frequency rate against a target.
- Completion percentage for a phase or milestone group.
- Any single KPI where the distance from target is the key insight.
Adding the component
- Open the report output in the Output Designer.
- Click + Insert → Gauge.
- Position and resize the component.
- In the Data tab, bind the value field and configure zones.
Data binding
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Source section | The blueprint section containing the value field. |
| Value field | The numeric, currency, or percent field to display. |
| Target field | Optional — field containing the target value. Shows a target marker on the dial. |
| Label field | Optional — field to display below the dial as a caption. |
Scale configuration
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Min value | The start of the gauge scale (can be negative). |
| Max value | The end of the gauge scale. |
| Start angle | Where the dial begins (default: 225° — bottom-left). |
| End angle | Where the dial ends (default: −45° — bottom-right). |
| Full circle | Toggle to use a 360° dial. |
Zones
Zones define coloured arcs on the gauge track:
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Zone count | 2–5 zones. |
| Zone range | Start and end values for each zone. |
| Zone colour | Fill colour for the arc (e.g. Red for 0–60, Amber for 60–80, Green for 80–100). |
| Zone label | Optional label shown in the zone (e.g. "Critical", "At Risk", "On Track"). |
Needle and value display
| Property | Options |
|---|
| Needle style | Thin line (default), broad arrow, none. |
| Needle colour | Static or match the current zone colour. |
| Centre value | Show the numeric value in the centre of the dial. |
| Value format | Inherit from field type, or override (e.g. show as %). |
| Value font size | 12–32pt. |
| Target marker | Show a tick mark or line at the target value. |
Caption
| Property | Description |
|---|
| Title | Static or field-bound title above the gauge. |
| Subtitle | Secondary label below the value (e.g. unit or period). |
| Delta indicator | Show change vs prior period value (up/down arrow + numeric delta). |
Export behaviour
- PDF / Word: Gauge renders as a vector arc chart.
- Excel: Embedded as a static image.
- Small gauges (< 80px) may lose legibility in PDF — use a minimum 120px diameter for print.