Creating widgets via the Sisense API
Overview Many companies and organizations use Sisense’s REST API to automate dashboard and widget creation. This can help integrate Sisense with existing automations, dynamically generate dashboards for different users, or manage large scale dashboard and widget deployments programmatically. Sisense provides an API endpoint for creating widgets directly on a dashboard. This allows developers to define widget configurations in JSON and publish them without using the Sisense UI for each new widget. Each widget’s behavior, layout, and data structure are defined in its metadata, mirroring the structure found inside Sisense dashboard export files (.dash files). This use case describes how to create widgets programmatically using the Sisense API and explains how to work with widget metadata and JAQL structures when doing so. What the solution does The Sisense Widget Creation API endpoint allows you to programmatically create widgets on an existing dashboard using a POST request: POST /api/v1/dashboards/{dashboardID}/widgets The request body is a widget metadata object defining the widget’s structure, data query, style, and layout. This metadata format is identical to what Sisense stores within a .dash file. The type property specifies the visualization type (for example, chart/pie, chart/bar, or pivot2), and the metadata section uses the JAQL query format to describe dimensions, measures, and filters. Developers can build widgets dynamically by: Defining visualization type and subtype (e.g., pie chart, bar chart, pivot table) Referencing the correct data source Configuring dimensions and measures within the metadata.panels structure Applying filters or plugin (such as JTD) behaviors Posting the configuration to the API endpoint API Reference: Full documentation for this endpoint and payload structure is available in the Sisense REST API documentation. Understanding widget Metadata Each Sisense widget contains a metadata object that defines the data query (via JAQL), chart style, and layout. A practical way to understand this format is to export a dashboard and inspect the widgets inside the resulting .dash file. Each widget entry includes: type – The widget type (for example, chart/pie, chart/bar, pivot2) datasource – Data model used metadata – A JAQL definition of dimensions, measures, and filters and any other dimensions, equivalent to the left hand panel in widget editor, plus filters style – Visual configuration options such as labels, legends, and axis settings options – Additional behaviors such as filter synchronization or drill options The JAQL format underpins the widget’s data model. It describes how dimensions, measures, and filters are applied when the widget queries the Elasticube or Live data source. References: Sisense JAQL documentation Metadata Item Widget Class Widget Metadata Example payloads Pie Chart Example (Basic Configuration) { "title": "", "type": "chart/pie", "tags": [], "datasource": { "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "address": "LocalHost", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "live": false, "title": "CopyOfECommerce" }, "subtype": "pie/classic", "style": { "legend": { "enabled": false, "position": "left" }, "labels": { "enabled": true, "categories": true, "value": false, "percent": true, "decimals": false, "fontFamily": "Open Sans", "color": "red" }, "convolution": { "enabled": true, "selectedConvolutionType": "byPercentage", "minimalIndependentSlicePercentage": 3, "independentSlicesCount": 7 }, "dataLimits": { "seriesCapacity": 100000 } }, "instanceid": "5466B-AEAE-4D", "drillToDashboardConfig": { "drilledDashboardPrefix": "_drill", "drilledDashboardsFolderPrefix": "", "displayFilterPane": true, "displayDashboardsPane": true, "displayToolbarRow": true, "displayHeaderRow": true, "volatile": false, "hideDrilledDashboards": true, "hideSharedDashboardsForNonOwner": true, "drillToDashboardMenuCaption": "Jump to dashboard", "drillToDashboardRightMenuCaption": "Jump to ", "drillToDashboardNavigateType": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypePivot": 2, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeCharts": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeOthers": 3, "excludeFilterDims": [], "includeFilterDims": [], "drilledDashboardDisplayType": 2, "dashboardIds": [], "modalWindowResize": false, "showFolderNameOnMenuSelection": false, "resetDashFiltersAfterJTD": false, "sameCubeRestriction": true, "showJTDIcon": true, "sendPieChartMeasureFiltersOnClick": true, "forceZeroInsteadNull": false, "mergeTargetDashboardFilters": false, "drillToDashboardByName": false }, "realTimeRefreshing": false, "metadata": { "ignore": { "dimensions": [], "ids": [], "all": false }, "panels": [ { "name": "categories", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "title": "Brand" }, "instanceid": "749C8-B7DE-7A", "field": { "id": "[Brand.Brand]", "index": 0 }, "format": { "members": {} } } ] }, { "name": "values", "items": [] }, { "name": "filters", "items": [] } ] }, "options": { "dashboardFiltersMode": "select", "selector": true, "triggersDomready": true, "autoUpdateOnEveryChange": true, "drillToAnywhere": true } } This payload demonstrates a simple pie chart with one category (dimension) and a single measure, along with styling options for labels and legends. Bar Chart Example (With Filters and Multiple Dimensions) { "title": "", "type": "chart/bar", "tags": [], "datasource": { "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "address": "LocalHost", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "live": false, "title": "CopyOfECommerce" }, "subtype": "bar/classic", "style": { "legend": { "enabled": true, "position": "bottom" }, "seriesLabels": { "enabled": false, "rotation": 0, "labels": { "enabled": false, "types": { "count": false, "percentage": false, "relative": false, "totals": false }, "stacked": false, "stackedPercentage": false } }, "xAxis": { "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "x2Title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": true, "isIntervalEnabled": false }, "yAxis": { "inactive": false, "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": true, "logarithmic": false, "isIntervalEnabled": true, "hideMinMax": false }, "y2Axis": { "inactive": true, "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": false, "logarithmic": false, "isIntervalEnabled": true, "hideMinMax": false }, "dataLimits": { "seriesCapacity": 50, "categoriesCapacity": 100000 }, "navigator": { "enabled": true }, "narration": { "display": "above", "verbosity": "low", "labels": [ { "id": "category", "title": "Category", "singular": "Category", "plural": "Category" }, { "id": "brand", "title": "Brand", "singular": "Brand", "plural": "Brand" } ] } }, "instanceid": "FF03B-0D74-36", "drillToDashboardConfig": { "drilledDashboardPrefix": "_drill", "drilledDashboardsFolderPrefix": "", "displayFilterPane": true, "displayDashboardsPane": true, "displayToolbarRow": true, "displayHeaderRow": true, "volatile": false, "hideDrilledDashboards": true, "hideSharedDashboardsForNonOwner": true, "drillToDashboardMenuCaption": "Jump to dashboard", "drillToDashboardRightMenuCaption": "Jump to ", "drillToDashboardNavigateType": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypePivot": 2, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeCharts": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeOthers": 3, "excludeFilterDims": [], "includeFilterDims": [], "drilledDashboardDisplayType": 2, "dashboardIds": [], "modalWindowResize": false, "showFolderNameOnMenuSelection": false, "resetDashFiltersAfterJTD": false, "sameCubeRestriction": true, "showJTDIcon": true, "sendPieChartMeasureFiltersOnClick": true, "forceZeroInsteadNull": false, "mergeTargetDashboardFilters": false, "drillToDashboardByName": false }, "realTimeRefreshing": false, "metadata": { "ignore": { "dimensions": [], "ids": [], "all": false }, "panels": [ { "name": "categories", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Category", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Category", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "Category" }, "instanceid": "635B0-67BA-AF", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "index": 0 }, "format": {}, "panel": "rows" } ] }, { "name": "values", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "# of unique Brand", "agg": "count" }, "instanceid": "DDE5F-0407-39", "panel": "measures", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Brand]", "index": 2 }, "format": { "mask": { "type": "number", "abbreviations": { "t": true, "b": true, "m": true, "k": true }, "separated": true, "decimals": "auto", "abbreviateAll": false, "isdefault": true } } } ] }, { "name": "break by", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Category", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Category", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "Category" }, "instanceid": "C1963-AE15-BF", "panel": "columns", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "index": 1 }, "format": { "members": {} } } ] }, { "name": "filters", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "isPrimary": false, "isDashboardFilter": false, "datasource": { "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "address": "LocalHost", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "live": false, "title": "CopyOfECommerce" }, "locale": "en-us", "title": "Brand", "collapsed": true, "filter": { "explicit": true, "multiSelection": true, "members": [ "Adbananor WorldWide " ] } }, "instanceid": "7B315-30EC-C0", "panel": "scope" } ] } ] }, "options": { "dashboardFiltersMode": "filter", "selector": true, "triggersDomready": true, "autoUpdateOnEveryChange": true, "drillToAnywhere": true, "previousScrollerLocation": { "min": null, "max": null } } } This example includes multiple JAQL panels (categories, measures, and breakby dimensions), along with explicit filters and advanced style options. It also shows how to define navigation and plugin (such as JTD) configurations. Working with dashboard files Existing dashboard files (.dash) can serve as valuable templates for widget creation. Each widget definition inside a dashboard export can be used as a direct payload for the API. To do this: Export a dashboard from Sisense. Open the .dash file in a text editor. Locate the widget definition under the "widgets" array. Use that widget object as the body of your POST request to the API. This approach allows developers to automate dashboard replication or dynamically add widgets that follow consistent design patterns. Full Dashboard File Example { "title": "TestExport", "oid": "68f924f4b7958b87a83905c3", "desc": "", "source": null, "type": "dashboard", "style": { "palette": { "name": "Vivid", "colors": [ "#00cee6", "#9b9bd7", "#6EDA55", "#fc7570", "#fbb755", "#218A8C" ] } }, "layout": { "instanceid": "87457-1EB6-EA", "type": "columnar", "columns": [ { "width": 100, "cells": [ { "subcells": [ { "elements": [ { "minHeight": 128, "maxHeight": 2048, "minWidth": 128, "maxWidth": 2048, "height": "756px", "defaultWidth": 512, "widgetid": "68f92503b7958b87a83905c5", "autoHeight": "756px" } ], "width": 100, "stretchable": false, "pxlWidth": 647, "index": 0 } ] }, { "subcells": [ { "elements": [ { "minHeight": 96, "maxHeight": 2048, "minWidth": 128, "maxWidth": 2048, "height": 384, "defaultWidth": 512, "widgetid": "68f925dbb7958b87a83905c9" } ], "width": 100, "stretchable": false, "pxlWidth": 647, "index": 0 } ] }, { "subcells": [ { "elements": [ { "minHeight": 96, "maxHeight": 2048, "minWidth": 128, "maxWidth": 2048, "height": 384, "defaultWidth": 512, "widgetid": "68f9269db7958b87a83905cc" } ] } ] } ], "pxlWidth": 647, "index": 0 } ] }, "original": null, "dataExploration": false, "lastOpened": null, "previewLayout": [], "datasource": { "address": "LocalHost", "title": "CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "live": false }, "filters": [], "editing": true, "settings": { "autoUpdateOnFiltersChange": true }, "widgets": [ { "title": "", "type": "pivot2", "subtype": "pivot2", "oid": "68f92503b7958b87a83905c5", "desc": null, "source": null, "datasource": { "address": "LocalHost", "title": "CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "live": false }, "selection": null, "metadata": { "ignore": { "dimensions": [], "ids": [], "all": false }, "panels": [ { "name": "rows", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "title": "Brand" }, "instanceid": "D2FFC-C3EB-81", "panel": "rows", "field": { "id": "[Brand.Brand]", "index": 0 } } ] }, { "name": "values", "items": [] }, { "name": "columns", "items": [] }, { "name": "filters", "items": [] } ], "usedFormulasMapping": {} }, "style": { "scroll": false, "pageSize": 25, "automaticHeight": true, "colors": { "rows": true, "columns": false, "headers": false, "members": false, "totals": false } }, "instanceid": "012C6-D97F-BF", "realTimeRefreshing": false, "options": { "dashboardFiltersMode": "filter", "selector": false, "triggersDomready": true, "drillToAnywhere": true }, "dashboardid": "68f924f4b7958b87a83905c3", "query": { "datasource": { "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "address": "LocalHost", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "live": false, "title": "CopyOfECommerce" }, "format": "pivot", "grandTotals": { "title": "Grand Total" }, "metadata": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "title": "Brand" }, "instanceid": "D2FFC-C3EB-81", "panel": "rows", "field": { "id": "[Brand.Brand]", "index": 0 }, "handlers": [] } ], "m2mThresholdFlag": 0 } }, { "title": "", "type": "chart/pie", "subtype": "pie/classic", "oid": "68f925dbb7958b87a83905c9", "desc": null, "source": null, "datasource": { "address": "LocalHost", "title": "CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "live": false }, "selection": null, "metadata": { "ignore": { "dimensions": [], "ids": [], "all": false }, "panels": [ { "name": "categories", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "title": "Brand" }, "instanceid": "749C8-B7DE-7A", "field": { "id": "[Brand.Brand]", "index": 0 }, "format": { "members": {} } } ] }, { "name": "values", "items": [] }, { "name": "filters", "items": [] } ], "usedFormulasMapping": {} }, "style": { "legend": { "enabled": false, "position": "left" }, "labels": { "enabled": true, "categories": true, "value": false, "percent": true, "decimals": false, "fontFamily": "Open Sans", "color": "red" }, "convolution": { "enabled": true, "selectedConvolutionType": "byPercentage", "minimalIndependentSlicePercentage": 3, "independentSlicesCount": 7 }, "dataLimits": { "seriesCapacity": 100000 } }, "instanceid": "5466B-AEAE-4D", "drillToDashboardConfig": { "drilledDashboardPrefix": "_drill", "drilledDashboardsFolderPrefix": "", "displayFilterPane": true, "displayDashboardsPane": true, "displayToolbarRow": true, "displayHeaderRow": true, "volatile": false, "hideDrilledDashboards": true, "hideSharedDashboardsForNonOwner": true, "drillToDashboardMenuCaption": "Jump to dashboard", "drillToDashboardRightMenuCaption": "Jump to ", "drillToDashboardNavigateType": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypePivot": 2, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeCharts": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeOthers": 3, "excludeFilterDims": [], "includeFilterDims": [], "drilledDashboardDisplayType": 2, "dashboardIds": [], "modalWindowResize": false, "showFolderNameOnMenuSelection": false, "resetDashFiltersAfterJTD": false, "sameCubeRestriction": true, "showJTDIcon": true, "sendPieChartMeasureFiltersOnClick": true, "forceZeroInsteadNull": false, "mergeTargetDashboardFilters": false, "drillToDashboardByName": false }, "realTimeRefreshing": false, "options": { "dashboardFiltersMode": "select", "selector": true, "triggersDomready": true, "autoUpdateOnEveryChange": true, "drillToAnywhere": true }, "dashboardid": "68f924f4b7958b87a83905c3" }, { "title": "", "type": "chart/bar", "subtype": "bar/classic", "oid": "68f9269db7958b87a83905cc", "desc": null, "source": null, "datasource": { "address": "LocalHost", "title": "CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "live": false }, "selection": null, "metadata": { "ignore": { "dimensions": [], "ids": [], "all": false }, "panels": [ { "name": "categories", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Category", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Category", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "Category" }, "instanceid": "635B0-67BA-AF", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "index": 0 }, "format": {}, "panel": "rows" } ] }, { "name": "values", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "# of unique Brand", "agg": "count" }, "instanceid": "DDE5F-0407-39", "panel": "measures", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Brand]", "index": 2 }, "format": { "mask": { "type": "number", "abbreviations": { "t": true, "b": true, "m": true, "k": true }, "separated": true, "decimals": "auto", "abbreviateAll": false, "isdefault": true } } } ] }, { "name": "break by", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "column": "Category", "dim": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Category", "tableTitle": "Brand_Category_with_NULLS", "merged": true, "title": "Category" }, "instanceid": "C1963-AE15-BF", "panel": "columns", "field": { "id": "[Brand_Category_with_NULLS.Category]", "index": 1 }, "format": { "members": {} } } ] }, { "name": "filters", "items": [ { "jaql": { "table": "Brand", "column": "Brand", "dim": "[Brand.Brand]", "datatype": "text", "columnTitle": "Brand", "tableTitle": "Brand", "merged": true, "isPrimary": false, "isDashboardFilter": false, "datasource": { "fullname": "localhost/CopyOfECommerce", "id": "localhost_aCopyOfECommerce", "address": "LocalHost", "database": "aCopyOfECommerce", "live": false, "title": "CopyOfECommerce" }, "locale": "en-us", "title": "Brand", "collapsed": true, "filter": { "explicit": true, "multiSelection": true, "members": [ "Adbananor WorldWide " ] } }, "instanceid": "7B315-30EC-C0", "panel": "scope" } ] } ], "usedFormulasMapping": {} }, "style": { "legend": { "enabled": true, "position": "bottom" }, "seriesLabels": { "enabled": false, "rotation": 0, "labels": { "enabled": false, "types": { "count": false, "percentage": false, "relative": false, "totals": false }, "stacked": false, "stackedPercentage": false } }, "xAxis": { "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "x2Title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": true, "isIntervalEnabled": false }, "yAxis": { "inactive": false, "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": true, "logarithmic": false, "isIntervalEnabled": true, "hideMinMax": false }, "y2Axis": { "inactive": true, "enabled": true, "ticks": true, "labels": { "enabled": true, "rotation": 0 }, "title": { "enabled": false }, "gridLines": false, "logarithmic": false, "isIntervalEnabled": true, "hideMinMax": false }, "dataLimits": { "seriesCapacity": 50, "categoriesCapacity": 100000 }, "navigator": { "enabled": true }, "narration": { "display": "above", "verbosity": "low", "labels": [ { "id": "category", "title": "Category", "singular": "Category", "plural": "Category" }, { "id": "brand", "title": "Brand", "singular": "Brand", "plural": "Brand" } ] } }, "instanceid": "FF03B-0D74-36", "drillToDashboardConfig": { "drilledDashboardPrefix": "_drill", "drilledDashboardsFolderPrefix": "", "displayFilterPane": true, "displayDashboardsPane": true, "displayToolbarRow": true, "displayHeaderRow": true, "volatile": false, "hideDrilledDashboards": true, "hideSharedDashboardsForNonOwner": true, "drillToDashboardMenuCaption": "Jump to dashboard", "drillToDashboardRightMenuCaption": "Jump to ", "drillToDashboardNavigateType": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypePivot": 2, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeCharts": 1, "drillToDashboardNavigateTypeOthers": 3, "excludeFilterDims": [], "includeFilterDims": [], "drilledDashboardDisplayType": 2, "dashboardIds": [], "modalWindowResize": false, "showFolderNameOnMenuSelection": false, "resetDashFiltersAfterJTD": false, "sameCubeRestriction": true, "showJTDIcon": true, "sendPieChartMeasureFiltersOnClick": true, "forceZeroInsteadNull": false, "mergeTargetDashboardFilters": false, "drillToDashboardByName": false }, "realTimeRefreshing": false, "options": { "dashboardFiltersMode": "filter", "selector": true, "triggersDomready": true, "autoUpdateOnEveryChange": true, "drillToAnywhere": true, "previousScrollerLocation": { "min": null, "max": null } }, "dashboardid": "68f924f4b7958b87a83905c3" } ], "hierarchies": [] } Why it’s useful Creating widgets through the Sisense API offers significant benefits for developers and system administrators: Automation: Supports large scale or dynamic creation of dashboards and widgets without manual effort. Consistency: Enables teams to apply standardized widget templates across multiple dashboards or environments. Integration: Makes it easy to connect Sisense with external systems or automated workflows. Scalability: Allows for the creation of thousands of widgets or dashboards using consistent metadata. Flexibility: By editing the JAQL and style properties, teams can tailor each widget to specific data or design requirements. Programmatic widget creation is particularly valuable for embedding Sisense into larger analytics workflows, for multi-tenant deployments, or for any scenario where dashboards must be created and maintained dynamically. Outcome Using the Widget Creation API endpoint, organizations can generate Sisense dashboards and visualizations in a consistent, repeatable way. Developers can define complex widgets, including data dimensions, filtering, and styling such as color schemes, entirely through JSON payloads, enabling uniform design and reusable frameworks across a large number of programmatically created widgets. By combining automation with Sisense’s flexible JAQL and metadata structure, teams can scale dashboard and widget deployment while maintaining full control over layout, behavior, and visual standards.Week over week analysis with custom fiscal year: Use case of a fuel and convenience retail operator
Introduction Week-over-week (WoW) analysis is a key part of performance tracking for fast-moving, high-traffic businesses such as convenience stores, gas stations, and car washes. For these organizations, aligning the fiscal calendar with operational cycles rather than the standard calendar year makes reporting more meaningful. In this use case, the fiscal year begins on the closest Sunday to January 1st, ensuring each year starts with a full week. This structure simplifies weekly reporting and keeps week-to-week comparisons consistent across years, which is important for tracking trends like fuel sales, store traffic, and service volumes. While nonstandard, this setup is commonly used in practice. What the Solution Does For standard, fixed calendar or fiscal years, week-over-week analysis can be achieved using the “First Month of Fiscal Calendar” and “First Day of Week” settings, along with the PASTYEAR function. However, for dynamic fiscal years that begin on a weekday closest to January 1st, these features don’t provide a usable solution, since the start date can fall in the previous or following calendar year. The solution uses the Filtered Measure certified add-on and a custom dashboard script to handle the custom fiscal year. Two year filters are added to the dashboard: one represents the selected fiscal year (user-selectable), and the other represents the prior year for comparison (locked and optionally hidden), which is automatically set with a dashboard script. The Filtered Measure plugin applies the selected-year filter to the measure for the chosen period, while the prior-year filter applies to the measure for the corresponding period in the previous year. This approach ensures that week-over-week calculations respect the custom fiscal calendar, providing accurate comparisons across equivalent weeks. Note: In this particular implementation, the fiscal years and week numbers are pre-calculated in the database and stored as numeric columns. To create a Date dimension table in your Elasticube with fiscal years starting on the first Sunday closest to January 1st, refer to the SQL example below. Why It’s Useful This solution addresses the native functional limitation by respecting the custom fiscal calendar, ensuring weekly trends are comparable across years. As a result, teams can reliably track key metrics, such as fuel sales, store traffic, and service volumes, on a true week-by-week basis, supporting better operational planning and more informed decision-making. Attachments WeekoverWeekAnalysiswithCustomFiscalYear.dash.txt (dashboard) Sample ECommerce - Custom Fiscal Year.smodel.txt (elasticube) JS Script - Automatic Update for Second Year Filter.txt (dashboard script) SQL Query - Dim Date with Custom Fiscal Year.txt (custom table SQL query) For the script to hide the second filter, refer to this BINextLevel article: Hide dashboard filters. Note: remove the .txt extension before importing the dashboard (.dash) and the Elasticube (.smodel) files.
