Frames decide what people see when they open a Lens. Use the Content tab to choose the customer records behind each Frame and how those records are summarized. Start with the question the Frame should answer, then choose the view that makes the answer easy to read.
Choose a Frame Type
Select Add Card in the Lens editor, then choose Visualization or Table. Each Frame type is built for a different kind of question.
| Frame Type | Use It For |
|---|---|
| KPI Card | Give one important value a clear place on the Lens. |
| Gauge | Show progress toward a target or compare one group of records with another. |
| Bar Chart | Compare values across categories. |
| Grouped Bar | Compare groups side by side within each category. |
| Stacked Bar | Show how groups contribute to each category. |
| Line Chart | Follow a value over time. |
| Pie Chart or Donut Chart | Show how a total is divided across categories. |
| Table | Show the records and fields behind the view. |
Set the Frame Data Scope
The Frame Data Scope defines the records available to every setting below it. Set the scope before you choose a metric or chart field. A change to the scope can change the result even when the rest of the Frame stays the same.
- Enter a clear Module name. This becomes the Frame title on the Lens.
- Open Frame Data Scope.
- Choose the Primary Object the Frame should evaluate.
- Select one or more Segments when you want to narrow the records included in the Frame.
Choose the Primary Object
The Primary Object answers one question: What kind of record is the Frame evaluating? That record becomes the unit behind the metric, chart, or table.
- Accounts: Count Accounts, total Account revenue, or group Accounts by fields such as industry, owner, or tier.
- Opportunities: Count Opportunities, total pipeline, or group Opportunities by fields such as stage or type.
- Contacts, Tickets, Calls, Emails, and Meetings: Count or summarize those records using the fields available for that object.
The Primary Object also controls the metrics, horizontal axis fields, grouping fields, table columns, custom properties, and Segments you can choose. When you change it, Unison clears choices that belonged to the previous object so you can configure the Frame with compatible fields.
Narrow the Population With Segments
Segments narrow the population before Unison calculates the metric or divides the records into chart categories.
- No Segment: The Frame uses all Primary Object records available within the Lens or Account scope.
- One Segment: The Frame uses only records that belong to that Segment.
- More than one Segment: The Frame includes records that belong to any selected Segment. A record that belongs to more than one selected Segment is included once.
- An Account Segment with a related Primary Object: The Frame can use related Opportunities, Tickets, Calls, Emails, or Meetings for the Accounts in the Segment.
The Segment picker shows Segments that can work with the selected Primary Object. In an Account Template, an Account Frame uses the Account Profile being viewed. For a related Primary Object, turn on Narrow With Segments only when you want to limit the related records further.
Choose How Values Are Calculated
After you set the scope, choose what the Frame measures and how Unison combines the values. The Metric selects the value. The Aggregation defines the calculation.
Choose the Metric
| Metric Choice | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Primary Object Count | Counts every unique Primary Object record in the current scope. The name follows the object, such as Account Count, Opportunity Count, or Ticket Count. |
| Standard Numeric Field | Uses a numeric or currency value stored on each record, such as Account revenue, Opportunity amount, or Unison Score. |
| Custom Numeric Property | Uses a numeric or currency property your organization has added to the selected Primary Object. |
Use the matching Count metric when you want to count all records in the scope. For example, Account Count counts all unique Accounts in the selected Account population. Opportunity Count counts the unique Opportunities in the selected Opportunity population.
Choose the Aggregation
| Aggregation | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Sum | Add the selected values, such as total Account revenue or total Opportunity amount. |
| Count | Count records that have a value for the selected field. To count every record in the scope, choose the matching Primary Object Count metric. |
| Average | Calculate the average selected value across the records in the scope. |
| Minimum or Maximum | Show the lowest or highest selected value in the scope. |
Format changes how the result appears as a Number, Currency, or Percent. It does not change the population or the calculation.
Configure KPI Cards and Gauges
Configure a KPI Card
Use a KPI Card when one result should stand out. Set the Primary Object and Segments first, then choose the Metric, Aggregation, and Format. For example, Account Count with an At Risk Accounts Segment shows how many Accounts are currently in that population. Account revenue with Sum shows the revenue represented by those Accounts.
Configure a Gauge
A Gauge compares one calculated result with another Segment or a fixed value. Unison calculates the numerator with the selected Metric and Aggregation. When you compare it with another Segment, Unison uses the same calculation for the denominator. When you compare it with a value, that value becomes the denominator.
- Choose the Metric that defines what the Gauge measures.
- Choose the Aggregation used for that Metric.
- Choose the Numerator Segment. This is the population you want to measure.
- Open Compare against, then choose:
- Segment: Compare the numerator with another Segment.
- Value: Compare the numerator result with a fixed target.
- Turn on Target when you want red, yellow, and green ranges on the Gauge.
Understand How the Metric Changes the Gauge
- Percent of Accounts at risk: Use Account Count with Count. Choose At Risk Accounts as the numerator and All Accounts as the denominator.
- Percent of revenue at risk: Use Account revenue with Sum. The Gauge compares the total revenue in the numerator Segment with the total revenue in the denominator Segment.
- Progress toward an Account target: Use Account Count with Count, choose the numerator Segment, then compare it with a fixed value such as 100.
A metric such as Unison Score with Average compares the average value in each population. That can produce a valid ratio, but it answers a different question from the share of Accounts or the share of revenue.
The numerator and denominator Segments must target the same type of object. Target ranges change the colors shown on the Gauge. They do not change the metric, the population, or the percentage.
Configure Bar Charts
Bar Charts calculate a value for each horizontal axis category. The Primary Object defines the records being evaluated, and the selected Segments decide which of those records can contribute to the chart.
Choose What Each Bar Measures
- Calculation Type: Choose Count to count Primary Object records in each category. Choose Total, Average, Minimum, or Maximum to calculate a numeric or currency field.
- Aggregation Field: Appears when the Calculation Type is not Count. Choose the numeric or currency field used for the calculation.
- What field should the bars show: Choose the horizontal axis categories. Each record contributes to the category that matches this field.
For example, with Opportunities as the Primary Object, Count and Stage show the number of Opportunities in each stage. Total, Opportunity amount, and Stage show the total pipeline amount in each stage.
Choose a Bar Chart Layout
| Chart | Choose It When | Additional Settings |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Chart | You need one calculated value for each horizontal axis category. | No grouping field is added. |
| Grouped Bar | You want to compare subgroup values side by side within each category. | Add one or two grouping fields and choose how many subgroup slices appear. |
| Stacked Bar | You want to see the total for each category and how its subgroups contribute to that total. | Add one or two stacking fields and choose how many subgroup slices appear. |
Configure a Grouped Bar Chart
A Grouped Bar Chart places each subgroup beside the others. Use it when comparing subgroup values matters more than emphasizing the combined total.
- What field should be grouped: Choose the categorical field that creates the side by side bars.
- Then group by: Optionally add a second categorical field. Unison treats each combination of the two fields as its own subgroup.
- How many slices in each bar should show: Choose how many subgroup combinations appear. Additional combinations are collected into Other.
Example: Use Opportunity Stage on the horizontal axis, group by Opportunity Type, and calculate Total Opportunity amount. Each stage shows side by side bars for the Opportunity Types in that stage.
Configure a Stacked Bar Chart
A Stacked Bar Chart places the same subgroup values on top of one another. Use it when the full bar represents a meaningful total and the slices explain its composition.
- What field should be stacked: Choose the categorical field that creates the slices.
- Then stack by: Optionally add a second categorical field. Each field combination becomes its own slice.
- How many slices in each bar should show: Choose how many slice combinations appear. Additional combinations are collected into Other.
Using the same Opportunity example, each stage becomes one total pipeline bar. The stacked slices show how each Opportunity Type contributes to that total. Choose Grouped Bar instead when people need to compare the subgroup values more precisely.
Control the Number and Order of Bars
- How many columns of bars should show: Choose 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 horizontal axis categories.
- Sort Order: For Grouped and Stacked Bar Charts, arrange categories by their combined total or by the horizontal axis values.
- Date fields: When the horizontal axis uses a date field, group dates by month, quarter, or year and choose the time range to include.
Configure a Line Chart
A Line Chart groups the current Primary Object records along a date or date and time field, then calculates the selected Metric for each time bucket. Choose a date field that matches the question, such as Opportunity Close Date or Account Renewal Date.
- Horizontal axis: Choose the date or date and time field used to place records on the line.
- Time grouping: Choose No grouping, Month, Quarter, or Year.
- Time range: Choose Last 30 days, Last 90 days, Last 12 months, Year to date, Custom, or All time.
- Start date and End date: Set both dates when you choose a Custom time range.
- Metric, Aggregation, and Format: Choose what each point calculates and how the value appears.
Account Count with Renewal Date shows how many current Accounts fall into each renewal period. Account revenue with Sum shows the revenue represented in each period. The Line Chart groups records by the selected date field. It does not create historical snapshots of a value that changes over time.
Configure Pie and Donut Charts
Pie and Donut Charts calculate the selected Metric for each Breakdown value, then show how those values contribute to the whole. Both use the same Content settings. Choose the appearance that fits the Lens.
- Breakdown: Choose the categorical field that creates the slices.
- Metric: Choose what each slice measures.
- Aggregation: Choose how the values within each slice are combined.
- Format: Choose Number, Currency, or Percent for the displayed values.
Account Count with Industry shows the share of Accounts in each industry. Account revenue with Sum and Industry shows the share of revenue represented by each industry. Count on Account revenue shows the number of Accounts with a revenue value in each industry.
Configure a Table
Use a Table when people need to see the records behind a Lens.
- Choose the Primary Object.
- Select at least one Segment.
- Open Columns and choose the fields to include.
- Drag the selected columns into the order you want them to appear.
The available columns can include standard fields and custom properties for the Primary Object.
Preview and Add the Frame
- Select Generate Preview.
- Review the result and adjust the Content settings if needed.
- Select Regenerate Preview after changing the configuration.
- When the Frame answers the question you had in mind, select Add to Dashboard.
- Select Save in the Lens editor when you are done adding and arranging Frames.
FAQs
Why is Generate Preview unavailable?
Complete the required settings for the Frame. Depending on the Frame type, you may need to choose a Primary Object, Segment, metric, axis field, grouping field, or column before you can generate the preview.
What happens when I change the Primary Object?
The available fields, metrics, columns, and Segments change with the Primary Object. Unison clears selections that belonged to the previous object. Choose new fields that match the object you want the Frame to evaluate.
Why do the field choices differ between Frames?
Each Primary Object has its own standard fields and custom properties. The Frame also limits the choices to fields that work with the selected calculation or chart role. For example, Grouped and Stacked Bar Charts use categorical fields for their subgroups.
Why is Account Count different from Count on another metric?
Account Count counts all unique Accounts in the current scope. Count on a field such as Account revenue counts Accounts where that field has a value. Use Account Count when the question is simply how many Accounts are in the population.
Why does a Grouped or Stacked Bar Chart show Other?
The slice limit controls how many subgroup combinations appear. Unison ranks the combinations by their calculated totals and collects the remaining combinations into Other.