Defining indicators and reports
Summarize
Summary of Defining indicators and reports
In the KPI Composer Data Definition tab, you define and link artifacts from your analysis to indicator and report definitions. This step ensures that each artifact used in Performance Analytics or reporting widgets on dashboards is properly connected to its corresponding technical definitions, enabling accurate data visualization and reporting.
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Linking Artifacts to Definitions
The Data Definition tab displays the KPI tree from the Analysis tab but focuses exclusively on linking artifacts with indicator and report definitions. Each artifact associated with a Performance Analytics widget must reference an indicator definition, and those linked to reporting widgets must reference a report definition. Artifacts can reference both. If a definition is missing, a plus sign (+) prompts you to create it, while linked definitions appear as clickable hyperlinks for easy access.
You can filter artifacts to quickly identify which need definitions, either by name, task (create definition), or linkage status (e.g., artifacts linked to indicator definitions but not to Performance Analytics indicators).
Indicator Definitions
An indicator definition describes how to develop a specific Performance Analytics indicator and acts as a bridge between the artifact in the KPI tree and its technical implementation. You can create new indicator definitions directly from artifacts or link to existing ones. When defining an indicator, specify required properties, development instructions, and if applicable, details about automated indicators including source tables and conditions, or formula indicators with their contributing indicators. Linking to existing Performance Analytics indicators allows you to view and reproduce or modify technical details.
Report Definitions
Report definitions describe how to create reports, focusing on the facts table or report source and any relevant conditions written in a user-friendly, non-technical format. You can create report definitions directly from artifacts that require them.
Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers
- Ensures structured and consistent linkage between business artifacts and technical definitions for Performance Analytics and reporting.
- Streamlines the creation and management of indicator and report definitions, reducing errors and improving clarity.
- Provides filtering and linking tools that simplify tracking definition completeness and managing artifacts.
- Supports detailed development instructions and conditions to aid accurate indicator and report creation.
On the KPI Composer Data Definition tab, you further specify the artifacts you defined during analysis and link them to indicator and report definitions.
After you open the Data Definition tab, you see the same KPI tree that you defined in the Analysis tab. The header with personas and breakdown definitions and the footer with new artifacts are gone.
Each artifact that is associated with a Performance Analytics widget on the Dashboard Visualization
should reference an indicator definition. Each artifact that is associated with a Reporting widget should reference a report definition. An artifact can be associated
with both an indicator and a report definition. If a definition is missing, a clickable plus sign
+ appears with a message to create the definition. If the artifact is linked to any definitions,
there is a hyperlink to open each definition. You can quickly get
an overview of which artifacts are missing definitions by filtering on Create
definition. 
The following illustration shows a measurement artifact that needs both a report and an indicator definition. An artifact definition named "% changes closed within SLA" is linked. The artifact still needs a report definition.
Filtering
- Filter by name, for filtering by one or more words that appear in the artifact name
- Filter by task
- Create definition, for filtering by whether an indicator or report definition is needed
- Link PA Indicator, for filtering by artifacts with indicator definitions that are not linked to Performance Analytics indicators
Indicator definitions
An indicator definition contains the description of how to develop a specific Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition itself is not a Performance Analytics indicator. The indicator definition bridges the function-oriented artifact in the KPI tree and the technical implementation of the indicator in Performance Analytics.
If a suitable indicator definition does not exist, click the create indicator definition link in the artifact tile. Specify the required properties of the indicator. Also write any development instructions in the field provided for them. If you are defining an automated indicator, specify the facts table for the indicator source. Also describe any conditions, either on the indicator itself or on the indicator source. You can describe the conditions qualitatively, not following condition builder format. If you are defining a formula indicator, add definitions of its contributing indicators.
When a suitable Performance Analytics indicator exists, you can add a link to it in the indicator definition. You can see the technical details of the linked indicator. Reproduce the Performance Analytics indicator exactly or specify a modified version.
Report definitions
A report definition contains the description to create a report. The key information is the facts table or the report source, along with any conditions. You do not have to follow a technical format when writing the conditions.