APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING AND CONSUMING CUSTOM VISUALIZATION TEMPLATES
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to access multiple custom templates. A selected custom template is designated for implementation. The selected custom template has a set of associated parameters. A custom template guide corresponding to the selected custom template is initiated.
1 . A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:
access multiple custom templates;
designate a selected custom template for implementation, wherein the selected custom template has a set of associated parameters; and
initiate a custom template guide corresponding to the selected custom template.
2 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to accept, via the custom template guide, a set of values which correspond to the set of associated parameters.
3 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 further comprising executable instructions to render an instance of a visualization in accordance with the set of values.
4 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the template guide provides a set of default values.
5 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 3 further comprising executable instructions to:
accept a request to format the instance of the visualization; and
reinitiate the custom template guide.
6 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to:
accept a set of specifications to create a custom template for a visualization, wherein the custom template has a set of associated parameters; and
publish the custom template to a repository.
7 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the custom template is selected from the repository.
8 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 , wherein a value in the set of values is specified using a formula.
9 . The computer readable storage medium of claim of 3 further comprising executable instructions to insert the instance of the visualization into a report.
10 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the set of values used to render the instance of the visualization is data context specific to a section of the report.
11 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising executable instructions to request the set of specifications via a custom template creation guide.
12 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 6 further comprising executable instructions to:
select an existing custom template;
modify a set of associated specifications; and
publish the existing custom template to the repository.
13 . A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:
access multiple custom templates;
designate a selected custom template for implementation, wherein the selected custom template has a set of associated parameters;
initiate a custom template guide corresponding to the selected custom template;
accept, via the custom template guide, a set of values which correspond to the set of associated parameters; and
render an instance of a visualization in accordance with the set of values.
14 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the template guide provides a set of default values.
15 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising executable instructions to:
accept a request to format the instance of the visualization; and
reinitiate the custom template guide.
16 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 further comprising executable instructions to:
accept a set of specifications to create a custom template for a visualization, wherein the custom template has a set of associated parameters; and
publish the custom template to a repository.
17 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the custom template is selected from the repository.
18 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein a value in the set of values is specified using a formula.
19 . The computer readable storage medium of claim of 13 further comprising executable instructions to insert the instance of the visualization into a report.
20 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the set of values used to render the instance of the visualization is data context specific to a section of the report.
21 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 further comprising executable instructions to:
select an existing custom template;
modify a set of associated specifications; and
publish the existing custom template to the repository.
22 . A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:
access multiple custom templates;
designate a selected custom template for implementation in a report, wherein the selected custom template has a set of associated parameters;
initiate a custom template guide corresponding to the selected custom template;
request, via the custom template guide, a set of values which correspond to the set of associated parameters;
render an instance of a visualization in accordance with the set of values; and
insert the instance of the visualization into the report.
23 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the set of values used to render the instance of the visualization is data context specific to a section of the report.