Gadgets
Dashboards are made up of gadgets. Gadgets are reusable contained mashups that have additional metadata to handle the sizing requirements of a dashboard. Gadgets can display historical or current data. Any widget and service can be used in a gadget. Gadgets contain predefined parameters, and they are available in various predefined sizes (1x1, 2x2, and so on).
Gadgets allow you to dynamically assign the displayed property values. For example, multiple display gadgets (LED, Gauge, or Chart) can be created, so that you can select the view of the temperature data displayed on your dashboard.
Gadgets are versatile because they can be used in different scenarios. Gadgets can be:
• embedded in any mashup
• standalone applications
• embedded as a screen in another application
Creating a Gadget
1. From Composer, browse > , and then click the New button.
2. Select the appropriate gadget column layout, and then click OK.
3. Enter a name and description, and then click Save.
4. In the Design area, add and configure widget(s) on the gadget mashup.
5. Use the mashup properties to provide the greatest amount of flexibility and interchangeability to the gadget.
6. Click Save.
Creating a Gadget Library Mashup
A gadget library mashup consist of Gadgets that are available on the dashboard. This mashup is linked to the dashboard mashup. This process is the same as creating a mashup for non-dashboard purposes.
1. From Composer, browse > , and then click the New button.
2. Select a Mashup type, and then click OK.
3. Enter a name and description, and then click Save.
4. In the Design area, configure the mashup as necessary by dragging the required gadgets from the Mashups pane onto the mashup designer window.
5. Click Save.
Creating a Dashboard Mashup
A dashboard mashup contains the dashboard widget and is linked to the gadget library mashup.
1. From Composer, browse > , and then click the New button.
2. Select a mashup type, and then click OK.
3. Enter a name and description, and then click Save.
4. In the Design area, drag the Dashboard widget into the mashup designer window.
5. In the dashboard properties window, in the MashupToAddGadgets field, use the magic picker 
icon to select the previously created gadget library mashup.
icon to select the previously created gadget library mashup.6. Click Save.
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