FAQs

What is Formula Cards, Gauge & RAG Reports?

Formula Cards, Gauge & RAG Reports is a Jira dashboard app that helps teams calculate and display custom metrics based on simple and complex math formulas liKe SUM, COUNT, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX.

It can be used to create single-value KPI cards, gauge charts, five-star ratings, RAG-style indicators, percentages, ratios, progress metrics, budget indicators, SLA metrics, and multi-KPI scorecards.

Which gadgets are included in the app?

The app includes two configurable Jira dashboard gadgets:

• Issue Filter Formula Gadget: Calculates one metric from a saved filter or JQL query and displays it as a number, color-coded number, gauge chart, or five-star rating.

• Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget: Combines data from multiple filters or JQL queries and displays up to nine calculated metrics as formula cards or inline text.

Who is the app designed for?

The app is useful for Project Managers, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Delivery Managers, Engineering Leads, Jira Service Management teams, Support Managers, RTEs, PMOs, finance and operations teams, and executives.

It can support Scrum, Kanban, SAFe®, ITSM, DevOps, customer support, project management, portfolio reporting, and custom Jira workflows.

Is a free trial available?

Yes. You can start a free 30-day trial from the app’s listing on the Atlassian Marketplace.

Do I need Jira administrator permissions to use the gadgets?

A Jira administrator is generally required to install the app.

After installation, users with permission to create or edit Jira dashboards can add and configure the gadgets. Users must also have permission to view the projects, work items, and saved filters used in the calculations.

Do I need to know JQL?

No. You can use shared Jira saved filters as the data sources.

JQL is also available when you need more precise control over the work items included in a calculation. For example, JQL can define open defects, overdue tasks, breached SLA requests, completed release work, or another specific scope.

Which data sources can I use?

Both gadgets support:

• Jira saved filters

• JQL queries

The Issue Filter Formula Gadget uses one filter or JQL query.

The Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget allows each variable to use its own filter or JQL query, making it possible to combine several data sets in one calculation.

Saved filters must be shared with everyone who needs to view the gadget.

Can I track metrics across multiple projects or teams?

Yes. Use a saved filter or JQL query that returns work items from multiple projects or teams.

With the Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget, different variables can represent different projects, teams, services, releases, or time periods. You can then display the values separately or combine them into an aggregated KPI.

Which basic calculations are available?

The gadgets support the following aggregation methods:

• COUNT: Counts the work items returned by the data source.

• SUM: Adds the values from a selected numerical field.

• AVG: Calculates the average value of a numerical field.

• MIN: Returns the lowest value.

• MAX: Returns the highest value.

These calculations can be applied to standard or supported custom numerical fields available in Jira.

Which Jira fields can I use in calculations?

You can calculate values using numerical Jira fields, including fields such as:

• Story Points

• Story Point Estimate

• Original Estimate

• Remaining Estimate

• Time Spent

• Satisfaction

• Other numerical custom fields available in your Jira instance

Can I count work items without using a numerical field?

Yes. Select COUNT to calculate the number of work items returned by the filter or JQL query.

For example, you can count:

• Open work items

• Completed tasks

• Unresolved defects

• Blocked work

• Overdue items

• Breached SLA requests

• High-priority incidents

Can I create percentages and ratios?

Yes. Use the Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget to define separate variables and combine them into a mathematical formula.

For example, if:

• a represents the total scope

• b represents completed work

The formula (b / a) * 100 calculates the percentage of work completed.

The same approach can be used for SLA breach rates, budget consumption, defect resolution rates, completion rates, and other ratios.

How many variables can I use?

The Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget supports up to nine variables, identified as a through i.

Each variable can:

• Use its own filter or JQL query

• Apply COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, or MAX

• Use its own numerical calculation field

You can reuse the same filter for several variables when you need to calculate different values from the same group of work items.

Can I display a custom formula as a gauge chart?

Gauge charts are available in the Issue Filter Formula Gadget, which calculates one value from one filter or JQL query.

The Advanced Issue Filter Formula Gadget displays its results as formula cards or inline text. It does not display the multi-variable results as gauges.

If you need several gauges, add and configure a separate Issue Filter Formula Gadget for each metric.

What is a RAG report?

RAG stands for Red, Amber, and Green. It is a reporting method that uses colors to communicate the status of a metric:

• Green: The value is within the desired range.

• Amber: The value requires attention or is approaching a limit.

• Red: The value has exceeded a threshold or requires action.

The interpretation depends on the metric. For example, a high Customer Satisfaction score may be green, while a high SLA breach rate may be red.

Can I customize the RAG thresholds and colors?

Yes. You can define value ranges and assign a color to each range.

You are not limited to red, amber, and green. Custom colors can be used to match your dashboard design or reporting standards.

You can also enable additional emphasis by coloring the border around the displayed value.

Can each Advanced Formula card use different thresholds?

Yes. Each calculated result can have its own fixed color or value-based color ranges.

For example, a scorecard can use different thresholds for completion rate, SLA compliance, budget consumption, open defects, and Customer Satisfaction.

Can I display a five-star rating?

Yes. The Issue Filter Formula Gadget can display the calculated value on a five-star scale.

This display mode is particularly useful for Customer Satisfaction metrics, but it can also be used for other values that fit a five-point scale.

Can I calculate Customer Satisfaction?

Yes. In Jira Service Management, select the Satisfaction field and use AVG to calculate the average Customer Satisfaction score for the work items returned by the filter or JQL query.

Can I track SLA performance?

Yes. Use filters or JQL queries to define the relevant SLA scope.

Can I track budget consumption?

Yes, provided that the required budget or cost information is stored in numerical Jira fields or can be represented through the selected filters.

Can I customize the labels and units?

Yes. You can configure labels that explain what each displayed value represents.

Depending on the gadget, you can also configure:

• Decimal places

• Prefixes, such as $, €, or £

• Suffixes, such as %, h, days, or SP

• Thousands separators

• Fixed or value-based colors

• Colored borders

Clear labels and units help dashboard viewers interpret each KPI correctly.

Can I display the gadgets in Confluence?

Yes. The gadgets can be embedded in Confluence pages, allowing KPI cards, formulas, gauges, and RAG reports to be shared with stakeholders who work primarily in Confluence.

Users must still have the necessary permissions to access the underlying Jira data.

Are these gadgets also available in Great Gadgets?

Yes. The Issue Filter Formula and Advanced Issue Filter Formula gadgets are also included in Great Gadgets for Jira, StonikByte’s complete Jira dashboard reporting suite.

Which app should I choose?

Choose Formula Cards, Gauge & RAG Reports when you need a focused solution for creating calculated metrics, formula cards, gauges, five-star ratings, RAG indicators, and custom KPI scorecards.

Choose Great Gadgets for Jira when you also need burndown and burnup charts, release forecasts, velocity and throughput reports, cumulative flow diagrams, WIP charts, cycle time and lead time reports, time-in-status reports, pivot tables and charts, work breakdown structures, worklog reports, team wallboards, and other dashboard capabilities in one app.

Do I need the standalone app if I already have Great Gadgets?

No. If Great Gadgets is already installed and licensed, you can use the Issue Filter Formula and Advanced Issue Filter Formula gadgets included in that app.

Is Great Gadgets licensed separately?

Yes. Formula Cards, Gauge & RAG Reports and Great Gadgets for Jira are separate Atlassian Marketplace apps, each with its own installation and license.