Splunk Answers Content Calendar, June Edition I

[Anam]

Get ready for this week’s post dedicated to Splunk Dashboards! We're celebrating the power of community by sharing solutions for common dashboard challenges (like panel widths and time range configurations) and spotlighting the invaluable contributions of our Splunk users and experts on the Dashboards & Visualizations board.

Dashboard CSS Width setup doesn't work anymore with 9.x version

Upgrading to the latest Splunk version (9.x) can bring a host of improvements and new features. However, sometimes updates can introduce unexpected challenges. One issue that some Splunk users have encountered is related to custom CSS styling in classic XML dashboards, specifically affecting panel widths. This issue was brought to light by JulienKVT

The Problem: Custom CSS Panel Widths No Longer Working

Many Splunk administrators and developers rely on custom CSS to fine-tune the layout and appearance of their dashboards. A common use case is setting specific widths for panels within a row, allowing for a more tailored and visually appealing presentation of data.

The intention of the code by JulienKVT is to set #Panel1 to 15% width and #Panel2 to 85% width within the row.

However, after upgrading to Splunk 9.x, JulienKVT mentioned that this CSS styling no longer works as expected. Panels revert to their default layouts (e.g., 50/50, 33/33/33), ignoring the custom CSS rules.

This issue can be frustrating for users who have carefully crafted their dashboards and rely on specific panel layouts for optimal data visualization. While Splunk's Dashboard Studio offers a more modern approach to dashboard creation, migrating existing dashboards can be a time-consuming and complex task. Many users need a solution that allows them to maintain their existing classic dashboards while still benefiting from the latest Splunk version.

The Solution: Replace width with max-width in Your CSS

Our contributor Paul_Dixon suggested a solution that involves a minor modification to your existing CSS code. Instead of using the width property, try using max-width instead.

The key difference between width and max-width lies in how they're interpreted by the browser. width sets a fixed width for the element, while max-width sets the maximum allowed width. The element can be smaller than the max-width if other constraints apply.

In the context of Splunk 9.x dashboards, it's possible that changes in the underlying layout engine are interfering with the width property. By using max-width, you're essentially giving the panel a hint about its desired size, while still allowing it to adapt to other layout constraints. The important tag ensures that this style takes precedence over other conflicting styles.

Thanks to our contributor Paul_Dixon for providing a clear solution. Give it a try and let us know in the comments if it works for you! Thanks to the community for sharing this valuable tip!

Splunk Dashboard: Combining Time Ranges

Splunk dashboards are indispensable for visualizing and analyzing data. Often, you need to tailor your search queries to achieve the precise results you're after. This post was brought to light by Punnu. We will explore a common scenario: using different time ranges for different parts of a query and hiding specific columns from the output. But more importantly, we'll celebrate the power of the Splunk Answers community in finding solutions to even the most complex challenges.

The Problem: Dynamic Time Ranges and Column Control

Use a dashboard input (time picker) for the initial part of a search query. They wanted users to select a specific time range using a dashboard time picker.

Run the remaining part of the query using a different time range (e.g., the entire day). The reasoning was that events triggered during the initial time range might be processed later in the day.

Hide specific columns (e.g., message GUID, request time, output time) from the final displayed results. This simplifies the view and focuses on relevant information.

The Solution (Partial): Dynamic Time Range Adjustment (and a Community Discovery!)

While a complete solution requires a more complex setup, the user Punnu themselves discovered a clever technique for dynamically adjusting the time range based on the current time, thanks to an old post by somesoni2. 

Punnu found a solution buried in the archives of Splunk Answers, a testament to the long-lasting contributions of expert users like somesoni2. The solution involves a subsearch to dynamically adjust the time range. There is a wealth of knowledge available on Splunk Answers and this highlights the incredible value of the Splunk community.

The Power of Splunk Answers

This solution exemplifies the power of the Splunk Answers community. Expert users have generously shared their knowledge and solutions over the years, creating a vast and invaluable resource. The fact that the user was able to find a working solution from 2017 demonstrates the enduring relevance of the information shared on Splunk Answers. Remember to leverage this incredible resource when facing your own Splunk challenges! The answer you need might already be waiting for you on Splunk Answers.

Kudos to the Expert Users!

We want to give a shout-out to the users like JulienKVT and Punnu who bring these questions to light and the countless expert users who contribute to Splunk Answers like Paul_Dixon and somesoni2. Their dedication to helping others and sharing their expertise makes the Splunk community a truly special place. Because of them, you can often find a solution to almost any Splunk challenge, no matter how complex. These unsung heroes are the backbone of the Splunk ecosystem.

Don't forget to check out the Dashboards & Visualizations board under "Find Answers --> Using Splunk" on the top navigation bar!

Would you like to feature more solutions like this? Reach out @Anam Siddique on Slack in our Splunk Community Slack workspace to highlight your question, answer, or tip in an upcoming Community Content post! 💡

Beyond Splunk Answers, the Splunk Community offers a wealth of valuable resources to deepen your knowledge and connect with other professionals!

Here are some great ways to get involved and expand your Splunk expertise:

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