Compare absolute and grid layouts

Explore the distinct features and customization options of absolute and grid layouts for creating dashboards in Splunk.

The absolute and grid layouts serve very different needs. If you want to quickly put together a dashboard using only charts that snap to your specified rows, choose the grid layout. Use the absolute layout if you want access to features like pixel-perfect placement, ellipses, lines, and icons.

When using the absolute layout option, you can use your mouse or keyboard to drag and drop and resize objects on your dashboard. This layout also gives you pixel-perfect control and customizable backgrounds. When you use the absolute layout, the visual editor allows you to add ellipses, lines, and icons to your dashboards.

By default, the absolute layout automatically scales dashboards to Auto. Auto displays the best zoom level, up to 100%, for your dashboard's visibility. Manually zooming in and out overrides auto display mode. Select Auto in the zoom dropdown list to reset to auto display. You can change the display mode in the UI by clicking the background and selecting Actual size or Fit to width in the Display mode section of the Configuration panel.

In the classic Splunk dashboard framework, visualizations you add to the canvas snap to a row-column structure. The grid layout is similar to that structure. In the grid layout, the number of visualizations in a row determines the size of the other visualizations in that row and they all size to equal proportions. You can modify the width of a visualization using your cursor. This layout automatically scales dashboards to the size of the browser.

This table shows what features are available using the 2 layouts:

Option Absolute Grid
Charts All charts are available. See the Configuration options reference for all of the options. All charts are available. See the Configuration options reference for all of the options.
Background color You can choose a background color or upload an image to use as the background for your dashboard canvas. You can choose a background color for your dashboard canvas. Grid layout does not support uploading an image to use as the background.
Canvas size You can customize the canvas size. While you cannot change the canvas size, you can use your cursor to change the height of the rows or the width of the visualizations within the rows.
Shapes Add rectangles, lines, and ellipses to your dashboard. Add rectangles to your dashboard.
Icons You can choose from an assortment of default icons or upload your own icons in SVG format. Grid layout does not support icons.
Images You can upload images up to 16MB in size. You can upload images up to 16MB in size.