# Gauge Plume: every field and setting explained

> Every field well and every Format pane setting of Gauge Plume: shape, scale, ranges, needle, dial, callout, target, comparison, grid, history, play axis.

- Language: English
- Web page: https://plumevisuals.com/en/tutorials/gauge-plume-champs-et-reglages
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Visual: Gauge Plume, technical reference: https://plumevisuals.com/ai/visuals/gauge.md
- If an option name in this tutorial differs from the technical reference, the reference is right (it is generated from the visual's code).

This page describes everything Gauge Plume offers: the field wells, then each card of the Format pane, in the order they appear. The default value of each setting is in **bold**, premium features carry a ★. For a first guided gauge, see [getting started](/en/tutorials/gauge-plume-prise-en-main).

## The fields of the visual

| Field | Required? | How many | What to drop | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One gauge per… (category) | No | 1 | A column | One gauge per value, in a grid | `Sales[Region]` |
| Value | Yes | 1 | A measure | The value shown by the gauge | `Revenue` |
| Minimum value | No | 1 | A measure | Start of the scale | `Floor` |
| Maximum value | No | 1 | A measure | End of the scale | `Capacity` |
| Target value | No | 1 | A measure | Target marker and label, ▲▼ gap | `Target` |
| Comparison (previous year…) ★ | No | 1 | A measure | ▲▼ change under the value, small marker on the gauge | `Revenue LY` |
| Range limits | No | Up to 4 | Measures | The limits between the color ranges | `Low limit`, `High limit` |
| Extra needles ★ | No | Up to 3 | Measures | One needle per measure, with a legend | `Year-end forecast` |
| History (date) ★ | No | 1 | A date or period column | Sparkline under each gauge; the gauge shows the last period | `Sales[Month]` |
| Play axis ★ | No | 1 | A date, a year, an ordered category | Play axis: the gauge moves from one value to the next | `Sales[Month]` |
| Tooltips | No | Several | Measures | Added to the tooltip | `Margin rate` |

**Minimum value, Maximum value, Target value.** They take priority over the fixed values of the pane (**Format › Scale** and **Format › Target › Fixed value (without field)**), like the Power BI gauge: when the field is filled, the fixed value leaves the pane. In a grid, each gauge reads its own values.

**Target label.** The name of the **Target value** field is used in the target label, the tooltip and the needle legend: rename the field for this visual (double-click it in the well) to write "Annual goal", "Budget" or "Threshold". **Format › Target › Target name** wins; with a fixed value, the default label is "Target". The gap below the value keeps neutral words: "above target", "below target", "on target".

**Range limits.** One measure per limit, sorted by the visual: 2 measures give 3 ranges. The **Range limits** and **Number of ranges** settings of the Color ranges card then leave the pane.

**History (date) ★.** The gauge shows the last period that has a value; the sparkline every period. The other measures (target, minimum…) follow the same rule.

Tooltips and Dynamic format: see [the common basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume).

## The Format pane settings

The cards are described in the order of the **Format** pane.

### Layout

Shown when the One gauge per… field is filled.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Columns (0 = automatic) | Number of gauges per row with **One gauge per… (category)**. 0: based on the available space. | 0 to 12 (**0**) |
| Order | Order of the gauges. | ***Data order*** / *Value, descending* / *Value, ascending* / *% of target, descending* / *Name (A → Z)* |
| Same scale for every gauge | Off: each gauge computes its own automatic maximum | **On** / Off |
| Category name | Where each category name goes relative to its gauge. | ***Above*** / *Below* / *Hidden* |
| Name size | Size of the category names. | 6 to 30 (**11**) |
| Space between gauges (px) | Space between two gauges. | 0 to 60 (**12**) |
| Maximum number of gauges | The next ones are counted under the grid | 1 to 200 (**60**) |

### Gauge

The shape of the gauge and its fill.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Gauge type | Shape | ***Semicircle (180°)*** / *Arc (240°)* / *Arc (270°)* / *Ring (full circle)* / *Arc: custom angles* / *Horizontal linear* / *Vertical linear* / *Bullet chart* / *Thermometer ★* |
| Start angle (°, 0 = top) (appears if Gauge type = *Arc: custom angles*) | Start of the arc, clockwise | -360 to 360 (**-120**) |
| Arc sweep (°) (appears if Gauge type = *Arc: custom angles*) | Length of the arc | 20 to 360 (**240**) |
| Thickness (% of radius or height) | Thickness of the arc or bar | 3 to 80 (**22**) |
| Rounded ends | Rounded ends of the arc | On / **Off** |
| Track color (empty = grid) | Background of the gauge | Color (**empty**) |
| Fill up to the value | Arc or bar filled up to the value | **On** / Off |
| Color (empty = style data color) (appears if Fill up to the value is on) | Fill color (shown when Fill is on; fx button) | Color (**empty**) |
| Color of the range reached | With ranges: the fill and the value take the color of the range | **On** / Off |
| Fill from zero (negative scale) | When the scale crosses zero, the fill starts at zero | **On** / Off |
| Value out of scale | Value above the maximum or below the minimum | ***Flag it (▲ tip and exact value)*** / *Extend the scale* / *Stop at the edge* |

### Scale

Minimum, maximum and ticks.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum (without field) | Start of the scale when the Minimum value field is empty; "1,200", "0.5" or "80 %" | Free text (**empty**) |
| Maximum (without field) | End of the scale when the Maximum value field is empty | Free text (**empty**) |
| Automatic maximum | How the maximum is computed when it is neither in a field nor typed | ***Rounded above the value and the target*** / *Twice the value (like Power BI)* / *The target (100% = target)* |
| Reverse direction | The scale runs right to left (or top to bottom) | On / **Off** |
| Minimum and maximum labels | Written under the ends (never cut) | **On** / Off |
| Tick marks | Ticks along the scale | On / **Off** |
| Number of major ticks (appears if Tick marks is on) | Approximately | 2 to 20 (**5**) |
| Minor ticks between two major ones (appears if Tick marks is on) | Small tick marks added between two major tick marks. | 0 to 9 (**4**) |
| Tick labels (appears if Tick marks is on) | Numbers of the ticks; inside an arc | **On** / Off |
| Text size | Labels of the scale, the target and the limits | 6 to 24 (**9**) |
| Color (empty = secondary) | Color of the labels and ticks | Color (**empty**) |
| Display units | Abbreviates the numbers of the scale (thousands, millions…). *Auto* picks based on magnitude. | ***Auto*** / *None* / *Thousands* / *Millions* / *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) | Digits after the decimal point of the scale; -1 lets the visual choose. | -1 to 6 (**-1**) |
| Prefix | Text placed before the number. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Suffix (e.g. €) | Text placed after the number; type a space before "€". | Free text (**empty**) |

### Color ranges

The red, amber and green ranges (or your colors).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Turns the ranges on | On / **Off** |
| Range limits | How the limits are read (without the Range limits field) | ***In % of the scale*** / *In % of the target ★* / *Values* |
| Number of ranges | Number of color ranges; 4 or 5 ranges are a ★ feature. | *2* / ***3*** / *4 ★* / *5 ★* |
| Limit 1 | Limit between range 1 and the next, read according to **Range limits** (in % or as a value). The **Range limits** field wins. | Number (**50**) |
| Limit 2 (appears if Number of ranges = *3* or *4 ★* or *5 ★*) | Limit between range 2 and the next, read according to **Range limits** (in % or as a value). The **Range limits** field wins. | Number (**80**) |
| Limit 3 (appears if Number of ranges = *4 ★* or *5 ★*) | Limit between range 3 and the next, read according to **Range limits** (in % or as a value). The **Range limits** field wins. | Number (**90**) |
| Limit 4 (appears if Number of ranges = *5 ★*) | Limit between range 4 and the next, read according to **Range limits** (in % or as a value). The **Range limits** field wins. | Number (**95**) |
| Colors | Range colors | ***Red → green (high is good)*** / *Green → red (low is good)* / *Style gradient* / *Custom* |
| Range 1 color (appears if Colors = *Custom*) | Color of range 1, from the start toward the maximum. Empty: the default color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Range 2 color (appears if Colors = *Custom*) | Color of range 2, from the start toward the maximum. Empty: the default color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Range 3 color (appears if Colors = *Custom*) | Color of range 3, from the start toward the maximum. Empty: the default color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Range 4 color (appears if Colors = *Custom*) | Color of range 4, from the start toward the maximum. Empty: the default color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Range 5 color (appears if Colors = *Custom*) | Color of range 5, from the start toward the maximum. Empty: the default color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Continuous gradient ★ | The colors blend smoothly along the scale | On / **Off** |
| Range display | Where the ranges are drawn | ***In the track, faded*** / *Thin outer band* / *Solid (speedometer)* |
| Faded ranges opacity (%) (appears if Range display = *In the track, faded*) | Opacity of the ranges drawn in the track. | 5 to 100 (**28**) |
| Range names (separated by ;) | One name per range, in scale order: "Low;Fair;Good" | Free text (**empty**) |
| Write the name of the range reached | Under the value | **On** / Off |
| Limit values on the scale | Writes the limits around the arc or under the bar | On / **Off** |

### Needle

The value's needle, and those of the **Extra needles ★** field.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Needle of the value | On / **Off** |
| Shape | Needle design; *Marker on the arc* keeps only a mark on the arc. | ***Tapered*** / *Line* / *Arrow* / *Pointer on the arc* / *Sport (counterweight) ★* |
| Color (empty = text) | Needle color. Empty: the text color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Width (px) | Needle width. | 1 to 16 (**4**) |
| Length (% of radius) | Needle length, as a % of the radius. | 40 to 115 (**92**) |
| Hub | Circle in the center | **On** / Off |
| Needle for the target ★ | The target becomes a needle | On / **Off** |
| Needle for the comparison ★ | The comparison becomes a dotted needle | On / **Off** |
| Needle legend (several needles) | Under the gauge, with the value of each needle | **On** / Off |

On linear gauges, the bullet chart and the thermometer, needles are triangles along the bar.


### Dial

Dashboard skins for the arc gauges (the card leaves the pane for the other shapes).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Face, bezel, ticks and needle drawn | ***None*** / *Classic (meter) ★* / *Sport (dashboard) ★* / *Retro (pressure gauge) ★* / *Cockpit (screen) ★* |
| Face color (empty = skin color) (appears if Skin = *Classic (meter) ★* or *Sport (dashboard) ★* or *Retro (pressure gauge) ★* or *Cockpit (screen) ★*) | Background color of the dial. Empty: that of the chosen skin. | Color (**empty**) |

### Callout value

The big number in the center of (or next to) the gauge.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows or hides … (card toggle). | **On** / Off |
| Content | What the big number shows: the value, its share of the scale, its share of the target, or the value and the % of the target. | ***Value*** / *% of the scale* / *% of the target* / *Value and % of the target* |
| Automatic size | The value takes the largest size that fits | **On** / Off |
| Size (maximum when automatic) | Size of the number, or its maximum size when sizing is automatic. | 8 to 120 (**32**) |
| Color (empty = range reached or text) | fx button | Color (**empty**) |
| Bold | Makes the number bold. | **On** / Off |
| Display units | Abbreviates the numbers of the center value (thousands, millions…). *Auto* picks based on magnitude. | ***Auto*** / *None* / *Thousands* / *Millions* / *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) | Digits after the decimal point of the center value; -1 lets the visual choose. | -1 to 6 (**-1**) |
| Prefix | Text placed before the number. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Suffix (e.g. €) | Text placed after the number; type a space before "€". | Free text (**empty**) |
| Label under the value | Writes a label below the value (the measure name, or the **Label text**). | On / **Off** |
| Label text (appears if Label under the value is on) | Text written below the value. Empty: the measure name. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Label size | Also the size of the ▲▼ lines | 6 to 30 (**11**) |

### Target

The target marker on the gauge (**Target value** field or fixed value), its label and the gap written below the value.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Marker, label and gap | **On** / Off |
| Fixed value (without field) | Target when the Target value field is empty (leaves the pane otherwise) | Free text (**empty**) |
| Marker | Shape of the target marker on the gauge. | ***Line*** / *Triangle* / *Dot* |
| Color (empty = text) | Marker color. Empty: the text color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Label | Label next to the marker; when room is short, the gauge shrinks a little, then only the value is written | **On** / Off |
| Label content (appears if Label is on) | What the target label writes: its name and value, the value alone, or the name alone. | ***Name and value*** / *Value* / *Name* |
| Target name (appears if Label is on) | Name of the target in the label, the tooltip and the needle legend; the gap below the value stays neutral ("▼ 15% below target"). Empty: the name of the **Target value** field (rename it for this visual if needed), or "Target" for a fixed value. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Label size (appears if Label is on) | Size of the target label. | 6 to 30 (**9**) |
| Label color (empty = target color) (appears if Label is on) | Label color. Empty: the marker's color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Display units (appears if Label is on) | Abbreviates the numbers of the target label (thousands, millions…). *Auto* picks based on magnitude. | ***Auto*** / *None* / *Thousands* / *Millions* / *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) (appears if Label is on) | Digits after the decimal point of the target label; -1 lets the visual choose. | -1 to 6 (**-1**) |
| Prefix (appears if Label is on) | Text placed before the number. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Suffix (e.g. €) (appears if Label is on) | Text placed after the number; type a space before "€". | Free text (**empty**) |
| Gap to target under the value (▲▼) | "▼ 15% below target" | **On** / Off |
| Gap arc between value and target ★ | Paints the part of the scale between the value and the target | On / **Off** |

### Comparison ★

Shown when the Comparison ★ field is filled.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows or hides … (card toggle). | **On** / Off |
| Label | Text that follows the change. Empty: "vs" and the name of the comparison measure. | Free text (**empty**) |
| Change shown | Form of the change against the comparison written below the value. | ***In %*** / *As a value* / *Value and %* |
| Marker on the gauge | Small hollow triangle at the comparison value | **On** / Off |
| A decrease is favorable | Swaps the colors (not the arrows) of the gap to target and of the comparison (the gap to target also follows “Green → red” ranges) | On / **Off** |
| Favorable | Color of a favorable change. | Color (**#2E7D4F**) |
| Unfavorable | Color of an unfavorable change. | Color (**#C0392B**) |

### History (sparkline)

Shown when the History (date) ★ field is filled.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Sparkline under the gauge ★ | Draws below each gauge a sparkline of every period in the **History (date) ★** field; the gauge shows the last period. | **On** / Off |
| Shape | Shape of the sparkline. | ***Area*** / *Line* / *Columns* |
| Height (% of the gauge) | Height of the sparkline, as a % of the gauge. | 10 to 50 (**22**) |
| Color (empty = fill) | Sparkline color. Empty: the fill color. | Color (**empty**) |
| Target line | Dashed target | **On** / Off |
| Dot on the last period | Marks the last period with a dot. | **On** / Off |

### Playback ★

Appears when the **Play axis ★** field is filled: the needle and the arc move from one value to the next. Player shared by Plume visuals (see [the shared basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume)).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Frame shown on opening | The frame shown before playing: the last value of the play axis, or the first one. | ***The last one (most recent)*** / *The first one* |
| Duration of a frame (ms) | Time spent on each frame at ×1 speed; the bar's speed button multiplies it (×0.5 to ×4) for the session. | 100 to 10000 (**1000**) |
| Loop | Starts again from the beginning after the last frame. | On / **Off** |
| Play automatically on opening | Starts playing once on opening, from the first frame. Never when animations are reduced (**Style › Animations** or system setting) or on a dashboard tile. | On / **Off** |
| Animated transitions | Values, positions and colors glide from one frame to the next. | **On** / Off |
| Play bar | Shows the play bar (play button, slider). | **On** / Off |
| Bar position (appears if Play bar is on) | Puts the bar at the bottom or top of the visual. | ***Bottom*** / *Top* |
| Tick marks (appears if Play bar is on) | Frame marks on the slider. | ***Automatic*** / *Every frame* / *None* |
| Tick labels (appears if Play bar is on) | Writes the frame names below the marks. | **On** / Off |
| Start and end buttons (appears if Play bar is on) | Adds buttons to jump to the first or last frame. | **On** / Off |
| Speed button (appears if Play bar is on) | Adds a button that changes the speed for the session. | **On** / Off |
| Current value in large type | Writes the current play-axis value (the year, for example) in large type inside the visual. | On / **Off** |
| Large value size (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Size of that large value. | 12 to 160 (**32**) |
| Large value position (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Corner of the visual where it is shown. | *Bottom right* / *Top right* / ***Top left*** / *Bottom left* / *Center* |
| Needle memory (min. and max. reached) ★ | While playing, arc of the values already reached and markers of the highest and lowest | On / **Off** |

### Interactions

What happens when a gauge is selected (with **One gauge per… (category)**).

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Dimmed items opacity (%) | Opacity of the gauges or shapes that aren't selected when another one is selected or hovered. | 5 to 80 (**25**) |

### Tooltips

The Power BI tooltip when hovering over a gauge, with the measures in the **Tooltips** field; report page tooltips are supported.

| Setting | What it does | Options (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows or hides … (card toggle). | **On** / Off |
| % of the target (appears if Show is on) | "% of target" line | **On** / Off |
| Range reached (appears if Show is on) | Name and number of the range | **On** / Off |

Shared cards (Plume Studio License, Style, Title, Source note, Frame, Language and numbers): see [the shared basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume).

## Premium features ★

| Feature | Where to set it |
|---|---|
| Play axis | Play axis field, Format › Playback |
| Comparison (last year, budget) | Comparison field, Format › Comparison |
| Thermometer | Format › Gauge › Shape › Gauge type |
| Ranges in % of the target | Format › Color ranges › Range limits |
| Gap arc to target | Format › Target › Gap arc between value and target ★ |
| 4 and 5 ranges | Format › Color ranges › Number of ranges (or 3 to 4 measures in Range limits) |
| Gradient ranges | Format › Color ranges › Continuous gradient |
| Sport needle | Format › Needle › Shape |
| Target and comparison needles | Format › Needle |
| Extra needles | Extra needles field |
| Classic, Sport, Retro, Cockpit dials | Format › Dial › Skin |
| History sparkline | History (date) field |
| Needle memory | Format › Playback |
| Styles, palettes, JSON theme | Format › Style (shared by all Plume visuals) |

**Going further:** [getting started](/en/tutorials/gauge-plume-prise-en-main), [use cases](/en/tutorials/gauge-plume-cas-pratiques), [dynamic formats](/en/tutorials/formats-dynamiques), the [visual page](/en/visuals/gauge), [support](/en/support).