Custom gadgets

It seems to me that the "gadget" term is used in the doc when referring to any dashboard visualization element and also when specifically referring to Google gadgets. This is very confusing as when you read the documentation or the user interface labels its meaning is unclear.
 
I have discovered that the "Import gadget" option on the dashboard editor menu refers to Google gadgets but on the other hand it's unclear the proposal of the "Gadget from gallery" option. I have browsed the docs without a mention on it except page 43 of the application-developer-guide that says:
 
"If you have existing gadget files in your BIRT application folder, choose Insertâž›Gadget Gallery to display the file browser and search for the gadget file to add to the dashboard. After the gadget appears on the dashboard, you can place it where you want and edit the gadget options to change the format and other settings of the gadget. You can save dashboard gadgets as gadget files using Visualization Platform." 
 
I had not managed to find the way to save a gadget or use a gadget file. Please, could you explain me how this option should be used?.
 
What is the preferred way to build custom visualizations in order to be used by non IT people in their own dashboards?. Is there any way to build user friendly custom gadget editors beyond the custom visualization editor interface (JS is not)?. Is there any way to build custom data selectors and make them available to final users?. In the worst case, is there any way to add new templates to the custom visualizations editor?.
 
Thanks in advance.

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JFreeman

Which version of iHub are you using?
 
The term gadget is going to refer to any element that is inserted into the dashboard be it a visualization, selector, html, video, etc.
 
Import gadget isn't exclusively for use with Google gadgets. It is used to import a gadget through a URL but isn't solely for use with Google gadgets. You can use it to import custom created gadgets through other means such as the Actuate JavaScript API (JSAPI). Take a look at this example I have created for creating custom dynamic gadgets in iHub 3: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://developer.actuate.com/community/forum/index.php?/files/file/1101-dynamic-gadgets-example-ihub-3/'>http://developer.actuate.com/community/forum/index.php?/files/file/1101-dynamic-gadgets-example-ihub-3/</a>
 
Let me know if you are using 3.1 as this example will not work properly. I have a new version for 3.1 that isn't published yet but I should have it available shortly.
 
Regarding saving a gadget, this is done through the "Share" interface in the gadgets menu (accessed through clicking the down arrow in the upper right corner of the gadget and selecting "Share"). After sharing the gadget, it will be available (through the gadget gallery) to any user or user group that you have given permission to when sharing the gadget.
 
Creating dashboards/gadgets and then sharing them with the desired users/groups is a good way to create a gallery of visualizations to be utilized by non IT users. You can also create report or reportlet gadgets which import full reports or sections of reports to pull in complex reports, visualizations, etc. created by report developers.
 
If you want to customize things all around, you can use the Actuate JSAPI to pull in dashboards, gadgets, reports, etc directly into your web application and create your own dashboard gallery for the business users by pulling the dashboards and gadgets from the iHub through JSAPI.

bi.evaluation

Thanks Jesse. I am using the Last iHub version (3.1). Please let me know where to find you example gadget implementation.
 
Then, a gadget is any element of the dashboard but when you use the "Import gadget" you should point to an URL containing an XML file that i suppose that must follow the Google Gadget spec. Is it correct?.
 
On the other hand, i have tried the "share" option and then gadgets are stored in a BIRT custom format that even includes the data or a reference to the data. Therefore, in my opinion, they are two different gadget categories. 
 
Anyway, it seems that both are "finished" or closed" gadgets but i am looking for a way to extend iHub with new gadgets (for example a Leaflet based map component) that final users could customize (colors, etc) and feed with their own data like you do with a chart component, for example.
 
I think the closest iHub feature is what you call "custom visualization" but it seems to me complex to be used by the final user due to the fact that he must edit the JS directly. Is there any other way to build extension gadgets to be used like the built-in ones?. If not, how could I add new templates to the "Custom visualization" template combo box.
 
Is it possible to achieve that (final user attribute editor and data connection) with Google Gadget API based gadgets?
 
Thanks.