Dashboard variables: set default value on import

[mamoep]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
I have three datacenters (labeled A,B,C) and most of the time I want to look at clusters in datacenter B. After dashboard import every dashboard uses A as default chosen datacenter.

Describe the solution you'd like
I want to chose the default value of the datacenter variable when using bin/harvest grafana import

Describe alternatives you've considered
It is possible to change and save the dashboard after import, but it is tedious task.

Additional context
n/a

[rahulguptajss]

@mamoep Check if the following DSL in the import command meets your request:

Use the --var-defaults flag to specify default values nfor dropdown variables in grafana. The format is:

variable1=value1,value2;variable2=value3

• variable1, variable2, ...: Names of the dropdown variables.
• value1, value2, ...: Default values for each variable (comma-separated).
• ; Separate different variables with a semicolon.

Example

bin/grafana import --var-defaults "Datacenter=DC1,DC2;Cluster=Cluster1"

This sets:

• Datacenter dropdown to default to DC1 and DC2.
• Cluster dropdown to default to Cluster1.

[mamoep]

That proposal looks good to me.

[mamoep]

I really appreciate that you picked this feature request so fast. Don't forget to add some documention. ;)

[rahulguptajss]

I really appreciate that you picked this feature request so fast. Don't forget to add some documention. ;)

You're welcome. I have initiated a nightly build for you to try. I'll update you once it is available. Yes, the documentation has been added to the CLI. It will look like this:

--var-defaults string     
                          Default values for dropdown variables in the format 'variable1=value1,value2;variable2=value3'.
                          
                          Examples:
                          
                          1. Set a single variable:
                             To set the default value for the 'Datacenter' variable to 'DC1':
                             --var-defaults "Datacenter=DC1"
                          
                          2. Set multiple values for a single variable:
                             To set the default values for the 'Datacenter' variable to 'DC1' and 'DC2':
                             --var-defaults "Datacenter=DC1,DC2"
                          
                          3. Set multiple variables in one command:
                             To set the default values for 'Datacenter' to 'DC1' and 'DC2', and 'Cluster' to 'Cluster1':
                             --var-defaults "Datacenter=DC1,DC2;Cluster=Cluster1"
                          
                          4. Set multiple values for multiple variables:
                             To set the default values for 'Datacenter' to 'DC1' and 'DC2', and 'Cluster' to 'Cluster1' and 'Cluster2':
                             --var-defaults "Datacenter=DC1,DC2;Cluster=Cluster1,Cluster2"
                          
                          Note: Ensure that variable names and values do not contain the characters '=', ',', or ';' as these are used as delimiters.

[rahulguptajss]

You can try these changes in nightly build and provide feedback. Thanks.