# Linking
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This documentation topic is designed for Grafana workspaces that support **Grafana version 8.x**.  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 12.x, see [Working in Grafana version 12](using-grafana-v12.md).  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 10.x, see [Working in Grafana version 10](using-grafana-v10.md).  
For Grafana workspaces that support Grafana version 9.x, see [Working in Grafana version 9](using-grafana-v9.md).

 You can use links to navigate between commonly used dashboards or to connect others to your visualizations. Links let you create shortcuts to other dashboards, panels, and even external websites. 

 Amazon Managed Grafana supports dashboard links, panel links, and data links. Dashboard links are displayed at the top of the dashboard. Panel links are accessible by choosing an icon on the top-left corner of the panel. 

## Which link should you use?
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 Start by examining how you’re currently navigating between dashboards. If you’re often jumping between a set of dashboards and struggling to find the same context in each, links can help optimize your workflow. 

 The next step is to figure out which link type is right for your workflow. Although all the link types in Grafana are used to create shortcuts to other dashboards or external websites, they work in different contexts. 
+  To add links that relate to most or all of the panels in the dashboard, use [Dashboard links](dashboard-links.md). 
+  To drill down into specific panels, use [Panel links](panel-links.md).
+  To link to external sites, you can use either a dashboard link or a panel link. 
+  To drill down into a specific series, or even a single measurement, use [Data links](data-links.md). 

## Controlling time range using the URL
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 You can control the time range of a panel or dashboard by providing the following query parameters in the dashboard URL: 
+  `from` defines lower limit of the time range, specified in ms epoch. 
+  `to` defines upper limit of the time range, specified in ms epoch. 
+  `time` and `time.window` define a time range from `time-time.window/2` to `time+time.window/2`. Both parameters should be specified in milliseconds. For example, `?time=1500000000000&time.window=10000` will result in a 10-second time range from 1499999995000 to 1500000005000 

## Data link variables
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 You can use variables in data links to see series fields, labels, and values. For more information about data links, see [Data links](data-links.md). 

 To see a list of available variables, enter **$** in the data link **URL** field. 

 You can also use template variables in your data links URLs. For more information, see [Templates and variables](templates-and-variables.md). 

### Time range panel variables
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 You can use the following variables to include the current time range in the data link URL: 
+  `__url_time_range` – The current dashboard’s time range; for example, `?from=now-6h&to=now` 
+  `$__from and $__to` – For more information, see [Global variables]({{< relref "../variables/variable-types/global-variables.md\#\_\_from-and-\_\_to" >}}). 

### Series variables
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 Series-specific variables are available under the `__series` namespace: 
+  `__series.name` – Adds the series name to the URL 
+  `__series.labels.<LABEL>` – Adds the label’s value to the URL. If your label contains dots, use `__series.labels["<LABEL>"]` syntax. 

### Field variables
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 Field-specific variables are available under the `__field` namespace: 
+  `__field.name` – The name of the field 

### Value variables
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 Value-specific variables are available under the `__value` namespace: 
+  `__value.time` – The value’s timestamp (Unix ms epoch) to the URL; for example, `?time=1560268814105` 
+  `__value.raw` – The raw value 
+  `__value.numeric` – The numeric representation of a value 
+  `__value.text` – The text representation of a value 
+  `__value.calc` – The calculation name if the value is result of calculation 

### Template variables
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 When linking to another dashboard that uses template variables, select variable values for whoever chooses the link. 

 Use `var-myvar=${myvar}`, where `myvar` is a name of the template variable that matches one in the current dashboard that you want to use. 

 To add all of the current dashboard’s variables to the URL, use `__all_variables`.