Overview
Charts offer several options for rich data visualization.
Data can be added to the Chart in the form of Values, Arguments and Series. Charts can then be formatted and configured to interact with other Dashboard Items.
Adding Data
Data fields are bound to the Chart by dragging them to the Data Items Pane as Values, Arguments or a Series.
Additionally, Hidden Data Items can be used for additional configurations, such as filtering, without displaying the field on the Dashboard Item.
Working with Chart Data
Each Dashboard Item has different requirements for the data you add to it. Charts use Values, Arguments and Series displayed, typically, on two axes: X-Axis and Y-Axis.
Each Data Item can be formatted by hovering over the item and clicking the options icon (right aligned down arrow).
| • | Values - Data items which are calculated and displayed against the Y-Axis. Multiple values are supported and can be be visualized using different Series Types (e.g. Bar, Point/Line, Area, Range, Bubble, Financial). |
| • | Arguments - Data items displayed along the X-Axis. A Value is displayed on the chart for each Argument. |
| • | Series - Data items used to create chart series, typically used for categorizing arguments. A Value is displayed on the chart for each Series within each argument. How that Value is represented depends on the Series Type. |
Series Types
Series Types provide options for visualizing chart series. Additional functionality is also made available to the chart through the Series Type (e.g. plotting on a secondary axis, labeling, etc.)
Series Options are accessed by clicking the series icon located to the right of the Values Placeholder in the Data Items pane.
Series Types include:
Bar
| • | Bar - Displays a bar representing each Value |
| • | Stacked Bar - Displays the contribution of each Value in relation to the whole |
| • | Full-Stacked Bar - Shows the percentage of each Value’s contribution to the whole |
Point/Line
| • | Point - Plots a point representing each Value |
| • | Line - Plots points, connected by a straight line for each series across each argument |
| • | Stacked Line - Shows the trend of the contribution for each value |
| • | Full-Stacked Line - Shows the trend of the percentage for each value |
| • | Step Line - Connects plotted point using horizontal and vertical lines only |
| • | Spline - Plots points, along a fitted curve |
Area
| • | Area - Displays a straight line connecting data points for each Value across each argument, shading the area between the plotted line and the X Axis. Areas display a line and shading for each Series bound to the Chart. |
| • | Stacked Area - Shows the trend of contribution for each Value, shading the area between the plotted line and then next Series. |
| • | Full-Stacked Area - Shows the trend of percentage for each Value, shading the area between the plotted line and then next Series. |
| • | Step Area - Displays a straight line connecting data points for each Value across each argument using horizontal and vertical lines only, shading the area between the plotted line and the X Axis. |
| • | Spline Area - Displays a fitted curve connecting data points for each Value across each argument, shading the area between the plotted line and the X Axis. |
| • | Stacked Spline - See Stacked Area |
| • | Full-Stacked Spline - See Full Stacked Area |
Range
| • | Range - Displays a bar representing each Value in relation to a specified range, typically timeframe. |
| • | Range Area - Displays a straight line connecting data points for each Value across each argument, shading the area between a specified range, typically timeframe. |
Bubble (Weighted Series)
| • | Bubble - Similar to Points, Bubbles plot a point representing each Value. The difference, however, is that bubbles evaluate a third dimension: Weight. Weight determines the size of of series points. |
Financial
Typically used to show stock prices across time periods.
| • | High-Low Close - Displays a representation of three required measures: High, Low, Close |
| • | Candle Stick - Displays a representation of four required measures: Open, High, Low, Close |
| • | Open-High-Low-Close (Stock) - Displays a representation of four required measures: Open, High, Low, Close |
Financial Series Measure types
| • | Open - Price at the begging of a specified timeframe |
| • | High - Maximum price during a specified timeframe |
| • | Low - Minimum price during a specified timeframe |
| • | Close - Price at the end of a specified timeframe |
Chart Example
Consider the following example for visualizing Employee Utilization with a Chart.
Values
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Arguments
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Series
|
Series Type
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Hours (Sum)
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Work Date (Month)
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Charge Type
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Stacked Bar
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The chart will display a bar for each month that shows a breakdown of direct and indirect hours. Using the Stacked Bar, displays each hours amounts in relation to the total hours for the given month.
TIP: If you’ve added data but don’t see it reflected, click the Refresh button above the Field List in the Data Browser (left-hand pane of the designer).
Chart Panes
Charts allow you to add multiple panes which gives you the ability to view different Values (Y-Axis) against similar Arguments (X-Axis) and Series.
Panes have unique Y Axes but share the X-Axis and Series.
To add a pane:
1. Click the Add Pane Icon (upper-right of the Data Items Pane). An additional Values section will appear.
2. Drag and Drop values to the placeholder as appropriate. A new pane will display
Formatting
Data added to charts are automatically formatted based on their data type. That said, formats can be edited by clicking Options from the data item (Options Button- down arrow - becomes visible when hovering over the data field in the Data Items pane).
For instance, if using a currency value, you would likely need to change the format to: Currency.
Numbers / Currency
To change the format for numbers or currency:
1. Hover over the field in the Data Items pane
2. Click the Options button (down arrow)
3. Select Format…
3. Configure settings as appropriate (see below)
4. Click OK
| • | Format Type - Defaults to Auto. Options include: General, Number, Currency, Scientific, Percent. |
| • | Unit - Defines how the currency value should be converted |
| • | Precision - Defines the decimals to display |
| • | Currency - Defaults to Dashboard global currency setting. Specific currency settings can be set here. |
| • | Culture - Defines the currency cultures for currencies with multiple cultures |
| • | Include group separator - Displays a comma between each numeric group (e.g. 1,000,000.00) |
Date Values
Date Values have several display options, listed when clicking the Options button. To change display settings:
| 1. | Hover over the field in the Data Items pane |
| 2. | Click the Options button (down arrow) |
| 3. | Select the Date type (e.g. Year, Quarter, etc) |
| 4. | Optionally set the Format |
| • | Full (e.g. Month = October, etc.) |
| • | Abbreviated (e.g. Month = Oct, etc.) |
| • | Numeric (e.g. Month = 10, etc.) |
| • | Long (e.g. Date-Hour = Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:57pm (en-US)) |
| • | Short (e.g. Date-Hour = 10/15/2016 10:57pm (en-US)) |
| • | Time Only (e.g. Date-Hour = 10:57pm (en-US)) |
Chart Tools
Charts feature a specific set of design and data tools, available from the toolbar (some options are also available by right-clicking the chart).
All toolbar items feature tool tips which explain (in short) the core functionality of the toolbar option.
Data Tab
The Data Tab includes several options for data shaping.
| • | Edit Filter - Use to add/edit filters on the grid based on displayed or Hidden Data Items. |
| • | Clear - Clears all filters |
| • | Single Master Filter - This sets the selected Dashboard Item as a Master Filter for all other dashboard items. Using a Single Master Filter you can only filter by one element in the selected item. |
| o | Single Master Filter is further defined by the Target Dimension which determines which Data Items can be used as filters. For example, setting the Target Dimension to Argument allows the user to filter other Dashboard Items by Arguments displayed on the Chart. |
| • | Multiple Master Filter - This sets the selected Dashboard Item as a Master Filter for all other dashboard items. Using a Multiple Master Filter you can filter by one or more elements in the selected item. |
| o | Multiple Master Filter is further defined by the Target Dimension which determines which Data Items can be used as filters. For example, setting the Target Dimension to Argument allows the user to filter other Dashboard Items by Arguments displayed on the Chart. |
| • | Drill Down - Enables drill-in details for the Dashboard Item. For Charts, list multiple Arguments or Series in order of detail - least to most. When enabled the chart will reflect data for the top argument or series, allowing you to click through to each subsequent argument or series, displaying values in relation to each. |
| o | Drill Down is further defined by the Target Dimension which determines which Data Items can contain drill-in detail. For example, setting the Target Dimension to Argument allows the user to drill down to additional arguments. |
| • | Cross Data-Source Filtering - Allows a Master Filter to affect data items displaying data from other data sources. |
| • | Ignore Master Filter - Dashboard Items can interact with other dashboard items marked as a Master Filter. Clicking Ignore Master Filter removes interactivity. |
| • | Arguments - Sets the target dimension for filters and/or drill down to displayed Arguments |
| • | Series - Sets the target dimension for filters and/or drill down to displayed Series |
| • | Points - Sets the target dimension for filters (only) to displayed Points |
Design Tab
Charts allow the following design options.
| • | Show Caption - Shows/Hides the caption (e.g. “Grid 1” displayed at the top left of the dashboard item). |
| • | Edit Names - Used to configure display name for the Dashboard Item |
| • | Rotate - Rotates the X and Y Axes |
| o | Reverse - Reverses the order of the X-Axis arguments |
| o | Enables Zooming - Enables zooming on the X-Axis |
| o | Show X-Axis - Show/Hide the axis labeling |
| o | Show Title - Configures the title by default or as Custom Text |
| o | Limit visible points - Limits the number of arguments to display on the X Axis. If the total number exceeds the visible points, a scroll bar appears and can be used to scroll through the arguments. This is a great option if using multiple dashboard items in a design and extra space is needed. |
| o | Pane Drop Down - Selects the Chart Pane (see below) to apply the settings to |
| o | Always show zero level - Show/Hide the zero point on the Y-Axis. |
| o | Reverse - Reverses the order of the Y-Axis Values |
| o | Show Grid lines - Show/Hide grid lines |
| o | Show Axis - Show/Hide the axis labeling |
| o | Show Title - Configures the title by default or as Custom Text |
| o | Logarithmic scale - Check to show numerical values using a logarithmic scale. Set the logarithmic base with the drop down to the right. |
| • | Show Legend - Show/Hide the chart legend. Legend placement can additionally be defined using the legend drop down for certain series types. |
| • | Series Type - Similar to the series icon, you can set the series type from the design tab |
| • | Global Colors - Use to set colors for identical data items across all dashboard items |
| • | Local Colors - Use to set colors for items on the selected dashboard item |
| • | Edit Colors - Edits the Global or Local Color Scheme |
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