Overview
Scatter Charts allow you to see weighted points plotted along two axes. Each axis contains it’s own measurement by which a specified argument is evaluated.
Data can be added to a Scatter Chart in the form of X-Axis measures, Y-Axis measures, Weight and Arguments. Scatter 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 the X-Axis, Y-Axis, Weight or Argument.
Additionally, Hidden Data Items can be used for additional configurations, such as filtering, without displaying the field on the Dashboard Item.
Working with Scatter Chart Data
Each Dashboard Item has different requirements for the data you add to it.
As mentioned above, Scatter Charts place a weighted point plotted along two axes- against which the specified value is calculated.
Each Data Item can be formatted (e.g. Number, Currency, etc.) by hovering over the item and clicking the options icon (right aligned down arrow).
| • | X-Axis - Data Item to be used for evaluating the Argument along the X-Axis |
| • | Y-Axis - Data Item to be used for evaluating the Argument along the Y-Axis |
| • | Weight - Data Item to be used for evaluating the size of the plotted point |
| • | Argument - Data Item to be evaluated |
Consider the following example for viewing an Employee’s total Direct Hours, their percent of Billable Time and those, weighted by their actual direct billings.
X-Axis
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Y-Axis
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Weight
|
Argument
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Direct Hours (Sum)
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Direct Hours Percent (Average)
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Direct Billings (Sum)
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Employee Name
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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).
Formatting Data
Data added to scatter charts is 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 percentage, you would likely need to change the format to type: Percent. Likewise, if using a date as your argument, you may want to see that broken out in to quarters or months (etc.).
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)) |
Color By
Scatter Charts, by default, will display your argument using a single color.
For some scenarios, this can cause confusion. For instance, using Employee Name as the argument will result, by default, in a single-colored point and a legend option of: Employee Name.
This can be changed by hovering over your Argument and completing the following:
| 1. | Click the Options button |
Plotted points will now be colored by employee as listed in the legend.
Scatter Chart Tools
Scatter 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 (e.g. Scatter Chart, etc) 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. |
| • | Multiple Master Filter - This sets the selected Dashboard Item (e.g. Scatter Chart, etc) 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. |
| • | Drill Down - Enables drill-in details for the Dashboard Item. For Scatter Charts, list multiple Arguments 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, displaying results in relation to each. |
| • | 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 (e.g. data displayed on the pivot is filtered by, for instance, a bar chart). Clicking Ignore Master Filter removes interactivity. |
Design Tab
Scatter 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 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. |
| 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 |
| • | Logarithmic scale - Check to show numerical values using a logarithmic scale. Set the logarithmic base with the drop down to the right. |
| • | Point Label Settings - Show/Hide Point labels which will display defined content in labels as configured for plotted points. |
| • | Show Legend - Show/Hide the chart legend. Legend placement can additionally be defined using the legend drop down for certain dashboard items. |
| • | Global Colors - A global color scheme colors identical data items similarly across all dashboard items |
| • | Local Colors - A local color scheme sets colors for the selected data item only |
| • | Edit Colors - Edits the Global or Local Color Schemes |
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