You can select formatting options for a Graph visualization, such as whether to display trend or reference lines, whether to display data labels, and font and color options for text in a graph. From the drop-down list at the top of the panel, determine what part of the graph to format. See the appropriate section below for formatting options:
The Data Exploration options contain general graph formatting options to determine how to display graph axes, whether to display labels for graph items, and so on. The Trend and Reference Lines options also contain general graph formatting that applies to the entire graph.
Shapes and Data Labels options
If you are formatting the visualization in Formatting Mode, you can also click an area of the graph to format it. The appropriate formatting options are automatically displayed in the Properties panel. For background information on Formatting Mode, see Editing a visualization in Formatting Mode.
The Data Exploration options contain general graph formatting options to determine how to display graph axes, whether to display labels for graph items, and so on. The following options are available:
Axis Configuration: From the drop-down list, select the metrics to specify axis formatting options for, as follows:
All Metrics: Format options for all metrics in the visualization.
Metric Name: Format a specific metric. Note: This option is available only if the graph displays multiple metrics.
Axis Scale: To determine how to display the axes for the metrics selected in the Axis Scale For drop-down list above, select one of the following:
Global (default): Display each of the selected metrics on axes with the same minimum and maximum values.
Per row/column: Display the selected metrics using the same minimum and maximum Y-axis values across each column of graphs, and the same X-axis values across each row of graphs.
Per Cell: Allow the application to display the selected metrics using the axis values best suited to display the metric data.
Custom: Define specific minimum and maximum values to use to display the selected metrics. A preview of your changes is displayed in the scale below. The numbers above the scale represent the minimum and maximum axis values you have defined. The numbers below the scale represent the minimum and maximum values in the data being displayed.
You can specify both values. In the Min and Max fields, type the minimum and maximum axis values, and then click OK. For example, if you selected Profit in the Axis Scale For drop-down list, and you want to display the Profit metric on an axis that includes values from 0 to 5 million, type 0 in the Min field and 5000000 in the Max field.
You can provide one value and allow the other to be calculated to best display the metric data. In either the Min or Max field, type the axis value. Select the Automatic check box next to the other field. For example, you are displaying Profit on the axis, and you want the axis to start at 1000, but allow the maximum to be calculated automatically. You would type 1000 in the Min field and select the Automatic check box next to Max.
You can specify values outside the minimum and maximum value range to maintain a consistent scale over time, even if the data is republished and the minimum and maximum values change. In the Min and/or Max fields, type a value outside the range. To specify a negative value, precede the value with a negative sign (-). For example, a bar graph represents a fundraiser amount. The goal is $500,000. On the graph, the maximum axis value should be $500,000 or more to compare the current progress against the target. For another example, consider two completely different bar graph visualizations that are meant to be compared side-by-side. In Visualization 1, the maximum value is $500,000, while in Visualization 2 the maximum value is $600,000. Visualization 1 should have an axis range that is equal to the Visualization 2 axis range, making it easier to compare the two graphs.
Log Scale: Determine whether to display the graph using a logarithmic scale. This can improve the display of data that follows a logarithmic trend.
Axis Origin: Define a custom axis origin value for any metric. For example, you can use this option to display a scatter plot on an axis that divides the graph into four quadrants. By default, the value is determined automatically. To define a custom value, clear the check box and type the numeric value at which to begin displaying the axis values.
Max Size: Specify how the application determines the maximum size of graph items in the visualization. By default, it attempts to automatically size graph items in the visualization to optimize the graph display. For example, in a bubble graph, it attempts to display large bubbles for large metric values and small bubbles for small metric values, without hiding smaller bubbles under large ones if they overlap. From the drop-down list, select one of the following:
Automatic (default): Allow the application to automatically size graph items to optimize the graph display.
Manual: Manually select the size of graph items. In the field, type the maximum size of the graph items as a ratio between .01 and 1. For example, type 1 to display the largest bubble markers at the maximum size at which the visualization can display graph items. If all graph items in the visualization are the same size (there is no metric in the Size By area), this value determines the size of all items displayed in the visualization. If the graph items are automatically sized based on the value of a metric (there is a metric in the Size By area), this value is the size of the largest graph item displayed in the visualization.
Min Size: Specify how the application determines the minimum size of graph items in the visualization. From the drop-down list, select one of the following: (Available if there is a metric in the Size By area.)
Automatic (default): Allow the application to automatically size graph items to optimize the graph display.
Proportional: Automatically size graph items as proportional to the largest values displayed in the visualization.
Manual: Manually size graph items. In the field, type a percentage. The graph item for the smallest metric value in the visualization will be displayed as a percentage of the size of the largest item. For example, to display the smallest value using a graph item 20 percent of the size of the largest graph item in the visualization, type .2.
Fit To: Determine how to size the visualization. From the drop-down list, select one of the following:
Content: Size the visualization so that all graph items are displayed at once.
Panel (default): Size the visualization to take up all available space on the visualization's panel.
Banding on Rows: Apply color banding to alternating rows in the visualization. Banding rows can make reading multiple rows of data easier for the user.
All Graph Fonts: Use the options for standard font formatting to format all the text in the graph.
You can define additional formatting options, such as how to display the attribute form names and how null and zero metric values are hidden. To access these options, click More Options. For detailed descriptions of these options, see More Options dialog box.
Trend lines are not available for stacked or clustered graphs for which there is more than one metric series displayed in the graph, or for percent graphs. At least one axis must have numeric values displayed on it.
For the following types of graphs, use the drop-down list to select the metric to use to display the trend line:
Each metric is plotted on its own axis.
For graphs in which there is more than one metric series displayed in each graph (more than one metric on a single axis, or if there is an object in the Break By area), the graph must be in absolute mode.
Attributes on one axis and metrics on another, or metrics on both axes.
The following options are available to define the trend lines in a Graph visualization:
From the drop-down list, select the metric to use to display the trend line, then select one of the following: (Available for non scatter and bubble graphs.)
To display a trend line for the selected metric, click Enable Trend Line.
To display the metric without a trend line, click Disable Trend Line (default).
Line: Select the line style and color of the trend line.
Model: Select the type of trend line to display. The options are:
Best-fit: Display the trend line that best fits the data, defined as the trend line with the highest r-squared value.
Linear: Display a linear trend line, which is a best-fit straight line that is used with simple linear data sets. Your data is linear if the pattern in its data points resembles a line. A linear trend line represents data that is increasing or decreasing at a steady rate.
Logarithmic: Display a logarithmic trend line, which is a best-fit curved line that is most useful when the rate of change in the data increases or decreases quickly and then levels out. Available if the graph values are positive.
Exponential: Display an exponential trend line, which is a curved line that is most useful when data values rise or fall at increasingly higher rates.
Power: Display a power trend line, which is a curved line that is best used with data sets that compare measurements that increase at a specific rate.
Polynomial: Display a polynomial trend line, which is a curved line that is used when data fluctuates. For example, you can use a polynomial trend line to analyze gains and losses over a large data set. The order of the polynomial corresponds to the number of upward and downward fluctuations in the data. Your data fluctuates if the pattern in its data points resembles a line with hills and valleys. Generally speaking, an order 2 polynomial has up to one hill or valley, an order 3 polynomial has up to two hills or valleys, and so on. In the field, type the degree of the polynomial, from 2 to 6.
Level: Determine whether to display a single trend line across each graph in the visualization, or use the same trend line across each row, column, or individual graph.
Per cell: Display a separate trend line for each chart in the visualization.
Per row: Display a separate trend line for each row of charts in the visualization.
Per column: Display a separate trend line for each column of charts in the visualization.
Entire table: Each chart shares the same trend line.
Include break-by attributes: Displays a separate trend line for each attribute in the Break By area. This option is selected by default. Available for graphs other than Scatter or Bubble. (Available if the graph has metrics displayed on only one axis.)
Forecasting: Allows you to display the trend line past the available data. To allow forecasting:
If there are metrics on only one axis on the graph, select the Enable Forecasting check box. Define the following options:
Forward: To display additional periods to the right of the graph, type the number of periods in the field.
Backward: To display additional periods to the left of the graph, type the number of periods in the field.
If there are metrics on both axes on the graph, define the following options:
From the drop-down list, select the metric to display the trend line for.
Select the Enable Forecasting check box.
Min: Type the minimum value at which to display the trend line. This value must be less than the minimum value available in the data.
Max: Type the maximum value at which to display the trend line. This value must be greater than the maximum value available in the data.
Seasons: Select additional periods, based on seasons, to display in the graph. (Available for time-based attributes Quarter, Month, and Day.)
The following options are available to format the reference lines in a Graph visualization. The options below are available if there is a metric on the X or Y axis. Reference lines are not available for 100% stacked graphs.
Metric: Select the metric to display the reference line based on. If multiple metrics share the same axis and the metrics are displayed in a stacked graph, this option is not available and the reference line is calculated based on the sum of the metric values.
Reference Lines: Lists all reference lines that have already been added to the selected metric. To add a new reference line based on the selected metric, click Add, and select the height at which to display the reference line. The options are:
Maximum: Display a reference line at the highest point in the graph.
Minimum: Display a reference line at the lowest point in the graph.
Average: Use the average of all data points in the graph.
Median: Use the median value of all data points in the graph.
First: Use the height of the first data point plotted in the graph.
Last: Use the height of the last data point plotted in the graph.
Constant: Type the height at which to display the reference line as a number in the field and click OK. By default, the reference line is named Constant, but you can change the name. Select the reference line in the list and type the name.
Line: Select the line style and color.
Level: Determine the level at which to display each reference line. The options are: (Available for all reference line types except Constant.)
Per cell: Display a separate reference line for each chart in the visualization.
Per row: Display a separate reference line for each row of charts in the visualization.
Per column: Display a separate reference line for each column of charts in the visualization
Entire table: Each chart shares the same reference line.
Show label: Select this check box to show a label for the reference line. You can select and display more than one of the following:
Type: Display the type of reference line shown in the visualization, such as Maximum, Average, or Constant.
Metric: Display the name of the metric used to create the reference line.
Value: Display the value of the reference line.
Font: Use the options for standard font formatting for the label text.
The following options are available to format the title, background, and borders in a Graph visualization:
Title: Use the following options to display and format the title of the graph title:
Show Titlebar: Select to display the graph title.
Use the options for standard font formatting.
Container: Use the following options to format the visualization’s background (the container that holds the visualization):
Fill Color: From the color palette, select the background color of the visualization.
Outer Border: From the drop-down list, select the line style of the visualization’s borders. The default is Thin. From the color palette, select the color of the borders around the visualization.
The following options are available to format the legend in a Graph visualization. (Available if the visualization contains a legend.)
Show Legend: Determine whether to display or hide the graph legend.
Text: Use the options for standard font formatting for the text displayed in the graph legend.
Fill: Select the background color for the legend from the color palette. In the field, type the opacity of the background as a percentage, with higher values displayed as more opaque.
The following options are available to format the graph axes in a Graph visualization.
Axis Labels: Select options to format the axis labels in the visualization.
From the first drop-down list, select the axis to format:
X and Y Axes
X Axis
Y Axis
Show Labels: Determine whether or not to show axis labels.
Font: Use the options for standard font formatting for the axis label text.
Rotation: Determine whether to display the axis labels as Automatic (default), Vertical, or Horizontal. (Available if you are formatting the X-axis.)
Axis Lines: Select options to format the axis lines in the visualization.
From the first drop-down list, select the axis lines to format:
All Lines
X and Y Axes
X Axis
Y Axis
Axis Origin
Axis Titles: Select options to format the axis titles in the visualization.
From the first drop-down list, select the axis titles to format:
X and Y Axes
X Axis
Y Axis
Show Axis Titles: Determine whether or not to show the axis titles.
Font: Use the options for standard font formatting for the axis title text.
Grid Lines: Select options to format the grid lines shown on individual graphs in the visualization.
From the first drop-down list, select the grid lines to display:
Hide (default): No grid lines are displayed.
Show Major and Minor: Show all grid lines in the visualization.
Show Major Only: Show only major grid lines in the visualization, minimizing the display of grid lines overall.
Automatic: The application determines which grid lines to display.
Line: From the drop-down list, select the line style to use to display the grid lines. The default is Thin. From the color palette, select the color to use to display the grid lines.
The following options are available to format the rows and columns of graphs in a Graph visualization.
Text
From the drop-down list, determine the part of the visualization to format:
All rows and columns in the visualization
Row Text
Row Text
Column Headers
Row Values
Column Values
Show Text: Determine whether or not to show the selected row or column text.
Font: Use the options for standard font formatting for the selected rows or columns:
Align: Use the following options to format the text alignment for the selected rows or columns:
Determine whether to display column text using Left, Center, or Right horizontal alignment.
Determine whether to display row text using Top, Middle, or Bottom vertical alignment.
Background:
From the drop-down list, determine whether to format the background of Rows or Columns.
Fill: Select the background color from the color palette. In the field, type the opacity of the background as a percentage, with higher values displayed as more opaque.
Matrix Lines: Determine how the horizontal and vertical boundary lines between each graph in the visualization are displayed.
From the drop-down list, select one of the following:
All Matrix Lines: Display all boundary lines. (Default)
Horizontal Matrix Lines: Display only horizontal boundary lines.
Vertical Matrix Lines: Display only vertical boundary lines.
Line: From the color palette, select the color of the matrix lines. From the drop-down list, select the line style to use to display the grid lines. The default is Thin.
The following options are available to format the graph items, such as graph markers and data labels, in a Graph visualization.
Shape Type: Select the shape of graph markers, such as bar, area, or circle.
Shape Formatting: Determine how the shapes are displayed:
From the drop-down list, select the metric to format, or select All to format all metrics.
Fill: Select the shape’s color from the color palette. In the field, type the opacity of the background as a percentage, with higher values displayed as more opaque. (Not available for lines or ticks.)
Border: Determine the border style and color to use to display the shapes.
Show Marker: Select or clear this check box to show or hide markers (small circles displayed on the line). If markers are shown, select the Marker Color. (Available for area and lines.)
Data Labels: Show or hide data labels for graph items in the visualization. For example, if your visualization contains a vertical bar graph, with the number of delayed flights for several airlines each displayed as a separate bar, you can display text showing the number of delayed flights for each airline over the corresponding bar in the visualization. Data labels allow you to display pertinent values or text for each item in the visualization without having to hover the cursor over each item in the visualization to view a tooltip.
Select from the following. You can display both values and text simultaneously.
None (default): Do not display data labels.
Values: Show data labels using the metric values associated with each graph item. In the example above, the number of delayed flights would be displayed over each bar in the visualization. To display data labels for all metrics, select the All Metrics check box. To display data labels for specific metrics, select the check box next to the name of each metric to display data labels for.
Text: Show data labels using the attribute values associated with each graph item. In the example above, the name of the airline would be displayed over each bar in the visualization. This option is only available if you have added an attribute to the Break By area
Font: Use the options for standard font formatting for the data labels.
To select formatting options for a Graph visualization:
Click the name of a dashboard to run it. Click the visualization you want to format.
On the Properties panel, select
the appropriate options to format the visualization, as described
in the sections above. Note:
If the Properties panel is not displayed, from the View
menu, ensure that Properties Panel
is selected. If the Properties panel is hidden behind another panel,
click the Properties icon
to display the Properties panel.
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