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Analytics > Designing an Analysis > Step 2: Reviewing Results and Creating Layouts > Showing Results in Graphs

Showing Results in Graphs

Use the Graph view to position columns on a graph and to customize the title, legend location, axis titles, data labels, size, and scale. You can select the graph, such as a line graph or a bar graph; the graph subtype, such as two-dimensional; and the style for columns, such as the shape and fill pattern. You can also set borders and colors and control other graph characteristics. Users can drill down on the results in the Graph view.

Graph choices include area graphs, bar graphs, bubble graphs, line graphs, and other types. Graph subtypes include 2D, 3D, absolute, clustered, stacked, combination, and custom.

This topic explains how to work with graphs. It contains the following information:

• Graphs
• Graph View Buttons
• Basic Graph Components

This topic also provides instructions for performing the following tasks:

• Adding or modifying graph views
• Specifying general properties for a graph view
• Controlling the display of grid lines in graph views
• Specifying the location of the legend on a graph view
• Setting colors for background, text, and borders in graph views
• Selecting the columns to display as axes in graph views
• Setting axis scaling options in graph views
• Editing scale markers in graph views
• Creating line scale markers
• Creating range scale markers
• Specifying advanced settings for range and line values
• Specifying axis titles and labels in graph views
• Specifying axis titles in graph views
• Specifying what happens when a user clicks a graph
• Formatting the appearance of a graph series
• Making selections for data labels in pie graphs

NOTE: Oracle CRM On Demand uses a third-party graphing engine. The type of the graph, its size, and the number of elements graphed can affect whether axes or legends are displayed. Whether axes or legends are displayed is constrained by the amount of available space on the Web browser page. Sometimes, by adjusting the width and height controls, you can make axes and legends appear in the graph.

Graphs

The following table shows the graphs available from the Graph drop-down list and describes their uses. Not all graph graphs are appropriate for all types of data. The default graph is a vertical bar graph.

Your selection for the graph determines the graph subtypes that are available from the Type drop-down list. Not all graph types have subtypes; for example, bubble and radar graphs have no subtypes. Graph subtypes default to the 3D option, if available. Depending on the graph type selection, subtype options might include the following:

• Area graphs: 3D and 2D
• Bar graphs: 3D, 2D, 3D Stacked, and 2D Stacked
• Line graphs: 3D and 2D
• Pareto graphs: 3D and 2D
• Pie graphs: 3D and 2D
• Scatter graphs: Scatter, and Scatter with Lines
• Step graphs: 3D and 2D

Your selection for the graph type also determines the styles that are available from the Style drop-down list. Not all graph types have styles. The style defaults to solid fill, if available. Depending on the graph type selection, styles for graphs might include the following:

• Area graphs: Solid Fill and Pattern Fill
• Bar graphs: Rectangle, Cylinder, Gradient, Triangle, Diamond, Pattern Fill
• Line graphs: Rectangle, Cylinder, Gradient, Triangle, Diamond, Pattern Fill
• Pareto graphs: Rectangle, Cylinder, Gradient, Triangle, Diamond, Pattern Fill
• Pie graphs: Solid Fill and Pattern Fill

Graph View Buttons

The buttons at the top of the Graph View page provide access to various graph settings. The following table describes the Graph view buttons and settings.

Basic Graph Components

You can define the basic components for a graph. The following table describes the components you can customize.

NOTE: Some components are available only for specific graph types. For example, a pie graph does not have axes. The type of graph you select determines which components are available.

Adding or Modifying Graph Views

NOTE: If you select a graph that is incompatible with the results, no results are shown.

To add or modify a graph view

1. In the Results tab, perform one of the following actions:
   • To add a new graph view, click New View, and then select Graph.
   • To edit an existing graph view, click the Edit View button for the graph view.

     The workspace shows the options and settings for the view.

2. Make your selections in the graph, Type, and Style fields.

   Your selection in the Graph field, such as Pie or Line, determines the available choices for the Type and Style. For some graphs, only a default subtype or style is available.

   As you make selections from the drop-down lists, the Graph view changes to reflect your selections.

   TIP: You can add columns to the graph while you are in the Graph View page, by clicking the name of the field for each column in the Active Subject Area. Alternatively, you can navigate to the Criteria tab to add additional columns. Any columns that you add in the Graph View page are added to the report overall; you can see columns in the Criteria tab and also in other views, as well as in the Graph View page. To delete a column from the graph, you must navigate to the Criteria tab, and click the Remove Column button for the column.

3. Use the buttons at the top of the Graph View page to specify additional graph settings.
4. To see the effects of your changes, click Redraw.

   You can click Redraw at any time to refresh the Graph view.

5. To remove changes and start from the original graph, click Restore Default.
6. To resize the graph, use the vertical and horizontal slide bars.
7. Save the report.

Specifying General Graph Properties in Graph Views

You can set general properties for the graph, such as a title and the appearance of data labels.

Data labels are enabled by default for selected 2D graph types.

The default setting for the graph size is to scale all elements of the existing graph, including height and width, to fit the available space. The height and width of the graph remain proportional to each other when the size of the graph changes. The graph automatically resizes the graph elements. The revised size is based on the space available within the graph. You can specify a fixed size for the graph in the General Graph Properties dialog box. The fixed size overrides the default size.

NOTE: The graph can expand significantly if the number of items being graphed grows substantially.

For example, suppose you create a report to display the sales of three products, create a graph of the results with the product sales shown as three columns, and size the graph to occupy about 25 percent of the page. If the report is run later and six products are returned, the graph is expanded to twice its original width, or about 50 percent of the page, so that the widths of the individual columns in the graph remain constant.

The graph elements are resized as needed to fit into the graph. Using the preceding example, the graph continues to occupy about 25 percent of the page, and the columns are resized to fit in the available space.

To specify general properties for a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the General Graph Properties dialog box:

   

2. In the General Graph Properties dialog box, make your selections, and click OK.

   The graph view refreshes. The graph might resize to accommodate your selections.

Controlling the Display of Grid Lines in Graph Views

You can control whether grid lines display on the graph, and specify grid line colors.

To control the display of grid lines on a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Additional Graphing Options dialog box:

   

2. In the Additional Graphing Options dialog box, click the Grid Lines tab, make your selections, and click OK.

   The graph view refreshes.

Specifying the Location of the Legend in Graph View

You can specify the location of the legend, and set the options for resizing the legend.

To specify the location of the legend on a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Additional Graphing Options dialog box:

   

2. In the Additional Graphing Options dialog box, click the Legends tab, make your selections, and click OK.

   The graph view refreshes. The graph might resize to accommodate your selections.

Setting Colors for the Background, Text, and Borders in Graph View

You can specify the color for the graph background, text, and borders.

To specify the background, text, and border colors in a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Additional Graphing Options dialog box:

   

2. In the Additional Graphing Options dialog box, click the Borders & Colors tab, make your selections, and click OK.

   The graph view refreshes.

Selecting the Columns to Display as Axes in Graph View

You can select which columns appear in the graph and which axes represent those columns. Oracle CRM On Demand displays a matrix of the appropriate options. The left edge of the matrix lists the columns, and the top edge lists the axes types available for the graph type you are using. You can also indicate whether measure labels appear for factual data plotted on an axis.

The available axes change depending on the type of graph selected from the Graph drop-down list. The graph axis buttons used in graph view are described in the following table.

To select the columns to display as the axes on a graph view

1. In the columns area to the left of the graph, click the appropriate check box for one of the axis buttons to display that column as the corresponding axis in the graph.

   The axis buttons change depending on the type of graph selected from the Graph drop-down list.

2. To add a column to the graph, click the column in the selection area, and then set it as an axis.

   This is equivalent to adding the column to the report at the Criteria tab.

3. Click Redraw to refresh the graph view.

Specifying Axis Scaling Options in Graph View

You can control the axis limits, tick marks, and scale type, and the properties of scale markers.

To specify axis scaling options for a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Axis Scaling dialog box:

   

2. In the Axis Scaling dialog box, make your selections, and click OK.

   For graphs with numeric axes, the settings of the axis scaling options determine how the scale is selected:

   • When you select Default, Oracle CRM On Demand selects the scale and sets the axis to zero (0) for positive numbers.
   • When you select Zoom to Data Range, Oracle CRM On Demand selects the scale. It evaluates the range of values on the axis and selects the appropriate minimum and maximum values for the scale. This feature is useful when graphing a set of large values that are all within a small percentage of each other. The graph zooms in on the values so differences are more easily distinguished.
   • You can also manually set the axis scaling values to specific numbers.

     The graph view refreshes. The graph might resize to accommodate your selections.

Editing Scale Markers in Graph View

Scale markers are accenting lines or shaded background ranges that mark key points, thresholds, ranges, and so on. The lines or ranges can be applied to one or more axes, depending upon the type of graph. Lines appear in front of the graph information, whereas ranges appear in the background.

NOTE: Some graph types, such as pie graphs, do not use scale markers.

The following procedure provides the general steps to edit a scale marker.

To edit scale markers for a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Axis Scaling dialog box:

   

2. In the Axis Scaling dialog box, click Edit Scale Markers.
3. In the Scale Markers dialog box, click Add to add the first scale marker, and make your selections for the marker.

   Advanced options include setting the scale to a static value, a particular column name, or as the result of an SQL query. For more information about the types of scale markers and using the advanced options, see the procedures that follow this one.

4. Click OK successively to close the dialog boxes.

   The graph view refreshes. The graph might resize to accommodate your selections.

To create a line scale marker

1. In the Scale Markers dialog box, in the Type field, select Line.
2. Enter a line width in the third column.

   This value is the thickness of the line, in pixels.

3. Enter the position for the line in the fourth column.

   The position indicates where the line will be located on the axis. For example, if your left axis has values from 0 to 100, and you specify a position of 40, you see a horizontal line intersecting the 40 position on the vertical axis.

4. Enter the color for the line.
5. Enter a caption for the line.

   The caption appears when a user pauses the mouse over the line in the graph and in the legend.

6. Click OK.

To create a range scale marker

1. In the Scale Markers dialog box, in the Type field, select Range.
2. Enter the low end of the range in the third column.
3. Enter the high value of the range in the fourth column.

   NOTE: You must specify values that appear on the same axis as the range. For example, if your left axis has values from 0 to 100, and you specify 20 for low and 40 for high, the graph background appears in the color that you specify for the range between those values.

4. Enter the color for the range.
5. Enter a caption for the range.

   The caption appears in the legend.

6. Click OK.

Specifying Advanced Settings for Range and Line Values

The options for these values include: a static value, a value sourced from a column included in the report, or one derived from an SQL query.

To specify an advanced setting

1. Click the Properties button beside the field where you want to specify the advanced option.
2. Select one of the following options.
   • Static Value. Enter a numeric increment.
   • Variable Expression. This option is based on the results of a session and its presentation variables. This option is limited because most session or presentation variables might not be related to values on the graph.
   • Column Name. Choose a column on which to base the increment.
   • SQL Query. This option is based on the results of an SQL query. The results might be a table, but only the first row and first column cell value is applied.
3. Click OK.

Specifying Axis Titles and Labels in Graph View

You can specify the following for a graph view:

• Whether the axis titles and data labels display at the bottom and to the left of the graph
• Whether the labels are rotated to fit better in the graph
• The maximum label length
• The text for the label if it is different from the default text

NOTE: Adjusting the size of a graph can affect how the axis labels appear.

To specify an axis title on a graph view

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Axis Titles and Labels dialog box:

   

2. In the Axis Titles and Labels dialog box, make your selections, and click OK.

   The graph view refreshes.

   NOTE: When you set the Limit label length, specify the total number of characters that a label can contain. Ellipsis points (…) appear where any additional characters have been removed.

Specifying What Happens When a User Clicks a Graph

When a user views the graph, you can specify the type of interaction to occur if the user clicks the graph. The following are the types of interactions for a graph:

• Drill. Allows the user to drill down to more detailed information. This is the default interaction if a path for the drilldown is automatically configured. If no path for the drilldown is initially available, use Navigate to configure a customized path.
• Navigate. Allows the user to navigate to another saved report or dashboard.
• None. Disables drilling down or navigation from the graph.

To specify what happens when a user clicks a graph

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Additional Graphing Options dialog box:

   

2. In the Additional Graphing Options dialog box, click the Interaction tab, and make your selection for the interaction.
3. Click OK.

Formatting the Appearance of a Graph Series

Formatting a graph series allows users to customize individual series components. The formatting is based on their position. Users can format the appearance of a graph series, such as the color, line width, and line symbols.

For example, on a line bar combination graph with two data series, assume that the bar is position 1 and the line is position 2. Users can change the color of the bar, the width of the line, and the symbol representing the data points. Users can also apply rule-based formatting, such as applying a certain color when a position of the series is equal to a specified value.

To format the appearance of a graph series

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Series Format Control dialog box:

   

2. In the Series Format Control dialog box, make your selections.

   The choices available in the Series Format Control dialog box depend upon the graph type. For example, to do the following:

   • To customize a series, deselect the Use Default check box.
   • To restore a series to its default settings, select the Use Default check box again.
   • To add a new format series control, click the Add button. Even if the current graph does not use this series, it will be used if it is needed (such as for drilling).
   • To return all series to their default values, click the Clear All button.
   • To change colors, click the color box to access the Color Selector dialog box.
   • To change other series attributes, click the appropriate tab, and select the bar or line attributes.
3. Click OK.

Making Selections for Data Labels in Pie Graphs

Data labels appear when a user pauses the mouse over elements in the pie graph. You can specify how values appear and what the data labels display. You can show values as percentages of the total or as actual values. Data labels can display the value or name only, or both the value and name.

Depending on your selection, the graph might resize to allow the data labels to appear.

To make selections for data labels in pie graphs

1. Click the following button at the top of the Graph View page to open the Graph Type Special dialog box:

   

2. In the Graph Type Special dialog box, make your selections for the value and the data label. Then click OK.