Managing charts
In This Article
- Adding a chart
- Adding a chart to a measure
- Displaying a chart on a detail page
- Editing a chart
- Editing a chart from the measure detail page
- Editing a chart from the Edit Measure window
- Changing chart type
- Chart Library
- Column Chart
- Bar Chart
- Area Chart
- Line Chart
- Combination Chart
- Pie Chart
- Gauge Chart
- Radar Chart
- Waterfall Chart
- Adding and ordering chart series
- Selecting chart periods
- Chart series settings
- General Options
- Options for ‘Line’ series only
- Managing chart legends
- Adding or Removing the Legend
- Using the Legend to Dynamically Hide Series
- Formatting y-axis
- Charting on a second y-axis
Adding a chart
Adding a chart to a measure
Adding a chart to a measure can be useful to easily understand your data.
Click on the Edit button on a measure detail page. In the new window that appears, select the Charts tab.
To add a new chart, click the plus icon. Give the chart a name and select the chart type from the dropdown menu.
Navigate to the Chart Periods tab and use the dropdown menus to select the Reporting Frequency and Periods to Display on the chart. Click Save when changes are made. The new chart will now appear in the list of charts for that measure. Finally, click Save.
Displaying a chart on a detail page
From the Edit Menu, select Edit Layout. A new window will appear.
Begin typing the name of the chart in the Filter. When it appears, click on the plus icon or drag and drop it where you would like it to be displayed on the layout. Click Save, and the chart will appear on the detail page.
Editing a chart
This section walks you through multiple ways to edit a chart or graph. You can edit a chart from the measure detail page or from the Charts tab of the Edit Measure window.
Editing a chart from the measure detail page
From the measure detail page, double click on the chart you want to edit. A new window will appear. When you are finished editing the chart, click Save.
Editing a chart from the Edit Measure window
Click on the pencil icon. A new window will appear. Select the Charts tab. Click on the pencil icon next to the chart you want to edit. When you are finished editing the chart, click Save.
Changing chart type
Open the chart Edit window by double clicking on the chart on the measure detail page or from the Edit Measure window. From the Chart Type dropdown menu, select your desired chart type (see below for image of each default chart type). Click Refresh Preview to see what the chart will look like. Finally, click Save.
Chart Library
Column Chart
Column charts use vertical bars to show comparison between values. A column chart typically displays time along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis.
- Stacked Column, Split Stacked Column, Padded Column – Use these chart when you have multiple data series and you want to emphasize the total.
- 100% Stacked Column – Use this chart when you have two or more data series and you want to emphasize the contributions to the whole.
Bar Chart
Bar charts use horizontal bars to show comparison between values. A bar chart typically displays values along the horizontal axis and time along the vertical axis.
- Stacked Bar – Use these chart when you have multiple data series and you want to emphasize the total.
- 100% Stacked Bar – Use this chart when you have two or more data series and you want to emphasize the contributions to the whole.
Area Chart
Area and Area Spline charts can be used to show how values develop over time. An area chart typically displays time along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis.
- Stacked Area, Stacked Area Spline – Use these chart to show the trend of the contribution of each value over time.
- 100% Stacked Area, 100% Stacked Area Spline – Use this chart to show the trend of the percentage that each value contributes over time.
Line Chart
Line and Spline charts can show continuous data over time and is effective when trying to identify a trend or pattern in your data. A line chart typically displays time along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis.
- Line with Markers, Spline with Markers – Use this chart when tracking over shorter periods of time to draw more attention to specific values.
Combination Chart
Combination charts combine the column and line chart to show actual value with a line that shows a target value. A combination chart typically displays time along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis.
- Stacked Column with Target Line – Use these chart when you have multiple data series and you want to emphasize the total compared to the Target value.
Pie Chart
Pie and Donut charts show the contribution of each value to a total for a period. The data points in a pie chart are shown as a percentage of the whole circle.
Gauge Chart
Gauge and Half Circle Gauge charts, also known as dial charts or speedometer charts, use needles to show information as a reading on a dial. The value for the needle is read against the colored status range based on the automatic series evaluation.
- Solid Gauge – Use this chart when you have a single data series and you want to emphasize the value.
Radar Chart
Radar and Radar with Markers charts are used to compare three or more variables across different periods. Each variable in the chart has its own axis, that starts at the center.
- Filled Radar, Filled Radar with Markers – Use these charts to add color to the empty space between the lines and the center of the web.
Waterfall Chart
Waterfall charts are used to visually illustrate how a starting value of something becomes a final value through a series of intermediate additions and subtractions, often used in financials. A waterfall chart typically displays time along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis.
Adding and ordering chart series
Many chart series can be displayed on the same chart. All you need to do is enable them and pick the order in which you would like them to display.
On the measure detail page, double click on the chart field to edit. A new window will appear. Go to the Chart Series tab. Series currently included will be highlighted in blue. To add another series, just click the corresponding plus icon. To remove a series, simply click the red ‘x’ icon.
If you want to change the order of how the series are displayed, just drag and drop each series to where it should belong. The first series will be listed in the front, followed by the second series, and so on. To see how it will look, click the Refresh Preview button. When finished, click Save
Selecting chart periods
Chart periods can be customized to build that perfect chart. It is possible to have a chart display a set of periods different from the reporting frequency used in the measure itself. For example, you might have a quarter-to-date sum value charted in a monthly reported measure.
Displaying the right periods of data can be key to creating a meaningful chart. ClearPoint allows users to customize the specific periods and reporting frequency displayed on charts.
On the measure detail page, double click the chart field to edit. Click on the Chart Periods tab. From the Chart Date Range dropdown menu, select the desired periods to be displayed on the chart. There are set options of time periods you can select to keep your chart dynamically updating over time. This example uses Last N Periods to display the last four periods of data.
Use the Reporting Frequency dropdown to select the desired reporting frequency. Any reporting frequency that exists in the account can be utilized. Selecting Default uses the periodicity assigned to the measure. If you have periods of data that are hidden in the measure data table, that you want to display on the chart, check the box next to Include Periods Hidden in Measure Data Grid.
Finally, you can click Refresh Preview to preview the chart. When finished, click Save.
Chart series settings
ClearPoint gives you a high level of control over the appearance of chart series. Learn how to customize chart series settings below.
General Options
On the measure detail page, double click the chart field to edit the chart. In the new window that opens, go to the Chart Series tab. Click the edit pencil icon next to the series. A new window will open.
In this window, you can change the shape (e.g., line, bar, or area) using the Shape dropdown menu. Select a data label style (e.g., value, row label, or column label using the Data Label Style dropdown menu. Pick a new color using the Color dropdown menu.
For more information on the Second Y-Axis option, please see this article: Charting on a second y-axis
Options for ‘Line’ series only
Line series have some additional customization options that you can leverage when building that perfect chart. You can pick a new marker (e.g. , diamond, circle, or none) using the Marker dropdown menu, change the line width using the Line Width dropdown menu, or change the stroke pattern using the Stroke dropdown menu.
Click Save when you are finished editing the series. To see how it will look, click the Refresh Preview button. Finally, when finished, click Save.
Managing chart legends
Adding or Removing the Legend
Open the chart Edit window by double clicking on the chart on the measure detail page or from the Edit Measure Window. You can set the chart legend to display by selecting Enabled under Show Legend. You can set the position of the legend under Select Legend Position. Click Refresh Preview to see your legend added to the chart. Click Save.
Using the Legend to Dynamically Hide Series
It is possible to temporarily hide and show series in your charts. Just click on the series title in the legend to toggle it on and off. You will see the chart dynamically adjust based on the current series’ values. This can be tremendously helpful when trying to analyze a specific part of your measure on the fly.
Formatting y-axis
ClearPoint charts have default y-axis settings based on the series that are plotted on that chart. If this doesn’t look exactly how you want it, no problem. You have the option to format it until it looks just right.
On the measure detail page, double click on the chart field to edit. A new window will appear. Go to the Y-Axis Format tab. If you would like to add an axis label, enter it in the Y-Axis Title field. Enter a Y-Axis Min Value or Max Value. If left blank, ClearPoint will calculate this for you. By default, the Y-Axis Format will use whatever number format your series are using. Alternatively, you can select a different number format to apply, ignoring the number format(s) of your series.. If plotting on the second y-axis, you have the same options available. If at any point you want to see how these settings will look in the chart, just click the Refresh Preview button. Click Save to finish.
Charting on a second y-axis
ClearPoint charts have the ability to map series on a second y-axis, which provides a manageable way to track series with different units of measurement on the same chart. Learn how to chart on two y-axes here.
Open the chart Edit window by double clicking on the chart on the measure detail page or from the Edit Measure Window. Go to the Chart Series tab. Open the series you would like to chart on the second y-axis by clicking the pencil icon.
At the bottom you will see a check-box titled Second Axis. Check the box to move the series to the second y-axis. Click Save to save these changes and exit this window. In the chart window, click Refresh Preview if you would like to preview the changes, and then click Save.