2.6 Working with Charts

Ad Hoc charts are a flexible and interactive way to explore your data graphically. You can choose different levels of aggregation for rows and columns, change a field from a column to a row, pivot the entire chart, hide chart values, and zoom to see chart details.

The following sections explain how to view, edit, and format an Ad Hoc chart. Many tasks related to working with charts are identical to those for tables and crosstabs.

2.6.1 Using Fields and Measures in Charts

You must add at least one measure to view a chart. Before any measures are added to the chart, the Ad Hoc Editor displays a placeholder with a single entry. As you add measures, the editor displays the grand total of each measure in the chart.

The initial display only reflects the measures you add; it does not change when you add items or dimensions. For example, for each measure that you add to a bar chart, you can see a bar with the total value of the measure, regardless of how many items you add. You can add, remove, and arrange measures and fields without waiting for the display to update. After you have the fields and measures that you want, you can use the sliders on the right to select the level of detail.

All available fields are listed in the Data Selection panel, as either standard Fields or Measures.

  • Standard fields can be added to a column or a row.

  • Measures contain summarized values. They are typically numeric fields that determine the length of bars, size of pie slices, location of points (in-line charts), and height of areas. They can be added to rows or columns. However, they must be in the same target. You can add one or more measures to the chart as columns or rows. However, you cannot have one measure as a column and another as a row in the same chart.

While creating a chart, ensure that row and column groups are arranged in hierarchies, with the highest member of the hierarchy on the left.

To add a field or measure to a row or column:

  1. In the Data Selection panel, select the item that you want to add to the chart as a group.

  2. Drag the selected item into the Columns or Rows box in the Layout Band.

Changing the Summary Function of a Measure

You can get a new view of your data by changing the summary function of a measure. For example, from sum to average.

To select a new summary function for a measure:

  1. Right-click on the measure in the Layout Band, then click Change Summary Function.

  2. Select the function from the Cascading submenu.

    Then view updates with the new summary function.

2.6.2 Selecting a Chart Type

The following are the chart types that represent your information:

  • Column

  • Bar

  • Line

  • Area

  • Pie

By default, the Ad Hoc Editor creates a column chart. You can select a different type of chart at any time.

To select a new chart type:

  1. In the Ad Hoc View panel, click the icon.

  2. Select the type of chart that you want to use.

    The selected chart type is outlined in blue.

The following table describes the available chart types:

Icon

Description

Column charts

Column: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as individual columns.

Stacked Column: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as portions of a single column whose size reflects the aggregate value of the group.

Percent Column: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as portions of a single column of fixed size.

Bar charts

Bar: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as individual bars.

Stacked Bar: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as portions of a single bar whose size reflects the aggregate value of the group.

Percent Bar: Multiple measures of a group are depicted as portions of a single bar of fixed size.

Line charts

Line: Displays data points connected with straight lines.

Spline: Displays data points connected with a fitted curve.

Area charts

As compared to line charts, area charts emphasize quantities rather than trends.

Area: Displays data points connected with a straight line and a color below the line; groups are displayed as transparent overlays.

Stacked Area: Displays data points connected with a straight line and a solid color below the line; groups are displayed as solid areas arranged vertically, one on top of another.

Percent Area: Displays data points connected with a straight line and a solid color below the line; groups are displayed as portions of an area of fixed sized, and arranged vertically one on top of the another.

Area Spline: Displays data points connected with a fitted curve and a color below the line; groups are displayed as transparent overlays.

Pie charts

Pie: Multiple measures of a group are displayed as sectors of a circle.

2.6.3 Interacting with Charts

After creating a view in the chart type, you can further explore your data by using interactive features such as brushing an area of the chart to zoom in, or clicking on a legend to hide the members of a group.

Zooming

Zooming lets you view a smaller area of a chart more closely. Zooming can also be helpful when the labels at the bottom of a chart are difficult to read, because only the labels corresponding to the selected area are displayed.

NOTE:Zoom cannot be saved as part of an Ad Hoc View or a report. When you save an Ad Hoc View or create a report from an Ad Hoc View, the zoom is automatically reset to display the whole chart.

To zoom in on an area of a chart:

  • Click and drag or brush the area that you want to zoom in. As you are dragging or brushing, a pale blue area indicates the selected area. The view zooms to the area you selected.

To view the complete chart after zoom:

  • Click Reset zoom at the upper right of the canvas.

Hiding Group Members

Use the legends below the chart to hide or view group members.

  1. To hide a group member, click on the member name in the chart. The member is removed from the chart and the legend is grayed out.

  2. To view a group member that has been hidden, click on the grayed-out legend for the member.

    NOTE:Hidden members cannot be saved as part of an Ad Hoc View. When you save an Ad Hoc View or create a report from an Ad Hoc View, the chart is automatically reset to display all members.