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8.3 Charts

Charts show patterns at a glance: trends over time, rankings, shares. Datashop has six chart types: Bar, Line, Horizontal bar graph, Pie chart, Area graph and Combo chart (bars behind a line). Switch between them in the Visuals palette or with GRAPH → Graph type.

Data in a Chart

Chart Element Structure parts
Bar, Line, Horizontal bar, Area, Combo Value axis = the metrics, Category axis = the dimension along the axis (e.g. month), Series = an optional dimension that splits each metric into several bars or lines (e.g. one line per region)
Pie Slice size = one metric, Slices = one dimension. Without a dimension, each metric becomes a slice.

Charts also have a Title, Left title, Right title and Legend, which you can show or hide with the eye icon.

The GRAPH Tab

Select a chart in design mode and open the GRAPH tab:

The GRAPH tab

Group Commands
Type Graph type: Bar, Line, Pie, Horizontal bar. The small button in the group's corner opens Graph settings.
Legend Visible, position Left/Top/Right/Bottom, Type (Normal or Data grid), and for pies Data (Value or %)
Bar Bar position: Behind, Side to Side, Stacked or Stacked 100% (vertical bar charts)
Line Color, Width, Style, Marker and Empty values for lines
Axis Min and Max for the value axis and the secondary axis; Show labels on the value and category axis
Metric Appears when a metric is selected in the Element Structure panel: Type (Bar, Line or Area – to mix types in one chart), transparency for areas, Y2-axis, Interpolate
Other group For pies: collect small slices into one "Other" slice – see below

Show Missing Values as Gaps in a Line Chart

By default, a line drops to zero where a value is missing. To leave a gap or connect the neighbouring points instead:

  1. Select the chart in design mode – or select one metric in the Element Structure panel to change only that line.
  2. GRAPH → Line → Empty values: choose Gap (no line where data is missing), Connect (draw straight past the missing point) or Zero (the default).

Stack Bars

GRAPH → Bar → Bar position → Stacked (values on top of each other) or Stacked 100% (shares of each bar). For horizontal bars, use Graph settings → General → Bar position.

Use a Secondary Axis

When two metrics have very different scales – e.g. revenue and margin % – put one on the right-hand axis: select the metric in the Element Structure panel, then GRAPH → Metric → Y2-axis. Set its range under Axis → - secondary. Combine with Metric → Type → Line for a classic bar-and-line chart.

Group Small Pie Slices

GRAPH → Other group → Style: Below % or Below value, then the threshold in Value. Slices below it are combined into one slice, named in the text box (default Other). Tick Exploded to pull it out of the pie, and choose its Color.

Show Values on the Chart (Data Labels)

Double-click the metric in the Element Structure panel and open the Data labels tab: tick Visible and choose the Content (value, name or both), Distance and Format. Each metric has its own data labels.

Fix the Axis Range

GRAPH → Axis → Min and Max, e.g. start the value axis at 0 or at 80 to show small differences.

Graph Settings

The Graph settings dialog (corner button of the Type group) holds the remaining options: bar style and position, pie options, axis titles, ranges and number formats, grid lines, legend, print and display settings – e.g. what to show when the chart has no data.

Double-click a metric in the Element Structure panel for its own settings: title, transformation, filter, chart type, trend line, accumulated values, axis, data labels and line style.