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Version: 9.3

Line Chart

Line charts display changes to an aggregated value over a continuous dimension (Category), usually time. For example, a line chart can display the number of orders placed over several months.

line-chart

Create a Line Chart​

Use Line Charts to present a single value and a single category.

To create a Line Chart, drag and drop a data field from the Data Panel onto either the corresponding shelf or the canvas.

The following use case visualizes how the number of total orders changes quarterly.

  1. Drag and drop dateOrder as Category and total orders as Value.
  2. Set the Date Group as Quarter, Year in the Category column pill.
  3. Style the chart in the Configuration Panel.

line-chart

If you have more than one category to visualize, you can use a Multiseries Line Chart

Style the Line Chart​

In the Configuration Panel on the right of the Chart Builder, you can style different aspects of your chart.

General​

The General section is available for all chart types, and the options vary depending on the chart selected.

Styles​

The Styles section enables you to control various visual elements of the charts, such as colors, labels, and more. It is available for most chart types, and the options vary depending on the chart selected. Style options specific to this chart are listed below.

  • Color Type

    • Single - All lines are the same color.
      • Color - Change the color of the lines.
    • By category - Each line is colored based on its category.
      • Theme - Select a theme to present a more unified look for your charts.
      • Match colors across charts - Unify the colors of each categorical value throughout the page and application.

  • Axis Labels - Show or hide the labels of the axes.

  • Orientation - Choose between the vertical or horizontal orientation of the lines.

  • Values axis (typically y axis)

    • Label - Give the axis a custom label.
    • Values - Show or hide values on the axis.
    • Values Rotation - If value labels are enabled, decide how you want them to be displayed. You can use this option to avoid overlapping labels.
    • Format - Set the format of the values choosing between Default, Abbreviated, Decimal (set the number of decimal points), Currency (choose the currency from the drop-down menu and set the number of decimal points), Percentage (set the number of decimal points), Scientific. Values can also be formatted from the Values column pill.
    • Scale Type - Default scale type is Linear. However, a linear scale is not appropriate for data that is spread over a wide range. Use the Logarithmic scale to display numerical data over a wide range of values in a compact way.
    • Min Range - Set the minimum value for the axis.
    • Max Range - Set the maximum value for the axis.

  • Steps - Depending on the width of the axis range, the default configuration could display many tick marks, affecting readability. The chart calculates the appropriate intervals (auto by default) based on the axis scale range and the dataset values. In the following example, the range of data is from 0 to 8,000. When the step is set to 1000 units, the chart displays eight tick marks. When set to 10,000, the chart only displays 1 tick mark.

    line-chart

    When the axis range is wide (for example, 0-10,000,000), setting the “Steps” option to 1 creates 10 million tick marks, causing performance issues. To avoid this situation, the chart ignores the defined value and reverts to automatic mode.

  • Category axis (normally the X-axis)

    • Label - Give the axis a custom label.
    • Values - Show or hide values on the axis.
    • Values Rotation - If values are enabled, decide how to display them.

  • Line Thickness - Select a thin, normal, or bold line for your chart.

  • Line Style - Select solid, dashed, or dotted line styles.

  • Line Type - Select Straight, Monotone, Cardinal, Step Before, or Step After line types.

    line-chart

  • Data Labels - Show or hide the Value labels of your data points.

    • Borders - Display your values within a frame.

  • Offset - Determines the offset of the chart. Configure a manual offset as a Percentage or in Pixels, and enter the values in the Left and Top/Bottom fields. To enable the platform to automatically manage the offsets, select Reset to Default to set the values under Left and Top/Bottom to Auto.

Sorting​

Like all XY Charts, you can sort by either the category or aggregated values from the column pills. If the column is not included in the chart, go to the Sorting section of the Configuration Panel and select a column from the dropdown, then select the sorting direction.

For more information, see Sorting.

Layers​

Add a Trend Line or a Reference Line to your chart to allow users to visually compare the data against some set trend or reference value.

Format​

The Small Multiples feature is available in all XY Charts. You can apply Conditional Formatting to your Line Chart.

Filters​

You can also add Filters to your data by expanding the Filters section in the configuration panel or by selecting the Filters button in the toolbar above the canvas. Filters that are created in the Chart Builder are hidden from end users. You cannot edit or interact with these filters in view mode.