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Version: 9.3

Symbol Chart

Symbol Charts display aggregated values (unlike scatter plots, which are based on non-aggregated data) to highlight the data points as the highest and lowest of the set. This approach is useful when working with many data points.

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Create a Symbol Chart​

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

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

Symbol Chart are similiar to Bar Charts in their use case and analytical approach. The following use case visualizes which months experienced the highest quantity of shipped items and which months experienced the lowest.

  1. Drag and drop shippedDate as Category and Quantity as Value.
  2. Continued styling the chart in the Configuration Panel.

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

Style the Symbol 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 - Select one of the following color types:

    • Single color - Sets all bars to the same color. Select the color in the Color field.
      • Color - Change the color of the bars.
    • By category - Sets the color of each bar based on its category. Select the following color options:
      • Theme - Select a theme to provide a more unified look for your charts.
      • Match colors across charts - Select to unify the colors of each categorical value throughout the page and application.

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

  • 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 - The 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 how wide the axis range is, the default configuration could display a lot of tick marks, making it hard to read or analyze the chart. Intervals are set to Auto by default, meaning the chart will calculate the appropriate intervals based on the axis scale range and the dataset values. The following example sets the step to 100 units, so the chart will display a tick mark every 100 units starting from 0, resulting in only 3 tick marks.

      symbol-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 reverets 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 you want them to be displayed.

  • Symbol - Choose between 7 different types of symbol styles (Circle, Square, Diamond, Triangle Down, Triangle Up, X, Cross) depending on the visualization they need.

  • Fill - Decide if you want the symbols on the chart to be filled or outlined.

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

    • Borders - Display your values within a frame.

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 pick your desired column from the dropdown, and 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 Symbol 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.