Creating a Chart
- 26 Jul 2022
- 4 Minutes to read
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Creating a Chart
- Updated on 26 Jul 2022
- 4 Minutes to read
-
Contributors
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Print
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DarkLight
Overview
In this article we will learn how to use the Chart Gallery screen to create a new chart, and then use the Explore Page to configure a chart.
The gallery is a multi-functional interface that enables you to select a dataset, filter by recommended tags and D3.js chart type categories, view all charts, and perform real-time keyword searches. The Explore page is a drag & drop environment used to build charts based on metrics and dimensions.
Quick How-to
- Choose a dataset.
- Use the gallery to find a chart.
- Configure the chart by adding metrics and columns.
- Select Create Chart.
Want to learn more about Preset chart types? Have a look through our chart examples and walkthroughs.
Pie Chart Walkthrough
Throughout this article, we will use this blue box to demonstrate how to create a new pie chart from beginning to end.
1. Choose a Dataset
To learn about the purpose of datasets and the different types available (Physical and Virtual), please see Creating Datasets.
In this walkthrough we will create a new pie chart that shows a breakdown of sales based on vehicle type.
In the top Toolbar, select the plus icon + and then, in the drop-down menu, select Chart.
The Create a new chart screen appears. In the Choose a Dataset field, select the drop-down arrow and then choose a dataset.
How to Create a Pie Chart
Select a Dataset
In this walkthrough we will create a new pie chart that shows a breakdown of vehicle type sales based on product line.
Let's start by selecting the Vehicle Sales dataset.
2. Use the Gallery to Find a Chart
This interface is called the Chart Gallery and provides an intuitive way to browse through Preset chart types and find the one that works best for you.
Let's talk about how to filter and search for charts.
Finding a Chart Type
The easiest way to browse through charts is to use a chart filter to narrow down your available choices. The Chart Filter panel, on the left, organizes charts based on recommended tags, all charts, or categories.
By default, charts are filtered based on the #Popular tag which, as the name implies, displays the most popular charts in Preset.
Other recommended tags include #ECharts, which displays visualizations from the EChart series, and #Advanced-Analytics, which are charts that include more detailed analytics features.
The Chart Gallery's Search feature is used to search for charts based on the specified keyword criteria. The pool of searchable text is comprised of a chart's name, category, keywords, description, and recommended tag.
A Verified label for a charts means that the chart is highly used and uses the latest visualization library. Verified charts are also prioritized when searching, ensuring that search results feature verified charts at the top of the list.
Once you've selected chart from the gallery, select Create New Chart.
3. Configure the Chart
The next screen is called the Explore Page and is used to configure a chart.
It works by dragging entries from the Metrics and Columns panel on the left, and dropping them into the adjacent Configuration panel, This creates a query on the selected dataset. At any time you can view the progress of your chart by selecting Create New Chart (or Update Chart).
Select the headers below for more detailed instructions.
Time Panel
The best place to start is the Time panel. Start by dragging your dataset's time & date data into the Time Column field (indicated by a clock icon). Next, use the Time Range field to define the time period to retrieve data — use the "No filter" option to specify no time constraints (i.e., all data).
Query Panel
Next, drag & drop a metric to the Metric field, and then drag & drop one or more columns into the Dimensions and/or Filter fields. Feel free to experiment and use our chart walkthroughs to learn how chart types can use this data.
How to Create a Pie Chart
Configure the Pie Chart
For this example, we'll start by dragging & dropping the time & date record ("order_date") into the Time Column field. We'll keep the Time Range field set to "No filter".
Next, recall that we want to create a pie chart that conveys a "breakdown of vehicle type sales based on product line." So let's drag & drop the "product_line" column into the Dimensions field.
We need to use a metric that looks at the aggregate sum of all sales. To achieve this, we will drag the ƒ(x) COUNT(*) metric and drop it in to the Metric field.
We then need to configure the metric for the sum of all sales. In the Metric field, select the right arrow then select the Simple tab to create a simple function.
In the Column field select Sales, and in the Aggregate field select SUM. Finalize the metric by selecting Save.
Great work, the pie chart is now configured! Let's see what it looks like.
Go ahead and select Create Chart.
Congratulations! To learn more about configuring charts using the Explore page, have a look at a more detailed walkthrough at Using Preset Explore. You can also view example charts and walkthroughs.
Ready to start building collections of charts in a dashboard? Have a look at Creating a Dashboard to get started.
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