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Creating a Chart
  • 28 Jun 2022
  • 6 Minutes to read
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Contents

Creating a Chart

  • Updated on 28 Jun 2022
  • 6 Minutes to read
  • Contributors
  • Print
  • Dark
    Light
  • PDF

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

  1. Choose a dataset.
  2. Use the gallery to find a chart.
  3. Select a chart from the gallery and then select Create New Chart.
  4. Configure the chart by adding metrics and columns.
  5. 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.

Choose a Dataset

To learn about the purpose of datasets and the diferent 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.

Select_Plus1

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.

Select_Dataset_Vehicle_Sales

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.

Filter Charts

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
  • Categories

Recommended Tags

By default, charts are filtered based on the #Popular tag which, as the name implies, displays the most popular charts in Preset.

Popular_Filter

Other recommended tags include #ECharts, which displays visualizations from the EChart series, and #Advanced-Analytics, which are charts that include more detailed analytics features.

All Charts

Selecting All charts displays every available chart in Preset.

All_Charts_Filter1

Categories

Our chart categories are based on the family of visualizations defined in the D3.js Chart Types structure.

For example, in the graphic below, we are viewing charts in the KPI category (i.e., Big Number with Trendline, Big Number, Funnel, and Gauge charts).

Categories_Filter

Viewing Chart Information

To learn more about a chart, simply select a chart card and its details will appear in the Information panel at the bottom of the Chart Gallery.

In this example, when we select the Correlation category and then select the Heatmap chart:

Select_Heatmap

...its details will appear at the bottom of the Chart Gallery:

View_Chart_Info_2

Each Information panel contains three elements:

  • Keywords: These are popular keywords that directly relate to the chart and can be used in the Search functionality (described below). In the graphic above, keywords incude business, intensity, legacy, density, predictive, and single metric.
  • Description: A description of the chart, with a focus on its benefits, purpose, and typical use case.
  • Examples: Thumbnail images of the chart.

Search Charts

The Chart Gallery's Search feature is used to search for charts based on the specified keyword criteria. Search results are displayed in real time as characters are entered in the Search all charts field.

The pool of searchable text is comprised of:

  • A chart's name.
  • A chart's category.
  • A recommended tag.
  • A chart's defined keywords.
  • A chart's description.

Note: A chart's keywords and description can be viewed in the Information panel when a chart is selected.

To search for a chart:

In the Search all charts field, enter one or more keywords — results appear in real time.

In the graphic below, we selected the birth_names dataset and then searched for the term business. Charts that meet the keyword search criteria appear in the Chart Gallery (results include Big Number, Calendar Heatmap, and so on):

Search_for_a_Chart1

Verified Charts

When searching for a chart, you may notice a Verified label for a chart. This 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.

Verified_Chart_1

When a chart is selected, the Verified label also appears in the chart's description section.

Verified_Chart_2

Select a Chart

Whether you have used a filter or search, the last step is to select a chart card and then select Create New Chart.

How to Create a Pie Chart

Select a Pie Chart

Next we'll select Pie Chart and then select Create New Chart.

Select_Pie_Chart

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".

Drag_Time_Column

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.

Drag_Dimension

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.

Configure_Metric

Great work, the pie chart is now configured! Let's see what it looks like.

Go ahead and select Create Chart.

Final_Pie_Chart(1)

Congratulations! To learn more about configuring charts using the Explore page, have a look at Advanced Configuration. 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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