Visualizations → Heatmap
About a Heatmap visualization
A heatmap visualization is a graphical representation of numerical data where the value of each data point is indicated using colors. The most commonly used color scheme in heatmap visualizations is the dark-to-light color scheme, with the warm colors representing high-value data points and the cool colors representing low-value data points.
Typically, a heatmap is plotted in a tabular format where all rows are one category with labels on the left and all columns are another category with labels displayed at the bottom. The individual rows and columns are divided into the subcategories, which all match up with each other in a matrix. The cells contained within the table either contain color-coded categorical data or numerical data, that is based on a color scale. The data contained within a cell is based on the relationship between the two variables in the connecting row and column.
A heatmap chart is ideal to show variance across multiple variables, reveal any patterns, display whether any variables are similar to each other, and to detect if any correlations exist in-between them.
The distinction between a visualization and an insight is that an insight is an instance of the visualization. As an instance, an insight has unique configurations that a dashboard developer determines for displaying a chart on a dashboard tab. Insight configurations affect the available user interactions for a dashboard consumer such as the ability to drill down into a grouping dimension.
With three possible dimensions, a heatmap visualization offers a dashboard developer the ability to create an insight that groups one or more aggregated or calculated values by one or more attributes. The result is a heatmap chart on a dashboard tab that shows:
- a grouping dimension as the columns plotted on the x-axis
- a coloring dimension as the rows plotted on the y-axis
- a measure as the graded colors across the heatmap
Configurations for a heatmap insight
A dashboard developer first selects a heatmap visualization for an insight in the Analyzer. Using the Analyzer, a dashboard developer configures pill properties, filter properties, and insight settings. Insight settings and pill properties determine not only how the heatmap chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the heatmap chart.
The visualization selection in the Insight panel of the Analyzer determines the available trays. From the Data panel, a dashboard developer adds a column or a formula to a tray. A column or a formula in a tray is a Pill.
Each pill has configurable properties. The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill.
The available trays for a heatmap insight are:
- Grouping Dimension
- Coloring Dimension
- Measure
- Individual Filter
- Aggregate Filter
A heatmap visualization requires at least one measure pill, one coloring dimension, and one grouping dimension pill. Without a coloring dimension pill, the insight will just be a color-degraded column visualization.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add several columns or formulas to the Grouping Dimension tray. The heatmap insight plots the first pill in the Grouping Dimension tray.
Each pill in the Grouping Dimension tray is a filterable column for the insight. The pill ordering in the grouping dimension tray defines the following:
- the first pill plots the columns
- the other pills define an order of user interactions that allow a dashboard consumer to drill down into the next grouping dimension and in doing so, also create one or more dashboard runtime filters
Coloring Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Coloring Dimension tray. A coloring dimension is a third dimension that plots the rows in the heatmap.
Each pill in the Coloring Dimension tray is a filterable column for the insight.
A defined coloring dimension introduces a Filter by menu as a user interaction for the column chart. With the Filter by menu, a dashboard consumer selects to filter the dashboard by:
- a grouping and a coloring dimension
- a grouping dimension
- a coloring dimension
The pill ordering in the coloring dimension tray defines the following:
- the first pill is the initial coloring dimension
- the other pills define an order of user interactions that allow a dashboard consumer to drill down into the next grouping and/or coloring dimension and in doing so, also create one or more dashboard runtime filters
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A heatmap insight shows the values for the measure pill as colors following the dark-to-light coloring scheme according to the value.
You can select the measure pill to open the Properties panel. In the Properties panel, you can configure various properties such as the Aggregation and Format properties.
Individual Filter
To filter data for the heatmap insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.
You can select the individual filter pill to open the Filter panel. Using the Filter panel, you can specify the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the individual filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an individual filter, review Concepts → Individual Filter.
Aggregate Filter
You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.
The Aggregate Filter tray is not available for a heatmap insight with one or more coloring dimension pills.
To create a filter expression, you can add a column or a formula to the Aggregate Filter tray from the Data panel. You can select the aggregate filter pill to open the Filter panel.
Using the Filter panel, you can specify the aggregation, the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the aggregate filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an aggregate filter, review Concepts → Aggregate Filter.
Pill properties
The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. There are various possible configurations for each pill type:
- Grouping dimension pill properties
- Coloring dimension pill properties
- Measure pill properties
- Individual filter properties for a filter expression
- Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression
You can edit the properties of a grouping dimension or a measure pill with the Properties panel for a heatmap insight.
To create a filter expression, you can edit the properties of an individual filter pill with the Filter panel.
In the case of the Filter property of a measure pill, you can open the Filter panel from the Properties panel to create the filter expression.
To open the Properties panel or Filter panel, select the pill arrow.
Grouping dimension pill properties
Here are the properties for a pill in the Grouping Dimension tray in a heatmap insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Formula | text box | Select this property to invoke the Formula Builder and create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the grouping dimension column or formula |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Hierarchy | toggle | This option is available only for columns from objects with data hierarchy (physical schema objects with a self-join relationship). Enable this property to specify the level of data in the hierarchy that you want to include in the insight for the respective column. |
| Hierarchy → Level | text box | Enable Hierarchy to configure this property. Enter a numeric value that represents the level of data you want to include in the insight. Leave blank or enter "-1" to include all levels. |
| Data → Sort By | drag and drop | Drag and drop the column or formula to sort the columns by |
| Format → Date Format | select | Select the format of the formula or date column. This option is available only when you edit the pill properties for a date column or a formula |
| Format → Date Mask | text box | Enter a customized date format or select a predefined one to appear in this text box |
| Format → Quarter/Month Format | drop down list | Select the format of the date column. The options are: ● No Format ● Prefix ● Short ● Long. This property is available only when you set Date Part to Quarter or Month. |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill Down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass the applied filter, if any, from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
Coloring dimension pill properties
The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. Select the arrow to the right of the pill name to open the Properties panel and configure the related properties.
Here are the properties for the a pill in the coloring dimension tray in a column insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Formula | text box | When you select it, it invokes the Formula Builder to create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the coloring dimension column or formula pill |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Hierarchy | toggle | This option is available only for columns from objects with data hierarchy (physical schema objects with a self-join relationship). Enable this property to specify the level of data in the hierarchy that you want to include in the insight for the respective column. |
| Hierarchy → Level | text box | Enable Hierarchy to configure this property. Enter a numeric value that represents the level of data you want to include in the insight. Leave blank or enter "-1" to include all levels. |
| Data → Sort By | drag and drop | Drag and drop the column or formula by which you want to sort the legend categories and their related columns |
Measure pill properties
The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. Select the arrow to the right of the pill name to open the Properties panel and configure the related properties.
Here are the properties for the pills in the Measure tray in a heatmap insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Formula | text box | Select to invoke the Formula Builder and create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the Measure tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label of the measure |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Aggregation | drop down list | Select the aggregation option for the measure values. There are different available options. The options are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● Formula ● None |
| Data → Scale | drop down list | Select the chart scale. The options are: ● None ● Percent (%) ● Thousands (K) ● Millions (M) The default is None. |
| Data → Running Total | toggle | Enable this property to display the measure values as a running total |
| Data → Filter | drag and drop | Drag and drop a column or formula to filter the measure |
| Format → Number Format | select | Select the format of the measure (e.g. Dollar Rounded) |
| Format → Decimal Places | text box | This property appears when you select Decimal, Dollar, Euro, Yen, or Percent as the Format. Enter the number of decimal places to display for the measure value. |
| Format → Thousands Separator | toggle | This property appears for all Format options, except No Format. Enable this property to include a comma separator for values of 1000 or greater. |
| Format → Percentage | toggle | Enable this property to view the percentage value of the columns |
| Format → Prefix | text box | Enter value to add a prefix and create a custom format. The value of the prefix field cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Suffix | text box | Enter value to add a suffix and create a custom format. The value of the suffix field cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Abbreviate on Hover | toggle | Enable this property to abbreviate the measure value upon hover |
| Format → Color | select | Select the area filling color for this measure |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill Down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass the applied filter, if any, from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
| Advanced → Base Field | drag and drop | Drag and drop the column to join two tables that are not directly joined. |
| Advanced → Query Plan | button | Select this property to reveal the direct data map path that the Incorta Analytics Service uses to retrieve or calculate the measure |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression
To filter individual rows for the heatmap insight, define an individual filter. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a heatmap insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the individual filter |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter criteria |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a heatmap insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formula label | label | The formula label text |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the measure formula |
| Formula → Dynamic | toggle | Enable this property to select a filter expression session variable as a value |
| Formula | text box | Disable Dynamic to configure this property. Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression. |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter criteria |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True. In the case that you enable Dynamic, select a filter expression session variable. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression
You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.
Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties for a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a stacked line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and sample data. You can also use the Copy Column Name option (two paper sheets icon) to copy the column’s fully qualified name. |
| Column Label | text box | Enter the name of the aggregate filter pill |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Aggregation | drop down list | Select the aggregation type to use in the filter. The available aggregation types are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● None |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in value comparison to the measure value. |
| Values | text box | Select the comparison value to use in the filter, or enter a new value to use in the filter comparison. |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties for a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a stacked line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column Label | text box | Enter the label of the aggregate filter formula pill |
| Formula | text box | Select this property to invoke the Formula Builder and create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Settings panel
With the Settings panel, you can configure additional properties for the heatmap insight. To open the Setting panel, in the Analyzer, select Settings (gear icon) in the Action bar.
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| General → Max Rows Limit | text box | Enter the maximum number of categories to show in the chart. A value lower than the number of the insight query rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all categories. |
| Logarithmic | toggle | Enable this property to display the text on a logarithmic scale |
| General → Auto Refresh | toggle | Enable this property to automatically update the insight when the underlying data is updated |
| General → Data Sampling | toggle | Enable this property to use and analyze a representative subset of data in the insight |
| Layout → Rotation | drop down list | Select an angle to rotate the x-axis labels at. The options are: ● Default (no rotation) ● -45 ● -90 ● 45 ● 90 |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | Enable this property to display the chart legend. The chart legend displays the values of the first pill in the Grouping Dimension tray. |
| Layout → Values | toggle | Enable this property to display values on the chart |
| Layout → X-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis labels (i.e. values of the first measure dimension pill) |
| Layout → X-Axis Title | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis title (i.e. the label of the first measure dimension pill) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the y-axis labels (i.e. values of the second measure dimension pill) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Title | toggle | This property is available when only one pill exists in the Measure tray. Enable this property to display the y-axis title (i.e. the label of the second measure dimension pill). |
| Advanced → Max Groups | text box | Set the maximum number of groups that cannot be exceeded in the insight |
| Advanced → Join Measures | drop down | Select Yes to calculate the group-by function across joined tables |
User interactions for a heatmap insight
As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a heatmap insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the heatmap chart. Other interactions will affect both the heatmap chart and the dashboard. The creation of one or more dashboard runtime filters is an example of a user interaction that affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard.
Some user interactions require specific configurations by a dashboard developer and therefore may not be available.
Here are the possible types of user interactions for a heatmap insight:
- Select a heatmap to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a heatmap to open the Filter By menu and select an option to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a dashboard tab to navigate to in the Go To menu
- Hover a cell to show its value on the legend
A dashboard runtime filter affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard. A dashboard runtime filter appears as a filter bar pill and displays the filter expression.
More Options menu for a heatmap insight
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) enforces access to certain features and functionality. With Discretionary Access Control (DAC), a user who owns the dashboard can control the access to the dashboard. Access rights include the ability to view, share, and edit the dashboard. Together, RBAC and DAC affect the available selections in both the Action bar and the More Options menu for an insight.
For more information about RBAC and DAC, refer to the Security Manager documentation.
In addition, certain tenant configurations by a Cluster Management Console (CMC) Administrator affect the available selections in the More Options menu for an insight.
Download as
- For the heatmap insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select Download.
- Select the download file format:
- PNG
- JPEG
- SVG
View as Table
The View as Table is an Incorta Labs feature and a tenant configuration. A CMC Administrator must enable the feature.
To view a heatmap insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:
- For the heatmap insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select one of the following options:
- View as Regular Table
- View as Aggregated Table
For a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, you can:
- Download as CSV, xlsx, or PDF
- Send to a Data Destination
Set Alert
You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a heatmap insight by defining a filter expression for a measure filter and/or individual filter.
- For the heatmap insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select Set Alert. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.
Steps to create a heatmap insight
For an existing dashboard, to create a Heatmap Insight for a given dashboard tab, follow these steps:
- If not already open, open a dashboard.
- To add a new insight to the dashboard, in the Action bar, select +.
- If needed, in the Analyzer, in the Data panel, select Add Data Set.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, select one or more business schema views and/or one or more physical schema tables.
- To close the Manage Data Sets panel, select X or any other area of the Analyzer.
- In the Insight panel, select V.
- In Charts, select the Heatmap visualization.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop various columns to various trays in the Insight panel:
- Grouping Dimension
- Coloring Dimension
- Measure
- Individual Filter
- Aggregate Filter
- Configure the pill properties using the Property panel or Filter panel.
- Configure various insight properties using the Settings panel.
Example of a heatmap insight
In this example, you will create a heatmap insight that compares revenue by product category, subcategory, and product per region. The example uses the SALES schema that comes with the Sample Data.
In the CMC, you can create a tenant that includes Sample Data. The Sample Data includes the SALES schema.
Add an insight
- In the Action bar, select +.
- In the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, in Tables, select the SALES schema.
- Close the Manage Data Sets panel.
- In the Insight panel, under Charts, select Heatmap.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop the following columns to the respective tray:
- From the Countries table, drag and drop Country to the Grouping Dimension tray.
- From the Products table, drag and drop Category to the Coloring Dimension tray.
- From the Sales table, drag and drop Cost to the Measure tray.
- From the Countries table, drag and drop Region to the Individual Filter tray.
- In the Country properties panel, drag and drop the Cost column from the Sales table to the Sort by field.
- Sort the Cost in descending order.
- In the Region properties panel, select Europe in the Values field.
- Edit the insight title to be Cost by Category in Europe.
- In the Settings panel, enable the Logarithmic toggle, and disable the X-Axis Title and Y-Axis Title toggles.
- Select Save.
