Visualizations → Line
About a Line visualization
A line visualization displays information as a series of data points, or markers, connected by straight line segments plotted on an x-axis and y-axis. Line charts are typically used to show changes over time.
A line visualization is ideal for displaying both nominal or ordinal data as a chart. Nominal data is categorical. The categories are arbitrary labels without numerical significance that function to describe calculated values. Ordinal data has a natural sequence where the distinct (and often numerical) order functions to categorize the calculated values.
With three possible dimensions, a line 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 line chart on a dashboard tab that shows:
- a grouping dimension as the labels along the x-axis (horizontal axis)
- a coloring dimension as line colors
- a measure as the increments along the y-axis (vertical axis)
The distinction between a line visualization and a line insight is that an insight is an instance of the visualization. As an instance, a line insight has unique configurations that a dashboard developer determines for displaying a line 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 and/or coloring dimension.
Configurations for a line insight
A dashboard developer first selects a line 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 line chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the line 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 line insight within the insight panel are:
A line insight requires at least one measure pill and one grouping dimension pill. Using a measure pill only without a grouping dimension results in an insight with one point that represents the result of the aggregated function for this measure, by default, the sum of this measure.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add several columns or formulas to the Grouping Dimension tray. The line 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 is the initial grouping 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
Coloring Dimension
The Coloring Dimension tray is only available when there is only one measure pill, otherwise, it is disabled.
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 colors the lines in the chart. 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 line 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
A line visualization with one or more coloring dimensions does not support the definition of the Aggregate Filter.
A line visualization with one or more measures does not support the definition of the Coloring Dimension.
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A line insight shows the increments for the measure pill on the y-axis. A line insight with two or more measure pills does not support the definition of a coloring dimension.
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 individual rows for the line 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 line insight with one or more coloring dimension pills.
To create a filter expression, 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, coloring dimension, or a measure pill with the Properties panel for a line insight.
In order to create a filter expression, you can edit the properties of an individual filter or aggregate 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 in order 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 of a pill in the grouping dimension tray in a 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 samples of the column 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. 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 |
| 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 grouping dimension by |
| Format → Date Format | drop down list | 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 → Plot Bands | link | Select + Add Plot Band to highlight certain areas in the Line chart, usually specific thresholds designating whether the data falls under these boundaries or not. |
| Plot Band → Start | text box | Enter the numeric start position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Stop | text box | Enter the numeric stop position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Label | text box | Enter a label for the plot band |
| Plot Band → Background Color | select | Select the background color of the plot band |
| Drill Down → Dashboards | link | Select + Add Dashboard Tab to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard Tab → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass a filter from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard Tab → 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 a pill in the coloring dimension tray in a 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 samples of the column 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. 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 to sort the coloring dimension by |
| Format → Format Color Palette | toggle | Enable this property to display the color palette, which allows you to change the color of a category |
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 a pill in the measure tray in a 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 Measure tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column 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. 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 measure pill. If only one pill is available in the Measure tray, the label will be the y-axis title. |
| 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. The options are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● 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 | drop down list | Select the format of the measure: ● No Format ● Decimal ● Rounded ● Dollar ● Dollar Rounded ● Euro ● Euro Rounded ● Yen ● Yen Rounded ● Percent ● Percent Rounded |
| Format → Decimal Places | text box | 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 show the percentage value for the measure of the line |
| 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 a color for the measure value. |
| Format → Plot Bands | link | Select + Add Plot Band to highlight certain areas in the Bar chart, usually specific thresholds designating whether the data falls under these boundaries or not. |
| Plot Band → Start | text box | Enter the numeric start position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Stop | text box | Enter the numeric stop position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Label | text box | Enter a label for the plot band |
| Plot Band → Background | select | Select the background color of the plot band |
| DrillDown → Dashboards | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects the measure value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass a filter 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. See the Base Table Concept for more detail. |
| 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
To filter individual rows for the line 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 line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column 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 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 |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter criteria |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the insight against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True,and some require more than one value, such as Between. 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 line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formula label | label | The formula pill label |
| Data → Column label | text box | Enter the label for the individual filter formula pill |
| 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 insight against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True and some require more than one value, such as Between. 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.
The Aggregate Filter tray is not available for a line insight with one or more coloring dimension pills.
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column 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 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 function to use in the filter. The available aggregation functions are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum Non Available aggregations vary according to the column data type. |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter expression |
| Values | text box | Enter one or more values to use in the filter expression |
| 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 with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a line insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label of the aggregate filter formula pill |
| Formula | text box | Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
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 line insight with one or more coloring dimension pills.
Settings panel
With the Settings panel, you can configure additional properties for the line 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 rows to include in the insight. A value lower than the number of table rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all rows. |
| General → Logarithmic | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis on a logarithmic scale |
| General → Auto Refresh | toggle | Enable this property to automatically refresh the insight preview while editing it in the Analyzer. A tenant configuration in the CMC Clusters Manager can globally enable or disable this feature at the tenant level. |
| General → Data Sampling | toggle | Enabled by default. This property allows using only a sample of the insight query result set, rather than the whole query result set, when creating the insight. Disable it to use the whole query data list, which may impact the insight rendering time. |
| Layout → Rotation | drop down list | Select an angle to rotate the x-axis labels. The options are: ● Default ● -45 ● -90 ● 45 ● 90 |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | Enable this property to display a chart legend. The chart legend displays the values of the first pill in the Coloring Dimension tray, if any. Otherwise, the legend shows the labels of the measure tray pill(s). |
| Layout → Legend Position | drop down list | Select a position for the chart legend: Auto Top Left Bottom Right Default value is Auto. |
| Layout → Values | toggle | Enable this property to display measure values on the chart |
| Layout → Hide Zero Values | toggle | Enable this property to hide zero values from the plotted area |
| Layout → Connect Values | toggle | Enable Hide Zero Values property to configure this setting. Enable this property to connect the points of the values that have zero values in between so that the area insight does not appear scattered. |
| Layout → X-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display x-axis labels (i.e. values of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| Layout → X-Axis Title | toggle | Enable this property to display an x-axis title (i.e. the label of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display y-axis labels (values in the y-axis) |
| 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 measure pill). |
| Layout → Y-Axis Min | text box | Enter a minimum numerical value for the y-axis |
| Layout → Y-Axis Max | text box | Enter a maximum numerical value for the y-axis |
| Advanced → Max Groups | text box | Set the maximum number of groups that cannot be exceeded in the insight |
| Advanced → Join Measures | drop down list | Select Yes to calculate the group-by function across joined tables |
User Interactions for a line Insight
As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a line insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the line chart. Other interactions will affect both the line 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 line insight:
- Select a legend label to hide (and then select again to show) the related line
- Select a point on a line to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a point on a line to open the Filter by menu and select an option to drill down into a grouping dimension and/or coloring dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a point on a line to open the Go to menu, and then select a dashboard tab to navigate to (requires a dashboard drill down configuration for a grouping dimension pill)
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 an line 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, review Tools → Security Manager.
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 the Line Insight
- Select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon) for the Line insight.
- Select Download as.
- Select the download file format:
- PNG
- JPEG
- SVG
- Select Download
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 line insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:
- For the line insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select the table type:
- Select View as Regular Table to view the insight as a listing table.
- Select View as Aggregated Table to view the insight as an aggregated table.
For a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, you can:
- Download as CSV, xlsx, or PDF
- Send to Data Destination
Set Alert
You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a line insight by defining a filter expression for a measure filter, individual filter, and/or aggregate filter in an aggregated table or a listing table.
- For the line insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select Set Alert. The Analyzer opens with an aggregated table insight that has the Grouping dimension pills and the measure pills from the line insight. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.
Steps to create a Line insight
For an existing dashboard, to create an line 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 Manage Dataset.
- 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 Line 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 Properties panel or Filter panel.
- Configure various insight properties using the Settings panel.
Example of a line insight
In this example, you will create a line insight that shows revenue per product category over years. 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.
Create a Line chart that shows the revenue by year.
Add an insight
- In the Action line, select +.
- In the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, in Tables, select the SALES and date schemas.
- Close the Manage Data Sets panel.
- In the Insight panel, under Charts, select Line.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Revenue to the Measure tray.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop Year from the SALES table to the Grouping Dimension tray.
Edit the pill properties
- Select the arrow to the right of Revenue to open the Properties panel.
- For Format, select Dollar.
- Select + Add Average Line, and select Average Line for Average Line Type and Dash for Line Style.
- Name the insight Total Revenue by Year.
- Select Save.
