Visualizations → Waterfall
About a Waterfall visualization
A waterfall visualization allows you to visualize the cumulative effect of sequential or categorical positive and negative values applied to a starting value. A typical waterfall insight shows how an initial value is increased and decreased by a series of intermediate time-based or category-based values, leading to a final value. For example, you can use a waterfall visualization to show the gradual increase or decrease of the company’s gross profit over year quarters. You can also use it to track the progression of an account balance.
A waterfall visualization plots all values, including the starting, intermediate, and ending values, as columns. The columns are color-coded to distinguish between positive and negative values: the default colors are as follows:
- Green for a positive value
- Red for a negative value
- Gray for subtotals
- Blue for the grand total
The initial and the final value columns are often whole columns that start on the horizontal x-axis, while the intermediate values are floating columns.
With three possible dimensions, a waterfall 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 waterfall chart on a dashboard tab that shows:
- a grouping dimension as the labels along the x-axis: the lower horizontal axis by default, or the upper horizontal axis if there are one or more column or formula pills in the Break By tray
- a break-by dimension as the labels along the x-axis (lower horizontal axis)
- a measure as vertical column lengths with increments along the y-axis (vertical axis)
The distinction between a visualization and an insight is that an insight is an instance of the visualization. As an instance, a waterfall insight has unique configurations that a dashboard developer determines for displaying a waterfall 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 break-by dimension.
Configurations for a waterfall insight
A dashboard developer first selects a waterfall 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 waterfall chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the waterfall 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 waterfall insight are:
A waterfall insight requires at least one measure pill. The Break By tray is not available when there are two or more measure pills.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Grouping Dimension tray. Each pill in the Grouping Dimension tray is a filterable column for the insight that you can use to create one or more dashboard runtime filters as applicable.
The waterfall insight plots pills in the Grouping Dimension tray as follows:
- If there are no available pills in the Break By tray, the waterfall insight plots:
- The first pill in the Grouping Dimension tray on the lower horizontal x-axis.
- The last pill in the Grouping Dimension tray on the lower horizontal x-axis to detail the first pill
- If there are one or more available pills in the Break By tray, the waterfall insight plots only the first pill in the Grouping Dimension tray on the upper horizontal x-axis.
Break By
The Break By tray is only available when there is only one measure pill. From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Break By tray. Each pill in the Break By tray is a filterable column for the insight that you can use to create one or more dashboard runtime filters as applicable.
The waterfall insight plots pills in the Break By tray as follows:
- The first pill in the Break By tray on the lower horizontal x-axis
- The last pill in the Break By tray on the lower horizontal x-axis to detail the first pill
The first pill in the Break By tray introduces a Filter by menu as a user interaction for the waterfall chart. With the Filter by menu, a dashboard consumer selects to filter the dashboard by:
- a grouping and a break-by dimension
- a grouping dimension
- a break-by dimension
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A waterfall insight shows the increments for the measure pill on the y-axis. A waterfall insight with two or more measure pills does not support the definition of a break-by 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 waterfall 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 waterfall insight with one or more pills in the Break By tray.
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
- Break by 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, break-by dimension, or a measure pill with the Properties panel for a waterfall insight.
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 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 waterfall 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 column or formula pill. The label of the first pill will be the title of the x-axis, whether the upper or lower one as appropriate. |
| 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 a column or formula to sort the x-axis labels by (the lower or upper x-axis as appropriate) |
| 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 |
| 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. |
Break By 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 of a pill in the Break By tray in a waterfall 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 break-by column or formula pill. The label of the first pill, if any, will be the title of the lower x-axis. |
| 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. |
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 of a pill in the Measure tray in a waterfall 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 | Only the Sum aggregate function is available to apply to the measure values. |
| 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 values by |
| Format → Number Format | drop down list | 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 Number Format. Enter the number of decimal places to display for the measure values. |
| Format → Thousands Separator | toggle | This property appears for all Number 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 display the measure values as percentages |
| Format → Prefix | text box | Enter a string (a currency symbol for example) to add at the beginning of the measure values. The string you enter cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Suffix | text box | Enter a string (a currency symbol for example) to add at the end of the measure values. The string you enter cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Abbreviate on Hover | toggle | Enable this property to abbreviate the measure value upon hover |
| Format → Increase Color | select | Select a color for columns that represent an increase in this measure other than the default color that you can define in the insight settings |
| Format → Decrease Color | select | Select a color for columns that represent a decrease in this measure other than the default color that you can define in the insight settings |
| Format → Plot Bands | link | Select + Add Plot Band to highlight certain areas in the waterfall 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 |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a 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 a column to join two physical schema objects that are not directly joined. To learn more, review Concepts → Base Table. |
| Advanced → Query Plan | button | Select to access the Query Plan Viewer to check the Direct Data Map path that Incorta Analytics Service uses to retrieve or calculate the measure |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression
To filter individual rows for the waterfall 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.
Individual 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 Individual Filter tray for a waterfall 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 expression |
| 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, 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 of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a waterfall 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 expression |
| 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, 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 waterfall insight with one or more break by 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 waterfall 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. |
| 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 ● None 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 |
| 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 waterfall insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 waterfall insight. To open the Setting panel, in the Analyzer, in the Action bar, select Settings (gear icon).
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| General → Max Rows | text box | Enter the maximum number of categories to show on the x-axis. A value lower than the number of the insight query rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all rows. |
| 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. |
| Waterfall → Increase Color | select | Select a color for columns that represent an increase in the insight if you do not select a specific color for a measure |
| Waterfall → Decrease Color | select | Select a color for the columns that represent a decrease in the insight if you do not select a specific color for a measure |
| Waterfall → Column Grand Total | toggle | Enable this property to show the column that represents the final total after calculating increases and decreases of all categories or values of sub-categories |
| Waterfall → Total Color | select | Enable Column Grand Total to configure this property. Select the color of the total column. |
| Waterfall → Subtotal | toggle | Enable this property to show the column that represents the subtotal for each category after calculating all increases and decreases or all values related to sub-categories (break by pill) |
| Waterfall → Subtotal Color | select | Enable Subtotal to configure this property. Select the color of the subtotal columns. |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | Enable this property to display the chart legend. The chart legend displays the colors for the increase and decrease columns, in addition to the column totals and subtotals if you enable their respective configurations. |
| Layout → Values | toggle | Enable this property to display column values on the chart |
| Layout → Rotation | drop down list | Select a rotation angle for labels on both the upper and lower x-axises, as applicable. The options are: ● Default ● -45 ● -90 ● 45 ● 90 |
| Layout → X-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the labels of both the lower and upper x-axises, as applicable |
| Layout → X-Axis Title | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis title (i.e. the label of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the 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 waterfall insight
As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a waterfall insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the waterfall chart. Other interactions will affect both the waterfall 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 waterfall insight:
- Select an x-axis label (upper or lower axis) to drill down into a grouping dimension or a break-by dimension, and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a column (other than the total and subtotal columns) to drill down into a grouping dimension, and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a column (other than the total and subtotal columns) to open the Filter by menu and select an option to drill down into a grouping dimension and/or break-by dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a column (other than the total and subtotal columns) to open the Go to menu and select a dashboard tab to navigate to (requires a dashboard drill down configuration for a coloring dimension or 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 a waterfall 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 as
- For the waterfall insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select Download as.
- In the dialog, 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 waterfall insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:
- For the waterfall 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, XSLX, or PDF
- Send to Data Destination
Set Alert
You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a waterfall 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 waterfall 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 waterfall insight. Refer to the Tools → Scheduler for additional information on Data Alerts.
Steps to create a waterfall insight
For an existing dashboard, to create a waterfall 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, first, select V.
- In Charts, select the Waterfall visualization.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop various columns to various trays in the Insight panel:
- Grouping Dimension
- Break By
- 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 waterfall insight
In this example, you will create a waterfall insight that shows the gross profit 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.
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 Waterfall.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop the following columns to the respective tray:
- From the Countries table, drag and drop Region to the Grouping Dimension tray.
- From the Sales table, drag and drop Revenue to the Measure tray.
- Drag and drop a formula to the Measure tray. In the Formula Builder, create this simple formula:
-1 * Sales.SALES.Costto convert the cost to a negative value. - From the Countries table, drag and drop Region to the Individual Filter tray.
- Select the arrow to the right of the formula pill to open the Properties panel, and then for Column Label enter Cost.
- In the Individual Filter tray, select the arrow to the right of Revenue to open the Filter panel, and then for Operator, select In and for Values, select Americas, Asia, and Europe.
- Select the gear icon to open the insight Settings panel, and then enable the Column Grand Total and Subtotal toggles.
- Name the insight Gross Profit Per Region.
- Select Save.
