Visualizations → Tornado
About a Tornado visualization
A tornado visualization enables you to analyze and compare two correlated measures with different scales grouped by a category. Information in a tornado visualization is plotted on a y-axis and two x-axes. Where the y-axis represents the grouping category and the x-axes represent the increments of the measure to be compared. The data values in the tornado visualization are plotted using horizontal bars. By default, these bars are ordered according to the grouping dimension in ascending order.
A tornado visualization is ideal for sensitivity analysis, by facilitating the comparison of one variable with the output of another independent variable.
The distinction between a visualization and an insight is that 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 two possible dimensions, a tornado visualization offers a dashboard developer the ability to create insight that groups one or more aggregated or calculated values by one or more attributes. The result is a tornado chart on a dashboard tab that shows:
- a grouping dimension as the labels along the y-axis (vertical axis)
- a measure as the increments along the x-axes with starting point 0 in the middle (horizontal axes)
Configurations for a tornado insight
A dashboard developer, first selects a tornado 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 tornado chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the tornado 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 tornado insight are:
A tornado insight accepts only two measure pills and one grouping dimension pill.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Grouping Dimension tray. The tornado insight plots the pill in the Grouping Dimension tray on the y-axis.
The tornado chart shows the y-axis labels on the side and sorts them in an ascending order unless determined otherwise in the pill properties.
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A tornado insight shows the increments for the measure pill on the x-axes with 0 as a start in the middle.
You can select the measure pill to open the Properties panel. In the Properties panel, you can configure various properties such as the Aggregation, Format properties, and axis direction.
Individual Filter
To filter individual rows for the tornado 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.
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
- 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 tornado 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 tornado 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 copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| 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 grouping dimension column or formula pill. The label of the first pill will be the x-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 → 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 a column or formula to sort the x-axis labels 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 → 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. |
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 tornado 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 copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| 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. |
| 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 available options vary. 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 a column or formula to filter the measure |
| 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 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 format the value as a percentage |
| Format → Prefix | text box | Add a prefix to the y-axis labels. The prefix cannot contain single quotes |
| Format → Suffix | text box | Add a suffix to the x-axis labels. The suffix 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 |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drilldown | 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 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 tornado 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 tornado 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 copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| 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 for a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a tornado insight:
| 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 for 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 pill 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 of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a tornado 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 copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| 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 Available aggregations vary according to the column data type. |
| Operator | drop-down list | Select the operator to use for the filter expression |
| Values | text box | Enter one or more values to use for 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 tornado 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 tornado 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 y-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 → Inherit Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable to have this insight’s result set filtered by the selected dashboard prompt filters. When disabled, the dashboard prompt filters will have no effect on the result set of this insight. |
| General → Auto Refresh | toggle | Enable this property to automatically refresh the insight preview while editing it in the Analyzer. There is a tenant configuration in the CMC Clusters Manager that can globally enable or disable this feature at the tenant level. |
| 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 ● -45 ● -90 ● 45 ● 90 |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | The chart legend shows the labels of the measure tray pill(s). |
| Layout → Values | toggle | Enable this property to display measure values on the chart |
| Layout → Fixed Placement | toggle | Enable this property to display overlapping columns for multiple measures. |
| Layout → X-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis labels (i.e. values of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| 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 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 tornado insight
As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a tornado insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the tornado chart. Other interactions will affect both the tornado 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 tornado insight:
- Select a legend label to hide (and then select again to show) the related measure
- Select a bar to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a bar to open the Go to menu and select a dashboard tab to navigate to (requires a dashboard drill-down configuration for the 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 tornado 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
- For the tornado insight, select Download, or select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis), and then select Download as....
- 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 tornado insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:
- For the tornado insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
- Select the table type:
- 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 Data Destination
Set Alert
You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a tornado insight by defining a filter expression for a measure filter, individual filter, and/or aggregate filter.
- For the tornado insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
- Select Set Alert. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.
Open Lineage
Starting with 2023.7.0, you can view the data lineage of each insight on the dashboard. The Data Lineage Viewer v2 displays the entities (tables, views, variables, and columns) that the insight references.
- For the tornado insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis icon).
- Select Open Lineage. The Data Lineage Viewer v2 opens displaying the data lineage diagram of the insight.
Steps to create a tornado insight
For an existing dashboard, to create a tornado insight for a given dashboard tab, follow these steps:
- If not already open, open a dashboard.
- To add 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 Tornado visualization.
- From the Data panel, drag various columns to various trays in the Insight panel:
- Grouping 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.
After introducing the dashboard free-form layout in 2023.4.0:
- The steps to add an insight to a dashboard are as follows:
- In the Action bar, select Edit (pen icon).
- From the Insight panel, drag the visualization that you want to the canvas, and then hover over the new insight and select Edit (pen icon) to launch the Analyzer.
- To open an insight in the Analyzer, hover over the insight, and then select Edit (pen icon).
- The steps to edit the insight in the Analyzer are still the same.
Example of a tornado insight
In this example, you will create a tornado insight that shows the revenue and cost per product subcategory. The example uses the SALES schema that comes with the Sample Data.
In the CMC, create a tenant that includes Sample Data. The Sample Data includes the SALES schema.
Add an insight starting 2023.4.0
- In the Action bar, select Edit (pen icon).
- From the Insight panel, from Charts, drag Tornado to the canvas, and then hover over the new insight and select Edit (pen icon) to launch the Analyzer.
- 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.
- From the Data panel, drag the following columns to the respective tray:
- The Year column from the SALES table to the Grouping dimension tray
- The Revenue and Cost columns from the SALES table to the Measure tray
- In the Year pill properties, drag the Revenue column into the Sort By field.
- Name the insight Revenue vs. Cost per Year.
- Select Save.
