Visualizing table data in charts

Visualizations are charts and statistics that you can use to present and communicate table data.

Chart types

Select a chart that can support the number of data dimensions, or variables, you want to use in the chart. Depending on the type of chart, you can display two, three, or four data dimensions.

Type Available charts Description

Bar chart

Compares two or three variables using a single value. A bar chart is a graph with rectangular bars and each bar's length is proportional to the value it represents.

Stacked Column Chart

A single second dimension column is divided by third dimension values.

Stacked Bar Chart

A single second dimension bar is divided by third dimension values.

Grouped Column Chart

Third dimension values are displayed as adjacent columns within the second dimension value.

Grouped Bar Chart

Third dimension values are displayed as adjacent bars within the second dimension value.

100% Stacked Column Chart

A single dimension column is divided by the percentage each third dimension value contributes to the total.

100% Stacked Bar Chart

A single dimension bar is divided by the percentage each third dimension value contributes to the total.

Line chart

Shows trends or changes over time by displaying a series of data points connected by straight line segments. You can display a single data field as multiple lines based on different categories through Color by field.

Line Chart

Plots changes over short or long periods of time and to assist in predictive data analysis. If small, frequent changes exist in the series, line charts are more effective than bar charts at visualizing the change over time.

Area chart

Compares historical trends or changes by showing the proportion of the total that each category represents at any given point in time. Area charts communicate overall trends rather than individual values when comparing multiple data series.

Stacked Area Chart

Shows the proportion of the total that each category represents at any given point in time.

Standard Area Chart

Shows a quantitative progression over time.

100% Stacked Area Chart

Shows how the constituent parts of a whole have changed over time.

The y-axis expands to 100% and each colored area represents one part of the whole, with each part stacked vertically. The height of each colored stack represents the percentage proportion of that category at a given point in time.

Pie chart

Shows categories as a proportion or a percentage of the whole. Use pie charts to show the composition of categorical data with each segment proportional to the quantity it represents.

Pie Chart

Effective when comparing parts of a whole for a static period. Does not show change over time.

Bubble chart

Communicates the raw count, frequency, or proportion of a variable. Bubble size reflects quantity, bubble color reflects category, and the x and y axes both display independent values.

Bubble Chart

Effective when you are working with three data series that each contain a set of values.

You can add an optional fourth variable for categorization. The bubble size is effective for emphasizing specific values and comparisons between categories.

Heat map chart

Displays individual values in a matrix and represents value as colors. Data points are defined by an x and y axis intersection and a third value that determines the data point's color.

Heat Map

Compares variables across a large number of categories and sorts complex data by color intensity.

Summary table

Groups records on unique values in one or more key fields and then performs a count for the number of matching records.

Summary Table

Drill into the summary by selecting a column and producing a crosstab. Once you define the summary, you can also select numeric fields to subtotal.
Treemap chart

Displays hierarchical, tree-structured data as a set of nested rectangles.

Treemap

Each group is given a rectangle, which is then tiled with smaller rectangles representing sub-groups. Size and color are used to show separate numeric dimensions of the data.

Statistics

Shows statistical information in a visually attractive format for one or more fields in a table.

Statistics

Identifies trends or irregularities in a table.

Create a chart

  1. From the Table View, at the top of the table, click + Add Visualization and select the type of chart to create.
  2. Replace Untitled with a descriptive title for the chart.
  3. On the right-hand side, click Configure and in the Configure Visualization panel, click Data, specify the data dimensions to include in the chart and click Apply.

    For more information about the defining the data dimensions for the chart type you are working with, see the appropriate chart link in Chart types.

  4. On the Configure Visualization panel, click Display and select the display options for the chart.

    For more information about the defining the display options for the chart type you are working with, see the appropriate chart link in Chart types.

  5. To save your changes to this interpretation, in the upper right corner, click Save and then Save.
  6. To create a new interpretation:
    1. In the upper right corner, click Save and then Save As.
    2. Enter the following:
      • Title Enter a meaningful name for the interpretation.
      • Summary Optional. Enter a description for the interpretation.
    3. Click Save.

Tip

If you want to save an image of your interpretation as a local file in .png or .jpg format, use an image capture tool or screen capture tool to create an image. For more information, see the help for the screen capture tool on your operating system.

Delete a chart

  1. From the Table View, at the top of the table, select the tab for the chart.
  2. On the right-hand side, click Configure and in the Configure Visualization panel, click Data, and then click Delete chart.