Intro to Visualizations
Visualizations are graphical data elements that add visual context to your analysis. They allow you to create, explore, and view your data in a more focused and digestible format.
By adding visualizations to a workbook, you can reveal patterns, trends, outliers, and correlations crucial to creating a compelling data narrative. Build each visualization to deliver specific data insights and answer important questions that help you make better business decisions.
Summary of Content
Types of Visualizations
Effective visualizations are essential to telling meaningful data stories, but choosing the right types of visualizations can be a challenge. Consider the type of data you want to visualize, the questions you need to answer, and the users who will view and consume your analysis.
The following information can help you choose visualizations best suited for a clear and detailed narrative.
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Bar ChartShow how values vary across categories or groups of data. Compare values against each other, in relation to a reference mark, or as proportions of a whole. |
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Line ChartShow how values of one or more metrics change over time. Spot trends and identify anomalies in your dataset. |
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KPI ChartHighlight a single metric value to measure performance or progress toward a goal. Summarize the total value for a specific period, compare the value over time, or measure it against a benchmark or target. |
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Area ChartIllustrate the magnitude or cumulative values of one or more metrics over time. Compare categories or groups of data, or evaluate the data composition or part-to-whole relationship. |
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Scatter PlotDemonstrate the presence and strength of a correlation between metrics. Analyze patterns, understand distribution, and identify outliers in your dataset. |
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Combo ChartCombine bar, line, area, and/or point marks to compare multiple types of metrics. Evaluate the relationship to identify correlations and variations between the datasets. |
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Box ChartShow the value distribution of one or more metrics. Mark the minimum, median, and maximum values, and identify outliers in your dataset. |
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Donut/Pie ChartPortray values as proportions of a whole to convey the data distribution and part-to-whole relationship. |
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Sankey DiagramShow how data flows and changes throughout a process or system. Compare the movements and proportions of data across different paths to analyze distributions, workflow, networks, etc. |
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Single ValueDisplay a single-value metric. Measure it against another value and show relative performance as a percentage, delta, or absolute value comparison. |
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Funnel ChartMeasure values across sequential stages in a linear process. Gain insight into inputs across stages, identify bottlenecks and other issues, and assess the overall health of the process. |
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Gauge ChartMeasure a single-value metric against a radial scale. Evaluate growth, assess performance, and track progress toward a goal. |
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Region MapIllustrate the scale of data distribution by country, state, county, city, etc. Compare data proportions or magnitudes across regions. |
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Point MapIllustrate the geographic distribution of data with precise positioning based on latitude and longitude. Reveal spatial patterns and identify outliers in your dataset. |
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GeoJSON MapConvert geographic features from geospatial data and illustrate the data distribution across custom-mapped regions. |
Custom Configurations
Visualizations feature various properties and formatting options that impact how your data is represented. With a wide range of customizable configurations, you can enhance your visualizations and ensure they present meaningful and actionable information.
Properties
The Element properties panel requires you to select a visualization type and configure source columns to define chart properties (axes, colors, tooltips, etc.).
You can convert data value types, change the data aggregation or truncation, and customize chart markers and tooltips. Depending on the visualization type selected, you may also have options to change the chart orientation, modify data stacking, and add trellis rows and columns.
Element properties panel in Edit mode
Element properties panel in Explore mode
Formatting
The Element format panel allows you to customize the appearance of various components, including the visualization title’s content, size, and alignment. Depending on the visualization type selected, you may also be able to format the background, axes, legend, data labels, reference marks, trend lines, etc.
Element format panel in Edit mode
Element format panel in Explore mode