Editing a chart gadget

Chart gadgets display data from BIRT data objects in Adobe Flash based charts.

Dashboard designers can customize chart gadget options using the Chart Builder—General options. For more information about general options, see Setting general gadget options, earlier in this section.

When adding or editing a chart gadget, you can change the chart type displayed in the gadget, as shown in Figure 4-19.

Figure 4-19  Selecting a chart type

Assigning data to chart gadgets

Adding a chart gadget to a dashboard or editing it, displays Chart Builder—Data, where the developer selects data to display in the chart. Chart gadgets can display data from any data set or cube in a single data object file.

Dashboard designers can also limit the data that appears in the gadget by using Chart Builder—Filter to create filter conditions. For more information about filtering, see Filtering data source in gadgets, earlier in this section.

If hyperlinks exist in the data object file, they can appear in the chart by selecting Chart Builder—Data—Use default hyperlink.

Chart gadgets that display data cubes support automatic drill-through, allowing users to drill-through category and series data in the same chart. For example, a chart showing stock by year and country supports drill-down to look at the time category in greater detail such as quarters or months. After finding the right time view, the user can then drill-down to a more detailed location view like city.

Tooltips can appear in a chart gadget and display the following information:

n	Category data

n	Data from a dimension, attribute, or measure of a cube

n

Default

n	Value data

n	Value series name

The dashboard designer assigns the data to the different parts of the chart. Each chart type presents data differently.

Pie and doughnut chart gadgets can slice and group data categories, like names of countries or product types, as shown in Figure 4-20. Values define the size of each slice relative to the other slices.

Figure 4-20  Selecting data to display as a pie or doughnut chart

When the category data is a date, an additional option for selecting the time interval appears. Bar, column, and line chart gadgets can display and group data categories, like names of countries or product types, as shown in Figure 4-21.

Figure 4-21  Selecting data to display as a bar, column, or line chart

Dashboard designers can use aggregate expressions to summarize data set values. Table 4-2 shows the aggregate expressions available in chart gadgets Chart gadgets can group category data received from a data set. Data from a cube is already aggregated and grouped. Chart gadgets support drill-through of categories and series for data from a cube. Drill-through by series requires Group Legend Items be set to a dimension in the cube.

Table 4-2  Aggregate expressions for chart gadgets

Function	Description
Average	Returns the average of the values.
Count	Returns the number of values, including duplicate values.
Distinct Count	Returns the number of values, excluding duplicate values.
First	Returns the first value among the values.
Last	Returns the last value among the values.
Max	Returns the largest value among the values.
Min	Returns the smallest value among the values.
Sum	Returns the sum of the values.

For example, a user viewing a chart of sales data can use drill-down to view sales in all months of a specific quarter when time is set as a category. When the Group legend items is set to product line, the user can drill-through to look at specific product vendors and products while still viewing the data for the selected time. Figure 4-22 shows an example of this type of drill-through.

Figure 4-22  Drill-through choices in a data cube-based chart

Formatting a bar chart

You can format a bar chart gadget to modify its appearance on a dashboard. Figure 4-23 shows the elements that you can modify.

Figure 4-23  Displaying a stacked bar chart gadget

Choose edit from the gadget menu or create a new gadget to open Chart Builder. In Chart Builder, select Chart Builder—Format to see formatting options. The following formatting options are available for a bar chart:

n	Change the title and appearance of the chart using the Chart options, as shown in Figure 4-24.

Figure 4-24  Formatting a bar chart

If Auto is selected for the chart’s title, the chart title changes as a user drills down to view more detailed data or drills up to view summary data. For example, a chart title of TotalSales by Country, changes to TotalSales by City when a user drills down to display cities of a selected country. Remove the Auto selection to prevent the title from changing.

You can change the width and height of a bar chart. The chart appears three-dimensional when 2D with depth is selected in Dimension. You can customize the font attributes used in the chart, such as font, size, and color. If you are displaying multiple values, the chart subtype can be set to display these values side-by-side, stacked or percent stacked. Selecting the glass style displays the chart bars with a glass-like fill.

The dashboard designer can selected a color for the font used in the bar chart gadget. For more information about selecting colors, see Using the color picker, earlier in this section.

n	Change the chart legend using the Legend options, as shown in Figure 4-25.

Figure 4-25  Formatting a bar chart legend

The legend helps users identify multiple values displayed on the chart. When a user clicks on a legend value, the corresponding value on the chart is highlighted. Display a legend on the chart by selecting Show Legend and a position for the legend to appear, relative to the chart.

n	Customize the presentation of the chart’s axis values using the Categories and Values options, as shown in Figure 4-26.

Figure 4-26  Customizing axis values of a bar chart

You can display titles and labels for both categories and values. The x-axis can display labels at an angle, staggered, and at intervals. For example, an interval of 2 displays every other label on the x-axis. To only show data between two values, you can set a minimum and maximum value for the Y-axis.

When Auto step is enabled, the y-axis appears with horizontal lines and value markers. When Auto step is disabled, you can select a fixed number of vertical lines and value markers.

Formatting a column chart

You can format a column chart gadget to modify its appearance on a dashboard. Figure 4-27 shows the elements that you can modify.

Figure 4-27  Displaying a column chart

Choose edit from the gadget menu or create a new gadget to open Chart Builder. In Chart Builder, select Chart Builder—Format to see formatting options. The following formatting options are available for a column chart:

n	Change the title and appearance of the chart using the Chart options, as shown in Figure 4-28.

Figure 4-28  Formatting a column chart

If Auto is selected for the chart’s title, the chart title changes as a user drills down to view more detailed data or drills up to view summary data. For example, a chart title of TotalSales by Country, changes to TotalSales by City when a user drills down to display cities of a selected country. Remove the Auto selection to prevent the title from changing.

You can change the width and height of a column chart. The chart appears three-dimensional when 2D with depth is selected in Dimension. You can customize the font attributes used in the chart, such as font, size, and color. If you are displaying multiple values, the chart subtype can be set to display these values side-by-side, stacked or percent stacked. Selecting the glass style displays the chart bars with a glass-like fill.

The dashboard designer can selected a color for the font used in the bar chart gadget. For more information about selecting colors, see Using the color picker, earlier in this section.

n	Change the chart legend using the Legend options, as shown in Figure 4-29.

Figure 4-29  Formatting a column chart legend

The legend helps users identify multiple values displayed on the chart. When a user clicks on a legend value, the corresponding value on the chart is highlighted. Display a legend on the chart by selecting Show Legend and a position for the legend to appear, relative to the chart.

n	Customize the presentation of the chart’s axis values using the Categories and Values options, as shown in Figure 4-30.

Figure 4-30  Customizing axis values of a column chart

You can display titles and labels for both categories and values. The x-axis can display labels at an angle, staggered, and at intervals. For example, an interval of 2 displays every other label on the x-axis. To only show data between two values, you can set a minimum and maximum value for the Y-axis.

When Auto step is enabled, the y-axis appears with horizontal lines and value markers. When Auto step is disabled, you can select a fixed number of vertical lines and value markers.

Formatting a doughnut chart

You can format a doughnut chart gadget to modify its appearance on a dashboard. Figure 4-31 shows the elements that you can modify.

Figure 4-31  Displaying a doughnut chart

Choose edit from the gadget menu or create a new gadget to open Chart Builder. In Chart Builder, select Chart Builder—Format to see formatting options. The following formatting options are available for a doughnut chart:

n	Change the title and appearance of the chart using the Chart options, as shown in Figure 4-32.

Figure 4-32  Formatting a doughnut chart

If Auto is selected for the chart’s title, the chart title changes as a user drills down to view more detailed data or drills up to view summary data. For example, a chart title of TotalSales by Country, changes to TotalSales by City when a user drills down to display cities of a selected country. Remove the Auto selection to prevent the title from changing.

You can change the width, height, and radius size of a doughnut chart. The chart appears three-dimensional when 2D with depth is selected in Dimension. You can customize the font attributes used in the chart, such as font, size, and color. To bring attention to specific parts of the chart you can change the starting rotation of the chart.

The dashboard designer can selected a color for the font used in the doughnut chart gadget. For more information about selecting colors, see Using the color picker, earlier in this section.

n	Change the chart legend using the Legend options, as shown in Figure 4-33.

Figure 4-33  Formatting a doughnut chart legend

The legend helps users identify multiple values displayed on the chart. When a user clicks on a legend value, the corresponding value on the chart is highlighted. Display a legend on the chart by selecting Show Legend and a position for the legend to appear, relative to the chart.

Formatting a line chart

You can format a line chart gadget to modify its appearance on a dashboard. Figure 4-34 shows the elements that you can modify.

Figure 4-34  Displaying a line chart

Choose edit from the gadget menu or create a new gadget to open Chart Builder. In Chart Builder, select Chart Builder—Format to see formatting options. The following formatting options are available for a line chart:

n	Change the title and appearance of the chart using the Chart options, as shown in Figure 4-35.

Figure 4-35  Formatting a line chart

If Auto is selected for the chart’s title, the chart title changes as a user drills down to view more detailed data or drills up to view summary data. For example, a chart title of TotalSales by Country, changes to TotalSales by City when a user drills down to display cities of a selected country. Remove the Auto selection to prevent the title from changing.

You can change the width and height of a line chart. You can customize the font attributes used in the chart, such as font, size, and color.

The dashboard designer can selected a color for the font used in the line chart gadget. For more information about selecting colors, see Using the color picker, earlier in this section.

n	Change the chart legend using the Legend options, as shown in Figure 4-36.

Figure 4-36  Formatting a line chart legend

The legend helps users identify multiple values displayed on the chart. When a user clicks on a legend value, the corresponding value on the chart is highlighted. Display a legend on the chart by selecting Show Legend and a position for the legend to appear, relative to the chart.

n	Customize the presentation of the chart’s axis values using the Categories and Values options, as shown in Figure 4-37.

Figure 4-37  Customizing axis values of a line chart

You can display titles and labels for both categories and values. The x-axis can display labels at an angle, staggered, and at intervals. For example, an interval of 2 displays every other label on the x-axis. To only show data between two values, you can set a minimum and maximum value for the Y-axis.

When Auto step is enabled, the y-axis appears with horizontal lines and value markers. When Auto step is disabled, you can select a fixed number of vertical lines and value markers.

Formatting a pie chart

You can format a pie chart gadget to modify its appearance on a dashboard. Figure 4-38 shows the elements that you can modify.

Figure 4-38  Displaying a pie chart

Choose edit from the gadget menu or create a new gadget to open Chart Builder. In Chart Builder, select Chart Builder—Format to see formatting options. The following formatting options are available for a pie chart:

n	Change the title and appearance of the chart using the Chart options, as shown in Figure 4-39.

Figure 4-39  Formatting a pie chart

If Auto is selected for the chart’s title, the chart title changes as a user drills down to view more detailed data or drills up to view summary data. For example, a chart title of TotalSales by Country, changes to TotalSales by City when a user drills down to display detail values of a selected country. Remove the Auto selection to prevent the title from changing.

You can change the width, height, and radius size of a pie chart. The chart appears three-dimensional when 2D with depth is selected in Dimension. You can customize the font attributes used in the chart, such as font, size, and color. To bring attention to specific parts of the chart you can change the starting rotation of the chart.

The dashboard designer can selected a color for the font used in the pie chart gadget. For more information about selecting colors, see Using the color picker, earlier in this section.

n	Change the chart legend using the Legend options, as shown in Figure 4-40.

Figure 4-40  Formatting a pie chart legend

The legend helps users identify multiple values displayed on the chart. When a user clicks on a legend value, the corresponding value on the chart is highlighted. Display a legend on the chart by selecting Show Legend and a position for the legend to appear, relative to the chart.

(c) Copyright Actuate Corporation 2011