Bar/Column Chart
A bar chart, often known as a bar graph, is a type of chart that displays organized data using rectangular bars with lengths proportionate to the values they represent. The bars can be plotted horizontally or vertically. A vertical bar chart is also known as a column bar chart. Users will separate icons for horizontal and vertical charts in Vitara Charts and will need to switch as needed.
Inputs
Metrics - 1 or more metrics Attributes - 1 or more attributes Use as Filter Option - Available
Thresholds
In terms of business, specific parts of the chart should be highlighted to attract the attention of decision makers. For example, highlight the stores with total sales greater than a certain amount, or the top ten products with high sales over the previous winter. Thresholds are extremely valuable items in these scenarios.
Thresholds will use conditional formatting to highlight specific data points in a chart based on predefined criteria.The qualifications are attribute or metric qualifications. If the expression of a qualification evaluates to TRUE, the report indicates the threshold. Markers can also be included in thresholds.
Note: From 4.6 version we can apply thresholds using attributes. The source drop down box in the threshold editor window will list all the attributes and metrics in the chart. we can select an attribute as source and define a threshold condition. The target of the threshold depends on the series of the chart. This means, if the chart series is created using metrics then target drop down box will display the metrics. If we enabled ‘color by’ mode, by adding an attribute to the ‘color by’ drop zone in the dossier’s editor panel, the chart series will be created using attributes. In this case the threshold target drop down box will show all the elements of attribute used in the color by drop zone. In this case we can set threshold target using attribute.
In the threshold, the editor window apply source, target, threshold condition and the other related information to set a threshold on the chart.
Apply all the inputs and click on ‘Apply’ button.
From version 4.9.0, we can use pattern fill in thresholds, certain part of the chart can be filled with a pattern.
Axes
You can do both Category and Value formattings, by using Title, Label, Axis line and other options in the property editor.
Example of text formatting and color formatting for labels, title and axis line in the column chart.
Data Labels
From 4.1 version, a new property is introduced in bar and column charts to show the data labels outside the bar/column. The option to enable this feature is added in data labels tab with ‘Show Label Outside Bar/Column’ checkbox. See the screenshot below:
By default, this option will be enabled for the charts created from 4.1. Below screenshot shows how the data labels look before and after enabling ‘Show Label Outside Bar/Column’ option
The feature ‘Show Label Outside Bar/Column’ is tied to horizontal data label positions. If the data label is set to appear outside the bar/column, the horizontal data label positions right, left, and centre have no effect on the chart.
In VitaraCharts 4.7, a new property called ‘Force Outlier Labels Outside’ is added to all charts with bars as series. The data labels will be forced to appear outside the bar if this property is set, even if the bar has the maximum value in the chart.
See the before and after screenshots for the bar chart.
Before:
After:
Series
We can turn the bar/column chart into the combinational chart by changing the ‘series type’ in the ‘series’ tab.
From version 4.9.0, this charts have the Pattern fill option (Grid/Square/Double Square/Slash) in the Series tab, which allows us to display data in a more presentable manner.
Addition of Data Markers through Links
From Version 5.1.1, we have added a new feature that allows us to add markers to bar and column charts using image addresses (links). This functionality can be enabled under the series tab with name ‘Set DataMarker (link),’ where we must enter the URL and press the Apply button.
Markers
From 4.6 version, the Bar/Column charts as they support Series as Line/Area use the updated marker properties. Open the property editor by clicking on the ‘Edit’ button and select the Series tab you can see the Enable marker, Marker type and Marker size options to Enable marker properties. Below are the screenshots with the marker options.
In the below example, the bar changed to line in series property and ‘Thumbs-up’ marker is applied for the ‘2015 Q2’ attribute element. Below is the screenshot with the marker applied in the chart.
Data Marker from Attribute Form
From Version 5.1.1, we added a new feature for adding data markers. The dataset must include a column that contains tags or links since these markers will be activated by html tags or links from attribute forms. The markers will automatically display on the chart as soon as this column is included in the attribute form.
Below you will find URL dummy dataset created for further explaination:
Now, when dataset is being added we have to follow certain steps:
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First, change the ‘Category URL’ datatype to URL or HTML tags as shown below:
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The next step is to create a multi-form attribute using two columns, that can be combined using the Ctrl key, as shown below:
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Now ,the merged column will show up like this we can now update the changes.
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Finally, add attributes and metrics to the chosen dropzones to see markers appear on the charts.
Column/Bar Property
From 4.5 version of Vitara charts, there is a new property named ‘Column’ in column chart and ‘Bar’ in bar chart. You can see properties like Overlay Bar/Column, Bar/Column width, Bar/Column spacing and Series Border Properties. Below is the screenshot of the Bar/Column property editor
From 4.6 version of Vitara charts, there are two enhancements to the Bar/Column chart.
1. Variwide Chart:
Variwide chart can be used to visualize a second dimension in a column chart. Each data point is given a weight, in addition to its value, determining the width of the column. It computes the width for the stack to fill the whole plot area, and simply lets the column widths reflect a value.
For more details about the Variwide feature please refer to vari_wide.
2. Polar Mode
In polar mode, the Bar/Column charts will use a radial value axis. This way of using axes is called Polar coordinate system.
Let’s see how to use polar coordinates in simple steps.
Step 1:
Create a Bar chart with a minimum of one attribute and one metric. See the sample screenshot below.
Step 2:
Open the property editor and go to the ‘Bar’ tab. Enable the checkbox ‘Enable Polar Mode’. See the screenshot.
Then the value axis of the chart will be converted into Polar coordinates. Below screenshot shows the default behaviour of the chart with Polar coordinates.
Polar Mode settings
Polar mode comes up four settings which include Start angle, end angle, Outer Pane Size, Inner Pane Size.
The default settings of Polar mode are
Start Angle: 90, End Angle: 360, Outer Pane Size: 85, Inner Pane Size:20.
We can modify these settings anytime according to our preference. Let’s see some of the settings below
Start angle : 180
End angle : 90
Outer Pane Size : 90
Inner Pane Size : 20
Then chart looks like the below screenshot
All the axes settings available for normal Bar chart are also applicable to Polar coordinate system
Variances
From 4.7 version of VitaraCharts, ‘Variance/Delta’ feature is added in Bar/Column charts just like in IBCS charts. To use this feature, the chart should be created with at least 2 metrics and an attribute
The options to enable this feature are available in the Bar/Column tab of the property editor. See the screenshot below
We have ‘Absolute variance’ and ‘Relative variance’ of which either one of them or both can be enabled at a time according to the requirement.
To enable Absolute Variance, enable ‘Absolute Variance’ checkbox in Bar tab of the property editor. We can also set a title for absolute variance graph
See the screenshot below:
To enable Relative Variance, enable ‘Relative Variance’ checkbox in the Bar tab of the property editor. We can also set a title for relative variance graph
See the screenshot below:
We can also enable both the absolute and relative variances at once. And the chart looks like in the below screenshot:
Play-by Animation
Play by - animation shows the chart for each element of the first attribute. For more details about the play by feature please refer to play-by.
Background Image
The steps to set a background image for all Vitara charts are explained in backgroundImage.
Small Multiples
Bar/Column chart supports small multiples feature. Small multiples feature is explained in smallMultiples.
Data Markers
From the version 4.4, data markers feature is introduced in the Bar/Column charts. To know about Data Markers feature please click Here.
Bar Fill
From version 5.0, the Bar Chart can now show fill percentage, where the fill is displayed as a percentage of the attribute and the remaining space is left empty.
We can enable this feature by going to the Bar tab.
We can set the Max value for ‘Auto’ or ‘Fixed’ or the metrics you’ve taken.
We can specify a value for ‘Fixed.’
Once the maximum value is set, we can also add an unfilled color.
Here is a screenshot of a bar fill using a percentage dataset.
Delta Bar
From version 5.0, Delta Bar/Column feature added to chart, which can be enabled by selecting options from the series tab for individual series.
There are also options to enable delta Labels, set delta Bar width, and invert delta Bar colors.
The delta Bar feature completely disables error bars and vice versa.
The image below shows how the Profit of the financial years 2020 and 2021 will be compared, showing both negative and positive deltas.
This feature is also available with small multiples and bar variance properties.
DeltaBar has been disabled for Bar Fill, Polarmode, Dynamic width, Overlay, IBCS view & Play-Axis, and colour by.
Gradient Color
From version 5.0, Gradient color fill can be added where the series property is available.
It can be enabled by selecting options from the series tab for individual series.
It will show the color palette, which will have two selection handles to choose two colors that will render from beginning to end on the series. (From left to right)
Zero Value Bar
In Version 5.1.1.010, we included a new feature that allows users to show zero value bars. This feature can be enabled under the “Bar” tabs, where it can be used to display metrics, whose values are zero.
