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Building Visualizations

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Building Visualizations

Create a Visualization

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Different visualization types support different plot and format options. Some plot options are required, and visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined. Please visit visualization-specific documentation to learn more about plotting and formatting your element.

Switch Between Visualization Types

You can switch a visualization element's visualization type (e.g. bar to line) at any time. However, you will lose any plot and format settings that are not also supported by your newly selected visualization type.

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel..

  1. Select the visualization.
  2. In the editor panel, select a new visualization type from the dropdown menu located under  VISUALIZATION.

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Maximize the Element View

All data elements have two interactive views: minimized view (default view in a workbook) and maximized view.

When a visualization is maximized, it expands to the full width of the canvas and displays the element's underlying data table. Because the element and underlying data are inherently linked, changes made in one are automatically reflected in the other.

Note: Both interactive views are available in any workbook mode (Edit or View); however, changes can be made in Edit mode only.

Visualization Formatting

Every visualization type supports some level of formatting. However, the complexity of available formatting options varies greatly between visualization types. 

Edit a Visualization's Format Options

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the visualization’s editor panel, click the paintbrush button in the workbook sidebar. This will open the element's format panel.

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    2. Click section headers to view and edit their format options.

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Copy & Paste Formats to Other Visualizations

A visualization’s formatting can be copied and pasted to other elements across workbook pages and browser tabs.

What is and isn't included in the copy? 

Almost all element formatting is captured when copied. The exceptions are text fields (e.g. title), reference marks, and conditional formatting.

Formats can be copied and pasted across different element types (e.g. bar chart to pie chart). When an element's formatting is pasted to another element, only formats applicable to the receiving element are applied.

Here are a few examples:

  • A bar chart's data label formatting will be accepted by a line chart
  • A bar chart's bar color will not be accepted by a pie chart because their color fields are not compatible. However, color fields are compatible across cartesian chart types.
  • A chart's "color by scale" formatting will not be accepted by a chart already formatted to "color by category."

Area Charts

Plot an Area Chart

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields and marks using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

Required Fields

  • X-AXIS (1+ columns)
  • Y-AXIS (1+ columns)

Columns added to the Y-AXIS field are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).

For example, a numeric column such as 'Sales Amount' will create a new calculated column, 'Sum of Sales Amount' (e.g. Sum([Sales Amount])).

Marks

  • COLOR
  • TOOLTIP
  • TRELLIS

Stacked Area Chart Variations

Area charts support three stack variations: 

  • No Stacking - Areas start from the X axis and might overlap
  • Stacked - Areas stack on top of each other
  • Stacked 100% - All areas add up to 100% of the area

Create a stacked area chart

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, add a column to the COLOR field.
  2. [optional] Select one of the three stack options from the top of the chart’s editor panel view.

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Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format options are available for area charts:

  • Background
  • Title
  • X-Axis Scale
  • X-Axis Scale
  • Legend
  • Reference Marks
  • Area Shape

Bar Charts

Plot a Bar Chart

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

Required Fields

  • X-AXIS (1 column)
  • Y-AXIS (1+ columns)
  • Columns added to the Y-AXIS field are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).

Example: A numeric column [Line Item Total] will aggregate to [Sum of Line Item Total].

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Marks

  • COLOR (1)
  • TOOLTIP (1+)
  • TRELLIS (1 TRELLIS ROW and/or 1 TRELLIS COLUMN)

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Bar Orientation (Horizontal vs Vertical)

Bar charts can be displayed both vertically and horizontally.

Switch Bar Orientation

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. 

  1. In the editor panel's VISUALIZATION section, below the visualization type, click either the display vertical button or display horizontal button.

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Stacked Bar Variations

Bar charts support three stack variations: no stacking, stacked, and stacked 100%. 

Stack Bars

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, add a column to the COLOR field.
  2. In the panel's VISUALIZATION section, below the visualization type, select any of the three stack options by clicking its icon button.

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Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for bar charts:

  • Background
  • Title
  • X-Axis
  • X-Axis
  • Legend
  • Data Labels
  • Gaps
  • Reference Lines

Conditional Formatting

Add a New Rule

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel under MARKS > COLOR, click + Add rule.

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    2. A new undefined rule will appear. Click it.

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    3. In the popup:

    1. Select a column to apply the rule to (Apply to).
    2. Define your Formatting rule.
    3. Click the paint bucket icon to select a color. 

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Rule Prioritization

If multiple rules are applied to a single column, you may need to order your rules by precedence.  Rules higher in the list take precedence over their lower peers. 

Drag and drop rules to reorder them.

Example

In the example below, Rule #1 colors all bars with a value > 1,000,000 green. Rule #2 colors all bars with a value > 0 purple. Rule #1 applies to only a select set of bars in the visualization. However, Rule #2 applies to all bars.

Scenario #1: If Rule #1 is listed first, it will take precedence over Rule #2. All bars that fit the criteria of Rule #1 will be colored green. Rule #2 cannot override this higher rule and will only checked against and applied to the remaining bars.

Scenario #2:  If Rule #2 is listed first, it will take precedence over Rule #1. In this case, Rule #2 happens to apply to every bar. All bars will be colored purple, including bars that would have otherwise matched Rule #1. 

Single Value Visualization

Plot a Single Value Visualization

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

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Required Fields

  • VALUE (1+)

Columns added to the VALUE field are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).

Optional Fields

  • Comparison (1)

Marks

  • Color
  • Tooltip

Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for single value visualizations: 

  • Background
  • Title
  • Value
  • Comparison

Apply Conditional Formatting

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

In the editor panel under MARKS > COLOR, click + Add rule.

  1. A new undefined rule will appear. Click it.
  2. In the popup:
    1. Select a column to apply the rule to (Apply to).
    2. Define your Formatting rule.
    3. Click the paint bucket icon to select a background color AND/OR click the text icon to select a font color. 

Rule Prioritization

If multiple rules are applied to a single column, you may need to order your rules by precedence.  Rules higher in the list take precedence over their lower peers. 

Drag and drop rules to reorder them.

Add a Tooltip

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel under MARKS > TOOLTIP, click + Add rule.
  2. In the popup, select the column you would like to use.

Note:

  • Columns added as Tooltip Marks are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).
  • Hover your cursor over the visualization's value to show the tooltip.
    • [optional] Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add additional columns to the tooltip.

Line Charts

Plot a Line Chart

Line charts can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

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Required Fields

  • X-AXIS (1 column)
  • Y-AXIS (1+ columns)

Columns added to the Y-AXIS field are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).

For example, a numeric column such as 'Sales Amount' will create a new calculated column, 'Sum of Sales Amount' (e.g. Sum([Sales Amount])).

Marks

  • COLOR: choose a color for the line or a field to use to split the line into different colored lines (like the Product Family example in the screenshot below).
  • TOOLTIP: choose columns to show when hovering over points in the chart.
  • TRELLIS: select columns to serve as Trellis Rows or Columns, splitting the chart into separate charts.

Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for line charts:

  • Background
  • Title
  • X-Axis
  • Y-Axis
  • Legend
  • Data Labels
  • Reference Marks
  • Shape

Add Data Labels

When data labels are added to a line chart, they are applied to every line in the visualization. 

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.

This will open the element's format panel.

  1. Click DATA LABELS.
  2. Click Show data labels.
  3. [optional] Select a Label Style from the following list:
    1. Min - Displays the line’s minimum value.
    2. Max - Displays the line’s maximum value.
    3. Min/Max - Displays both the minimum and maximum values.
    4. Endpoints - Displays the values at both the beginning and the end of the line.
    5. All - Displays all values on the line, when possible. Value labels may be excluded to prevent overlap.

Please note: If the selected label style is Min, Max, or Min/Max and applies to multiple identical values on a line, both instances will be displayed. For example, if “Min” is selected, and the line has two instances of its minimum value, both will be labeled.

  1. [optional] Select a custom Color.
  2. [optional] Select a custom Font size.

Pie and Donut Charts

Plot Options

Pie and donut charts charts can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

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Required Fields

  • COLOR (1 column)
  • VALUE (1+ columns)

Columns added to the VALUE field are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type (e.g. text, number, date, etc).

Example: A numeric column [Sales Amount] will create a new calculated column [Sum of Sales Amount].

Marks

  • TOOLTIP: choose columns to show when hovering over points in the chart
  • TRELLIS: select columns to serve as Trellis Rows or Columns, splitting the chart into separate charts 

Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for pie and donut charts:

  • BACKGROUND
  • TITLE
  • LEGEND
  • DATA LABELS

Maps

Plot a Map 

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

Map Types

Workbooks support three distinct map types: Region and Point.

You should choose your map type based on your available data and the results you wish to see. For example, if you want to map a text column [State] with cell values like "Colorado" and "California", you should a Region map type.

Map - Region

Region maps require a single text column on the map's REGION field. Rows in this column should match one of the following region types:

  • Countries — (e.g. United States, China, Kenya, Brazil)
  • US States (Name) — (e.g. Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Oklahoma)
  • US States (Shortcode) — (e.g. CO, CA, MA, OK)
  • US Counties (Name, State) — (e.g. "Alemeda, California")
  • Note: The words "County" or "Parish" must be omitted from the county name.
  • US Zip Codes — (e.g. 94105)

Map - Point (Lat/Long)

Point maps require a number column on both the map's LATITUDE and LONGITUDE fields.

Box and Whisker Charts

Box and whisker charts display the distribution of a set of values along an axis. They are also commonly known as box plots.

Anatomy of a Box and Whisker Chart

Box and whisker charts break data into quartiles. The upper quartile, median, and lower quartile make up what we refer to as box. The entire spread from whisker minimum to whisker maximum, including the box, accounts for the statistically central range of data. This is called the interquartile range (IQR) and is calculated as Q3 - Q1. Data points that fall out of the IQR are called outliers. 

  • Maximum: The data point with the highest value below Q3 + 1.5*IQR
  • Upper Quartile: Values contained in the upper 25% of data.
  • Median: The data range's midpoint.
  • Lower Quartile: Values contained in the lower 25% of data.
  • Minimum: The data point with the lowest value above Q1 - 1.5*IQR
  • Outliers: Values that fall above or below the IQR. Outliers are calculated as is > Q3 + 1.5*IQR and is < Q1 - 1.5*IQR

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Plot a Box and Whisker Chart

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

Fields

  • X-AXIS (1 column)
  • Categorical data is first grouped by the column on the X-AXIS. 
  • Y-AXIS (1+ columns)

Columns added to the visualization’s Y-AXIS are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type.

In some cases, you will want to uncheck the AGGREGATE VALUES option. Aggregating the value on the Y-AXIS value will give you an option to SPLIT BY. 

  • SPLIT BY (1 column - optional)

Creates a second grouping under the first grouping (defined on the X-AXIS). 

Example: In the screenshot below, the X-AXIS is set to [Store State], grouping the rows of data into states. The column on the Y-AXIS, [Store Sales] defines the numerical range of the plotted data. The column added to SPLIT BY, [Store Name], acts as a grouping below [Store State]. In other words, data is grouped by state and then each state's data is grouped by (aka "split by") individual stores' names. Points on the y-axis represent the aggregate [Store Sales] values listed under the second, "split by", grouping. 

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Marks

  • COLOR
  • TOOLTIP (1+ columns)

Display Orientation (Horizontal vs Vertical)

Box and whisker charts can be displayed both vertically and horizontally. 

To select your chart’s orientation, select either the display vertical or display horizontal icon button in the chart’s editor panel view.

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Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for box and whisker charts:

  • BACKGROUND
  • TITLE
  • X-AXIS
  • Y-AXIS
  • LEGEND
  • BOX SHAPE
  • DATA LABELS
  • REFERENCE MARKS

 

Customize Point Display Options

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Click BOX SHAPE.
  3. Select BOX SHAPE formatting from the options presented:
    1. The Show points checkbox is checked by default. Uncheck to hide all points.
    2. If Show points is selected, you can choose:
      1. Outliers only – Shows only the points that fall outside the box.
      2. All points – Shows all points, regardless of position.

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Trellis Chart

Trellis Chart Types

Sigma supports trellising for the following chart types:

  • Bar charts
  • Line charts
  • Area charts
  • Scatter charts
  • Donut charts
  • Pie charts

Trellis your Data

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel under MARKS, click TRELLIS.

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    2. Add column(s) to the TRELLIS ROW and/or TRELLIS COLUMN fields.

           1. Click the plus (+) button to the right of the field label, and select a column from the popup list, or

           2. Drag and drop a column from the COLUMNS list onto the field label. 

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Trellis Formatting

Edit Axis and Legend Sharing

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

Note: The chart must have at least one value plotted under MARKS > TRELLIS.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Click TRELLIS.
  3. Use the checkboxes under SHARE to make your share selections for X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Color Legends. 

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Edit Axis Label / Title Formatting

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

Note: The chart must have at least one value plotted under MARKS > TRELLIS.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Click TRELLIS.
  3. Use the checkboxes and dropdown menus under COLUMN and/or ROW to define your titles and labels.

Combo Charts

Plot a Combo Chart

Visualizations can be created via the PAGE ELEMENTS section of your workbook's editor panel or directly from an existing data element. 

Visualized data will not display on the page canvas until all required plot fields are defined.

Add columns to open fields using either the field's + menu or dragging and dropping the column.

Fields

  • X-AXIS (1 column)
  • Data is first grouped by the column on the X-AXIS. 
  • Y-AXIS (1+ columns)

Columns added to the visualization’s Y-AXIS are aggregated by default. Aggregation type (e.g. Sum vs Count) is dependent on the original column’s value type.

By default, the first column placed on the y-axis is displayed as a bar chart, and all additional columns are plotted as lines. However, each plotted column's SHAPE can be set to any of four options – bar, line, area, or scatter – from its column menu. 

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Marks

  • COLOR
  • TOOLTIP (1+ columns)

Format Options

To begin editing an visualization’s format options:

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Select a format option to view and edit its settings.

The following format categories are available for combo charts:

  • BACKGROUND
  • TITLE
  • X-AXIS
  • Y-AXIS
  • LEGEND
  • GAPS
  • REFERENCE MARKS
  • DATA LABELS
  • AREA/LINE SHAPE

Change a Column's Shape

Column's plotted on a combo chart's y-axis can take one of four shapes: bar, line, area, or scatter. Follow the steps below to change a column's shape.

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. 

  1. In the editor panel, hover over the column, and click its caret (▼) button. This will open the column's menu.
  2. In the SHAPE submenu, choose Bar, Line, Area, or Scatter.

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Visualization of Data Labels

Data label formatting is available for the following visualization types:

  • Bar charts
  • Box and whisker charts
  • Combo charts
  • Donut & pie charts
  • Funnel charts
  • Gauge charts
  • Line charts
  • Scatter plots

 

Add Data Labels

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Click to open the DATA LABELS section. Note: Format options vary by visualization type.
  3. Check the Data labels checkbox to switch them.Use the fields that appear to customize your data labels.

Note: Data label options vary by visualization type.

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Visualization Reference Marks

Reference lines and reference bands are available for the following visualization types:

  • Bar charts
  • Line charts
  • Area charts
  • Scatter charts
  • Combo charts

Add a Reference Mark

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. 

  1. In the editor panel, click the paintbrush button.
  2. Click to open the REFERENCE MARKS section. Note: Format options vary by visualization type.
  3. Click + Add new.

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    4. Click to expand the new reference mark. Then select your reference mark type: Line (default) or Band. 

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    5. Use the below fields to customize your reference mark.

Customize Visualization Tooltips

Add Columns to a Tooltip

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. 

  1. In the editor panel, drag a column from the COLUMNS list up to the TOOLTIP tab, located under the MARKS header. 

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     2. Want to test it? The column's values should appear in the tooltip when you hover your cursor over the visualization.

Show / Hide a Plotted Column in a Visualization's Tooltip

Before you start: This action uses the editor panel. If you have not done so already, open the editor panel from Edit mode.

  1. In the editor panel, select or hover over the column, and click the caret icon button (▼) to open the column's menu.
  2. Click Show in tooltip.

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