Visualizations → Combo
About a Combo visualization
A combo visualization allows you to compare multiple measures that have the same scale. Information in a combo visualization is plotted on an x-axis and a y-axis; data values are plotted using data points that are connected using line segments.
A combo visualization is ideal for displaying both nominal or ordinal data as a chart. Nominal data is categorical. The categories are arbitrary labels without numerical significance that function to describe calculated values. Ordinal data has a natural sequence where the distinct (and often numerical) order functions categorize the calculated values.
The distinction between a visualization and an insight is that an insight is an instance of the visualization. As an instance, an insight has unique configurations that a dashboard developer determines for displaying a chart on a dashboard tab. Insight configurations affect the available user interactions for a dashboard consumer such as the ability to drill down into a grouping dimension.
With two possible dimensions, a combo visualization offers a dashboard developer the ability to create an insight that groups one or more aggregated or calculated values by one or more attributes. The result is a combo chart on a dashboard tab that shows:
- a grouping dimension as the labels along the x-axis (horizontal axis)
- a measure as the increments along the y-axis (vertical axis)
Configurations for a combo insight
A dashboard developer first selects a combo visualization for an insight in the Analyzer. Using the Analyzer, a dashboard developer configures pill properties, filter properties, and insight settings. Insight settings and pill properties determine not only how the combo chart appears as an insight in a dashboard tab, but also how a dashboard consumer can interact with the combo chart.
The visualization selection in the Insight panel of the Analyzer determines the available trays. From the Data panel, a dashboard developer adds a column or a formula to a tray. A column or a formula in a tray is a Pill.
Each pill has configurable properties. The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill.
The available trays for a combo insight are:
- Grouping Dimension
- Measure
- Individual Filter
- Aggregate Filter
A combo insight requires at least two measure pills and one grouping dimension pill. Using a measure pill only without a grouping dimension results in an insight with one point that represents the sum (of the result of the aggregated function) for this measure.
Grouping Dimension
From the Data panel, you can add a column or a formula to the Grouping Dimension tray. The combo insight plots the first pill in the Grouping Dimension tray on the x-axis.
Each pill in the Grouping Dimension tray is a filterable column for the insight. The pill ordering in the grouping dimension tray defines the following:
- the first pill is the initial grouping dimension
- the other pills define an order of user interactions that allow a dashboard consumer to drill down into the next grouping dimension and in doing so, also create one or more dashboard runtime filters
Measure
To create an aggregation or calculation, you can add a column or a formula from the Data panel to the Measure tray.
A combo insight shows the increments for the measure pill on the y-axis.
You can select the measure pill to open the Properties panel. In the Properties panel, you can configure various properties such as the Aggregation and Format properties.
Individual Filter
To filter individual rows for the combo insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.
You can select the individual filter pill to open the Filter panel. Using the Filter panel, you can specify the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the individual filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an individual filter, review Concepts → Individual Filter.
Aggregate Filter
You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.
To create a filter expression, you can add a column or a formula to the Aggregate Filter tray from the Data panel. You can select the aggregate filter pill to open the Filter panel.
Using the Filter panel, you can specify the aggregation, the filter operator, one or more filter values, or the filter expression itself with the Formula Builder. You can also disable the aggregate filter.
To learn more about filter expressions for an aggregate filter, review Concepts → Aggregate Filter.
Pill properties
The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. There are various possible configurations for each pill type:
- Grouping dimension pill properties
- Measure pill properties
- Individual filter properties for a filter expression
- Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression
You can edit the properties of a grouping dimension, or a measure pill with the Properties panel for a combo insight.
To create a filter expression, you can edit the properties of an individual filter or aggregate filter pill with the Filter panel.
In the case of the Filter property of a measure pill, you can open the Filter panel from the Properties panel to create the filter expression.
To open the Properties panel or Filter panel, select the pill arrow.
Grouping dimension pill properties
Here are the properties of a pill in the grouping dimension tray in a combo insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| Formula | text box | When you select it, it invokes the Formula Builder to create the formula expression you want. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the grouping dimension column or formula pill. The label of the first pill will be the x-axis title. |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Hierarchy | toggle | This option is available only for columns from objects with data hierarchy (physical schema objects with self-join). Enable this property to specify the level of data in the hierarchy that you want to include in the insight for the respective column. |
| Hierarchy → Level | text box | Enable Hierarchy to configure this property. Enter a numeric value that represents the level of data you want to include in the insight. Leave blank or enter -1 to include all levels. |
| Data → Sort By | drag and drop | Drag and drop a column or formula to sort the x-axis labels by |
| Format → Date Format | drop down list | Select the format of the formula or date column. This option is available only when you edit the pill properties for a date column or a formula |
| Format → Date Mask | text box | Enter a customized date format or select a predefined one to appear in this text box |
| Format → Plot Band | link | Select + Add Plot Band to highlight certain areas in the combo chart, usually specific thresholds designating whether the data falls under these boundaries or not |
| Plot Band → Start | text box | Enter the numeric start position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Stop | text box | Enter the numeric stop position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Label | text box | Enter a label for the plot band |
| Plot Band → Background Color | select | Select the background color of the plot band |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill Down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a grouping dimension value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass the applied filter, if any, from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
Measure pill properties
The parent tray determines the available properties of a pill. Select the arrow to the right of the pill name to open the Properties panel and configure the related properties.
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon. |
| Formula | text box | Select to invoke the Formula Builder and create the formula expression. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a formula added to the tray. |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the measure pill. |
| Data → Date Part | drop down list | When the selected column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Data → Aggregation | drop down list | Select the aggregation option for the measure values. The available options vary. The options are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● Formula ● None |
| Data → Scale | drop down list | Select the chart scale. The options are: ● None (default) ● Percent (%) ● Thousands (K) ● Millions (M) |
| Data → Running Total | toggle | Enable this property to display the measure values as a running total |
| Data → Filter | drag and drop | Drag and drop a column or formula to filter the measure |
| Format → Number Format | drop down list | Select the format of the measure (e.g. Dollar Rounded) |
| Format → Decimal Places | text box | This property appears when you select Decimal, Dollar, Euro, Yen, or Percent as the Format. Enter the number of decimal places to display for the measure value |
| Format → Thousands Separator | toggle | This property appears for all Format options, except No Format. Enable this property to include a comma separator for values of 1000 or greater. |
| Format → Percentage | toggle | Enable this property to format the value as a percentage |
| Format → Prefix | text box | Add a prefix to the y-axis labels. The prefix cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Suffix | text box | Add a suffix to the y-axis labels. The suffix cannot contain single quotes. |
| Format → Abbreviate on Hover | toggle | Enable this property to abbreviate the measure value upon hover |
| Format → Color | select | Select a color for the measure value |
| Format → Type | drop down list | Select the chart type. The options are: ● Line (default) ● Dashed Line ● Spline ● Dashed Spline ● Area ● Column ● Scatter |
| Format → Plot Band | link | Select + Add Plot Band to highlight certain areas in the combo chart, usually specific thresholds designating whether the data falls under these boundaries or not |
| Plot Band → Start | text box | Enter the numeric start position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Stop | text box | Enter the numeric stop position of the plot band |
| Plot Band → Label | text box | Enter a label for the plot band |
| Plot Band → Background Color | select | Select the background color of the plot band |
| Drill Down → Dashboards Drill down | link | Select + Add Dashboard to select a dashboard tab to drill down to when the user selects a measure value in the insight |
| Add Dashboard → Include Runtime Filters | toggle | Enable this property to pass a filter from one dashboard to another |
| Add Dashboard → Search Dashboard | text box | Enter a search string to filter the dashboard tree. From the results, select a dashboard tab to drill down to. |
| Advanced → Base Field | drag and drop | Drag and drop a column to join two physical schema objects that are not directly joined. To learn more, review Concepts → Base Table. |
| Advanced → Query Plan | button | Select to access the Query Plan Viewer to check the Direct Data Map path that Incorta Analytics Service uses to retrieve or calculate the measure |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression
To filter individual rows for the combo insight, define an individual filter for the insight. You can add a column or a formula to the Individual Filter tray from the Data panel.
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a combo insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the individual filter pill |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use in the filter expression |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Individual filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties for a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Individual Filter tray for a combo insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formula label | label | The formula pill label |
| Data → Column Label | text box | Enter the label for the individual filter formula pill |
| Formula → Dynamic | toggle | Enable this property to select a filter expression session variable as a value |
| Formula | text box | Disable Dynamic to configure this property. Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression. |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use for the filter expression |
| Values | multi-select | Select the value(s) to evaluate the column value against, if required. Some operators do not require a value to evaluate against, such as Null and True, and some require more than one value, such as Between. In the case that you enable Dynamic, select a filter expression session variable. If applicable, enter a string in the search bar to filter the list of values. To add a value to the list, enter it in the text box below the list and select +. |
| Advanced → Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression
You can define a filter expression that contains an aggregation or calculation using the Aggregate Filter tray.
Aggregate filter pill properties for a filter expression with a column as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a column as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a combo insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column fully qualified name | label | The fully qualified name of the selected column. This property is available only when you edit the properties of a column in the tray. Select the information icon (the letter i in a circle) to preview the column function (dimension, key, or measure) and samples of the column data. You can also copy the column’s fully qualified name by selecting the copy icon |
| Column Label | text box | Enter the name of the aggregate filter pill |
| Date Part | drop down list | When the filter column is a date or timestamp, select the part of the date used. The options are: ● Full (default) ● Year ● Quarter ● Month ● Day |
| Aggregation | drop down list | Select the aggregation type to use in the filter. The available aggregation types are: ● Average ● Count ● Distinct ● Median ● Min ● Max ● Sum ● None Available aggregations vary according to the column data type. |
| Operator | drop down list | Select the operator to use for the filter expression |
| Values | text box | Enter one or more values to use for the filter expression |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Aggregate filter properties for a filter expression with a formula as a pill
Here are the properties of a filter expression for a formula as a pill in the Aggregate Filter tray for a combo insight:
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Column Label | text box | Enter the label of the aggregate filter formula pill |
| Formula | text box | Enter the formula in the Formula Builder to create the filter expression |
| Disable Filter | toggle | Enable this property to disable the filter. Disabled filters are deleted when you save the insight. |
Settings panel
With the Settings panel, you can configure additional properties for the combo insight. To open the Setting panel, in the Analyzer, in the Action bar, select Settings (gear icon).
| Property | Control | Description |
|---|---|---|
| General → Max Rows | text box | Enter the maximum number of categories to show on the x-axis. A value lower than the number of the insight query rows returned will restrict results. A value of 0 will include all rows. |
| General → Logarithmic | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis on a logarithmic scale |
| General → Auto Refresh | toggle | Enable this property to automatically refresh the insight preview while editing it in the Analyzer. There is a tenant configuration in the CMC Clusters Manager that can globally enable or disable this feature at the tenant level. |
| General → Data Sampling | toggle | Enable this property to use and analyze a representative subset of data in the insight |
| Layout → Rotation | drop down list | Select an angle to rotate the x-axis labels at. The options are: ● Default ● -45 ● -90 ● 45 ● 90 |
| Layout → Legend | toggle | Enable this property to display the chart legend. The chart legend displays the labels of the measure tray pills. |
| Layout → Values | toggle | Enable this property to display measure values on the chart |
| Layout → X-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis labels (i.e. values of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| Layout → X-Axis Title | toggle | Enable this property to display the x-axis title (i.e. the label of the first grouping dimension pill) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Labels | toggle | Enable this property to display the y-axis labels (values in the y-axis) |
| Layout → Y-Axis Title | toggle | Enable this property to display the y-axis title. This property is available when only one pill exists in the Measure tray. The y-axis title is not available when there is more than one measure pill. |
| Layout → Y-Axis Min | text box | Enter a minimum numerical value for the y-axis |
| Layout → Y-Axis Max | text box | Enter a maximum numerical value for the y-axis |
| Advanced → Max Groups | text box | Set the maximum number of groups that cannot be exceeded in the insight |
| Advanced → Join Measures | drop down list | Select Yes to calculate the group-by function across joined tables |
User interactions for a combo insight
As a dashboard consumer, you can interact with a combo insight on a dashboard tab. Some interactions will affect only the combo chart. Other interactions will affect both the combo chart and the dashboard. The creation of one or more dashboard runtime filters is an example of a user interaction that affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard.
Some user interactions require specific configurations by a dashboard developer and therefore may not be available.
Here are the possible types of user interactions for a combo insight:
- Select a legend label to hide (and then select again to show) the related area
- Select a point on a combo border to drill down into a grouping dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a point on a combo border to open the Filter by menu and select an option to drill down into a grouping dimension dimension and in doing so, create a dashboard runtime filter
- Select a point on a combo border to open the Go to menu and select a dashboard tab to navigate to (requires a dashboard drill down configuration for a grouping dimension pill)
A dashboard runtime filter affects all applicable insights on all tabs of a dashboard. A dashboard runtime filter appears as a filter bar pill and displays the filter expression.
More Options menu for a combo insight
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) enforces access to certain features and functionality. With Discretionary Access Control (DAC), a user who owns the dashboard can control the access to the dashboard. Access rights include the ability to view, share, and edit the dashboard. Together, RBAC and DAC affect the available selections in both the Action bar and the More Options menu for an insight.
For more information about RBAC and DAC, review Tools → Security Manager.
In addition, certain tenant configurations by a Cluster Management Console (CMC) Administrator affect the available selections in the More Options menu for an insight.
Download
- For the combo insight, select Download, or select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis), and then select Download as....
- Select the download file format:
- PNG
- JPEG
- SVG
View as Table
The View as Table is an Incorta Labs feature and a tenant configuration. A CMC Administrator must enable the feature.
To view a combo insight as a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, follow these steps:
- For the combo insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
- Select the table type:
- View as Regular Table
- View as Aggregated Table
For a Listing Table or Aggregated Table, you can:
- Download as CSV, XSLX, or PDF
- Send to Data Destination
Set Alert
You can set an alert that identifies specific changes to a combo insight by defining a filter expression for a measure filter, individual filter, and/or aggregate filter.
- For the combo insight, select More Options (⋮ vertical ellipsis).
- Select Set Alert. Refer to the Scheduler document for additional information on Data Alerts.
Steps to create a combo insight
For an existing dashboard, to create a combo insight for a given dashboard tab, follow these steps:
- If not already open, open a dashboard.
- To add a new insight to the dashboard, in the Action bar, select +.
- If needed, in the Analyzer, in the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, select one or more business schema views and/or one or more physical schema tables.
- To close the Manage Data Sets panel, select X or any other area of the Analyzer.
- In the Insight panel, select V.
- In Charts, select the Combo visualization.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop various columns to various trays in the Insight panel:
- Grouping Dimension
- Measure
- Individual Filter
- Aggregate Filter
- Configure the pill properties using the Property panel or Filter panel.
- Configure various insight properties using the Settings panel.
Example of a combo insight
In this example, you will create a combo insight that shows the revenue and cost per product subcategory. The example uses the SALES schema that comes with the Sample Data.
In the CMC, create a tenant that includes Sample Data. The Sample Data includes the SALES schema.
Add an insight
- In the Action bar, select +.
- In the Data panel, select Manage Dataset.
- In the Manage Data Sets panel, in Tables, select the SALES schema.
- Close the Manage Data Sets panel.
- In the Insight panel, under Charts, select Combo.
- From the Data panel, drag and drop the following columns to the respective tray:
- From the Products table, drag and drop Prod. Subcategory to the Grouping Dimension tray.
- From the Sales table, drag and drop Revenue and Cost to the Measure tray.
- For Revenue and Cost, select the arrow to the right of the pill to open the Properties panel
- For Number Format, select Dollar Rounded from the drop down list.
- Name the insight Revenue and Cost Per Product Subcategory.
- Select Save.
