Data Visualization (Ⅱ)

In the previous document Data Visualization (Ⅰ), you have performed calculations on a single table. However, you may encounter many problems. For example, it may be difficult to extract useful information from calculation results if you observe data only through tables. Therefore, it is necessary to follow this document and learn visualization analysis skills.

You are advised to prepare the required data with tables before creating charts, instead of creating charts directly.

Next, you will learn chart creation and analysis.

This section introduces some functional scenarios related to the following example.

Chart Selection

FineBI has various chart types that can meet different needs for visual display. Charts are also the most intuitive way to display data.

For details about how to select charts, see How to Select the Right Chart.

Custom Chart Introduction

A custom chart allows you to create various combination charts, meeting your needs for more free exploration. For example, you can combine column charts with area charts, as shown in the following figure.

For details about more functions, see Customizing Charts (Combination Charts).

Dashboard Introduction

A dashboard is a panel for component combination. A well-designed dashboard coordinates and organizes work to help identify key issues and allows others to understand your message at a glance. It can also foster divergent thinking and expand analysis based on your work.

For details about more dashboard functions, see Dashboard Management.

Before creating charts, you are advised to first process data with tables and then conduct visualization analysis, minimizing the chances of errors.

Pie Chart Creation

A pie chart generally uses colors to distinguish different category objects and compares data by the size of each pie slice. It can display the proportion of each category in the whole.

In the previous document Data Visualization (Ⅰ), the sales proportion of different categories of products is displayed in a group table. A pie chart, compared with a group table, can offer a more intuitive presentation of proportional relationships, enabling table data visualization.

1. Click the  button at the bottom of the page to add a component. Drag the field Product Type into Dimension and Sales into Indicator to create a group table to display the sales of different products.

2. Set Chart Type to Pie Chart.

3. Drag the field Sales into Label, click the  icon, select Value Format from the drop-down list, select Number, and set Quantity Unit to Thousand for a more intuitive data presentation.

4. Drag the field Sales into Label, click the  icon, and choose Quick Calculation > Percentage from the drop-down list for a direct viewing of the proportion distribution.

5. Rename the component Sales Analysis of Different Types of Products.

Custom Chart Creation

If you have not decided what chart to select, or you want to combine multiple graphics in a chart, you are advised to select a custom chart to adjust the chart as needed.

The table created in the previous document Data Visualization (Ⅰ) is not intuitive enough to display the changes. Therefore, you can combine a column chart with a line chart to achieve the visualization.

Procedure

1. Create a group table to display the MoM growth rate of profit margin.

Click the  button at the bottom of the page to add a component. Drag the field Date into Dimension and Gross Profit into Indicator.

Click the  icon next to the field Date in Dimension and select Year-Month from the drop-down list to modify the date group.

Calculate the monthly change in gross profit. Drag the field Gross Profit into Indicator, click the  icon, choose Quick Calculation > Comparison with Same Period/Comparison with Previous Period > Gross Rate of Comparison with Previous Period from the drop-down list, and rename the field Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate.

MoM (month-on-month) growth rate can reflect the change in gross profit compared with the previous month, indicating whether the gross profit has increased or decreased, and by how much.

2. Set Chart Type to Custom Chart. Choose Graphic Property > Gross Profit, click the  icon, and select Line from the drop-down list.

3. Set the value axis. Click the  icon next to the field Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate in Indicator, select Set Value Axis from the drop-down list, set Shared Axis to Right-value Axis, and click OK.

The explanation of the graphic property:

In Graphic Property, you can set the properties for All indicators, or the respective properties for Gross Profit and Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate.

The explanation of setting the value axis:

If two indicators share the same right value axis, large data differences can result in poor display effect.

You can set the value axis only when Indicator Aggregation is selected.

Custom Chart Beautification

Setting graph colors

If you want to highlight the values of the negative growth rate in the field Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate, you can set colors under Graphic Property > Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate > Color.

1. Drag the field Gross Profit into Color under Graphic Property > Gross Profit - MoM Growth Rate, click the  icon, and choose Quick Calculation > Comparison with Same Period/Comparison with Previous Period > Gross Rate of Comparison with Previous Period from the drop-down list.

2. Click Color. Set Gradient Type to Area Gradient, set Gradient Interval to Custom, and set Number of Intervals to 2. Set the color to orange when the value is less than 0, and to blue when the value is greater than 0.

Modifying value formats

1. Drag the field Gross Profit into Label in the line chart, click the  icon, select Value Format from the drop-down list, select Number, and set Quantity Unit to Thousand for an intuitive data presentation.

2. Drag the field Gross Profit into Label in the bar chart Gross Profit-MoM Growth Rate, click the  icon, and choose Quick Calculation > Comparison with Same Period/Comparison with Previous Period > Gross Rate of Comparison with Previous Period.

If you want the line chart to be displayed at the front, you can adjust the order the indicators.

Setting legends

Corresponding legends will be generated when you drag fields into Color/Size/Shape/Thermal Color/Radius in Graphic Property. In the example, the field Indicator Name exists in Color under All > Graphic Property by default, generating its corresponding legend.

After you set the value axis, the legend may block the graph, and you want the legend to be displayed below the graph. You can choose Component Style > Legend, and set Location to bottom center or bottom left.

Dashboard Creation

The completed components are still in a scattered state and not suitable for sharing with colleagues or leaders. You can create a dashboard to display these components in a clear layout.

You can click the  button at the bottom of the page, drag components into the dashboard, and adjust their positions.

You have obtained analysis results. Now, you can go to the next document Sharing Analysis to learn how to share dashboards with department managers.

After you know how to create combined charts, you will find that you have added several components. Although these components are created by using the same table, they cannot perform association analysis. You can go to Adding Components for Interactivity to learn how to achieve component interaction.