Data pane menu

The Data pane on the left side bar shows all the available data fields in a data source. If more than one data source has been added to a workbook, a list of data sources will be displayed on top of the Data pane.

Every data field in a data source is automatically assigned to either the Dimensions or Measures area depending on the type of data it contains. Dimensions Categorical data like criticality, division, district code and dates are grouped into the Dimensions area. When a dimension is used in visualization, it is initially treated as a discrete value and shows up as a blue data pill.

  • Measures Quantitative or numerical data like ROP, ROQ, price, issue value, stock value and days overdue, which can be aggregated or measured, are grouped into the Measures area. When a measure is used in a visualization, it is initially treated as a continuous value and shows up as a green data pill.
  • Data Types Icons next to the field name indicate what type of data the field contains.
  • ABC: Text values
  • Clock Icon: Date and time values
  • # :Numerical values
  • T/F : Boolean values
  • globe icon: Geographical values

Adding a new Data Source

To add a new data source, click the toolbar. Choose the data source you want to add then click Add.

Columns and Rows Shelves

You can specify which data uses the horizontal and vertical axes of your table by placing any number of data fields onto either the Columns or Rows shelves.

  • Click the toolbar to quickly swap the data fields from the Columns shelf to the Rows shelf and vice versa.
  • Click the arrow at the end of any data field and a drop-down menu should appear.
  • You can also right-click the data field to display the same options. The available options will vary depending on the type of data contained in the field.

Typical data field options include:

  • Show Filter/Show Highlighter Adds a filter or highlighter option to the visualization using the values in the selected data field.
  • Show Header Click to add or remove headers from the visualization.
  • Discrete/Continuous Select to convert a discrete value into a continuous value and vise versa.
  • Dimension/Attribute/Measure Select whether to treat a data field as a Dimension or Measure, or define it as an Attribute. Use the Measure sub menu to change how a field is aggregated.
  • Edit in Shelf Allows you to edit a calculated field directly from the shelf.
  • Add Table Calculation/Quick Table Calculation Lets you create a new table calculation or select from a list of standard calculations.
  • Remove Click to remove the data field from the visualization.
  • Date Dimension Options Fields that contain dates are treated as discrete values by default. Date fields also have additional options that let you control the granularity of the data used in the visualization.
  • Select one of the date options in the upper group to change how discrete date values are used in the visualization. The lower group of date options defines how date values are used when it is treated as a continuous value, which can be useful in some visualizations like line charts.

In this example, we've changed the granularity of the second date field from Month to Quarter. You can also click to create a new level of granularity for the dates used in the visualization. Alternatively, you can click to remove all lower levels of granularity from the visualization.

Marks Card

The Marks card features multiple options that let you control how data is represented in a visualization.

  • Click the drop-down menu to change the mark type to one that suits the data or your purposes the best.

Additional Options

You can add more detail to a visualization by dragging fields from the Data pane to the Marks Properties area. This allows you to change a new or existing mark's color, size, label, detail and tooltip settings.

  • In the example below, dragging the Receipt Value field from the Measures area to the Label property in the Marks area adds more detailed information in the form of text labels to the existing Receipt Value marks.
  • To change the appearance of existing marks in a visualization, click one of the Marks properties to bring up additional options. You can also click the icon next to any existing field in the Marks card to assign a different property to it.