Line

Use a line visualization to show trends over time.

A line visualization can compare trends and cycles, infer relationships between variables, or show how a single variable is performing over time.

For an effective line visualization, use a time column in the x-axis, such as years, quarters, months, or days. If the x-axis shows something else, such as Canada, Netherlands, UK, and US, use a bar or column visualization.

For example, this line visualization shows the trend in course costs by department over year.

Example of a line visualization

View forecast values in a line visualization

If a forecast has previously been generated for a view, you can configure a line visualization to display forecast values. for the view. To learn more about how to generate a forecast, see Forecasting.

To display forecast data in a line visualization:

  1. Configure your visualization with the time dimension on the x-axis and the version dimension as a context dimension.
  2. Click the Fields tab.
  3. Expand the Forecast fields section.
  4. Click the Forecast start field and select a starting period for the forecast.
  5. Click the Dimension field and select the version dimension for your view.
  6. Click the Hierarchy field and select the version hierarchy for the forecast.
  7. Click the Forecast values field and select the version dimension member that stores forecast values. This member name was set when you initially generated the forecast, and will typically be something like Forecast.
  8. Click the High bound values field and select the version dimension member that stores high bound forecast values. These values are the high bound of the confidence envelope for a forecast. This member name was set when you initially generated the forecast, and will typically be something like Forecast high.
  9. Click the Low bound values field and select the version dimension member that stores low bound forecast values. These values are the low bound of the confidence envelope for a forecast. This member name was set when you initially generated the forecast, and will typically be something like Forecast low.
The line visualization displays forecast values along a broken line that extends from the non-forecast values. You can hover on any forecast data point to view the forecast value, along with the upper and lower bound values. Click any data point to reveal the confidence envelope for the forecast.