Building a chart from the basic elements

You can use the basic elements to build a chart from scratch. Basic elements include axes and graphic elements. These elements are "basic" because you can't create a chart without them. If you are using the Chart Builder for the first time, it is recommended that you use the gallery charts instead. Gallery charts automatically set properties and add features to simplify the creation process.

1. Click the Basic Elements tab if it is not already displayed.
2. If the canvas is empty, drag an axis set onto the canvas.
3. Add a graphic element type by dragging a graphic element onto the canvas. Not all graphic elements can be used with a particular axis set. Only the relevant graphic elements are enabled.
   1. Drag variables from the Variables list and drop them into the axis drop zones and, if available, the grouping drop zone. If an axis drop zone already displays a statistic and you want to use that statistic, you do not have to drag a variable into the drop zone. You need to add a variable to a zone only when the text in the zone is blue. If the text is black, the zone already contains a variable or statistic. Refer to Statistics and Parameters for information about the available statistics.

      Note: The measurement level of your variables is important. The Chart Builder sets defaults based on the measurement level while you are building the chart. Furthermore, the resulting chart may also look different for different measurement levels. You can temporarily change a variable's measurement level by right-clicking the variable and choosing an option. See the topic Variable types for more information.

   2. If you need to change statistics or modify attributes of the axes or legends (such as the scale range), click the Element Properties tab in the side bar of the Chart Builder. (If the side bar is not displayed, click the button in the upper right corner of the Chart Builder to display the side bar.) See the topic Editing elements for more information.
   3. In the Edit Properties Of list, select the item you want to change. (For information about the specific properties, click Help.)
   4. If you need to add more variables to the chart (for example, for clustering or paneling), click the Groups/Point ID tab in the Chart Builder dialog box and select one or more options. Then drag categorical variables to the new drop zones that appear on the canvas. See the topic Adding and editing grouping variables for more information.
4. If you want to transpose the chart (for example, to make the bars horizontal), click Transpose.
5. Click OK to create the chart. The chart is displayed in the Viewer.

If you often create a customized chart, you may want to save it as a favorite chart so you don't have to re-create it from scratch each time. See the topic Using favorites for more information.