Adding sparklines

A sparkline is a simple visualization, usually styled in the form of a line, that is helpful for analyzing trends for a single metric. You can add sparklines to your PixelPerfect report using the Sparkline object.

A sparkline generally consists of a field (equivalent to a dimension) and a value member (equivalent to a measure).

Requirements

The data you use for a sparkline has to be added as a table data binding. These data bindings are added under Tables in the Field List menu.

The source data for the sparkline should ideally contain a single dimension and a single measure. To use sparklines to visualize more complex, multi-dimensional data, it is recommended that you apply a level to the band where you add the sparkline. In this case, the level should be an additional dimension along which you want to cycle the generation of multiple filtered sparklines.

Creating sparklines

This is the recommended workflow for adding sparklines in your report.

Do the following:

1. Open the Field List menu available from the right-side panel in the designer.

2. Click the plus icon next to Tables.

3. From the available sheets, select the Qlik Sense chart you want to add as a table. Click the icon next to it.

   The data binding is added.

4. From the toolbox panel on the right side of the designer, drag a Sparkline onto the design surface.

5. Click the gear icon that appears next to the sparkline. In the pop-up menu, for Data Member, select the table data binding you created earlier.

6. Open the Properties menu from the right side of the designer, and expand Data.

7. For Value Member, select the variable metric you want to visualize (for example, sales).

Example - Sparklines with a level

Refer to the example app sources here: Example materials - In-app reporting. Upload the app and data files into a space, and then reload the app. You are ready to complete the example.

We will create sparklines with monthly sales by region.

Part 1: Add data bindings

Do the following:

1. Create a new PixelPerfect template.

2. Open the Field List menu available from the right-side panel in the designer.

   

3. Click the plus icon next to Levels.

4. Expand Fields, and click the icon next to Region.

   The data binding is added.

5. You are brought back to the main Field List menu. Click the plus icon next to Tables.

6. Expand the Sales Table sheet, and click the icon next to the Regional Sales over Time chart.

   The data binding is added.

Part 2: Add DetailReport band and connect it with data banding

You need to create a DetailReport band to use a level.

Do the following:

1. Right-click the Detail1 band, and then click Insert Band > DetailReport.

2. To bind the DetailReport1 band to the level, select the band and then open the Properties menu. Under Detail Report Tasks > Data Member, select the Region level.

Part 3: Add a label and sparkline

Do the following:

1. Open the Field List menu, and double-click Levels to expand it.

2. For Region, expand the level object and drag the Region field within it onto the DetailReport1 band.

   Position the label at the top of the band, centered horizontally.

3. From the toolbox panel on the right side of the designer, drag a Sparkline onto the DetailReport1 band, below the Region label.

4. Resize the sparkline so that it occupies all horizontal space on the band, and its shape is a narrow rectangle.

5. Resize the DetailReport1 band so there is a small space at the bottom of the sparkline.

   

6. Select the sparkline and then open the Properties menu.

7. Expand Appearance > View.

8. Check Highlight Max Point and Highlight Min Point.

9. For Color, expand the drop down menu. Paste the following hex code in the # field: 0d00ff. Click OK.

10. For Max Point Color, expand the drop down menu. Paste the following hex code in the # field: 0dff00. Click OK.

11. For Min Point Color, expand the drop down menu. Paste the following hex code in the # field: ff0000. Click OK.

12. In the top right corner, click Save template.

13. Click Preview report. Download the report and open it.