Bar Chart

The bar chart is the most basic chart type.

Charts are graphical representations of numerical data. It is possible to switch between different representations of an existing chart, by changing the Chart Type in the Chart Properties: General page.

The quickest way to create a new bar chart is to select Quick Chart wizard from the Tools menu.

By right-clicking the object, the Bar Chart: Object Menu will be displayed. It can also be accessed from the Object menu, when the bar chart is the active object.

See also:

Quick Chart Wizard

Chart types

New Chart

A new chart can be created by clicking on the Create Chart tool in the toolbar, by a right-click on an empty sheet area and selecting New Sheet Object, Chart from Object menu or by selecting New Sheet Object, Chart from Layout menu. This will open a sequence of chart property pages.

In the page that appears first, name and type of graph and title (optional) is set, clicking the Next button opens the second page etc. As soon as sufficient information has been entered the Next and/or Finish buttons are enabled and the user can proceed to the next page in the sequence or finish it.

Once the chart is displayed on the sheet it can be modified by right clicking the graph and selecting Properties or by activating the graph (click on caption area) and selecting Properties in the Object menu.

See also:

Chart Properties

Object Menu

Right-click on a chart and a float menu appears. This menu can also be found under Object menu when the chart is active.

The menu contains the following commands:

Chart Properties: General

On the General page you can set such properties as titles and chart type. It is the first page in the Quick Chart Wizard and in the Chart Properties dialog.

See also:

Sizing and moving chart components

Selections in charts and tables

Chart Properties: Dimensions

The Chart Properties: Dimensions page is reached by right-clicking a chart and selecting Properties or by selecting Properties from the Object menu when the chart is active.

When you create a chart, you should first ask yourself two questions:

• What do you want to look at? What should the sizes of the bars in the bar chart correspond to? The answer might be the "sum of sales", or something similar. This is set on the Expressions tab.
• What do you want to group it by? Which field values do you want to use as labels for the bars in the bar chart? The answer might be "per country", or something similar. This is set on the Dimensions tab.

A chart can display one or more dimensions. The upper limit depends on the actual chart type, the complexity of the data and the available memory. Pie, line and scatter charts can display a maximum of two dimensions, bar, block and grid charts three. Radar and funnel charts can only display a single dimension, and gauge charts use no dimensions at all. Further dimensions are ignored.

A chart dimension gets its values from a field which is specified on the Chart Properties: Dimensions page. Instead of being a single field a dimension can also consist of a group of fields (see Edit Groups below).

A dimension can be a single field, a group or an expression (calculated dimension). It can also be a synthetically created dimension

Move fields back and forth by selecting (click, Ctrl-click) and using the Add> or <Remove buttons, or by double-clicking your selections directly.

Chart dimensions may also be calculated from an expression.

Animation dialog

Trellis Settings

Chart Properties: Dimension Limits

Dimension limits can be set for chart types, except for gauge charts and pivot tables.

The Dimension Limits tab controls the number of dimension values you can see in a given chart.

Before getting to that, it is important to describe the effect that the three options in the dropdown produce. The dropdown contains three values: First, Largest and Smallest. These values control the way the calculation engines sorts the values it returns to the charting engine. It is mandatory to have one of these options selected, if the dimension is to be restricted. The sorting only occurs for the first expression, except in pivot tables when the primary sort may override the first dimension sort.

This property page is used for defining dimension limits. Each dimension in the chart is configured separately.

Limits

Restrict which values are displayed using the first expression

These properties are used to determine how many dimension values are displayed in the chart, according to settings made below.

Show only

Select this option if you want to show the First, Largest or Smallest x number of values. If this option is set to 5, there will be five values displayed. If the dimension has Show Others enabled, the Others segment will take up one of the five display slots. The First option will return the rows based on the options selected on the Sort tab of the property dialog. If the chart is a Straight Table, the rows will be returned based on the primary sort at the time. In other words, a user can change the values display by double-clicking on any column header and making that column the primary sort.The Largest option returns the rows in descending order based on the first expression in the chart. When used in a Straight Table, the dimension values shown will remain consistent while interactively sorting the expressions. The dimensions values will (may) change when the order of the expressions is changed.The Smallest option returns the rows in ascending order based on the first expression in the chart. When used in a Straight Table, the dimension values shown will remain consistent while interactively sorting the expressions. The dimensions values will (may) change when the order of the expressions is changed.Enter the number of values to display. The value may be entered as a calculated formula. Click on the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog.

Show only values that are:

Select this option to display all dimensions values that meet the specified condition for this option. Select to display values based on a percentage of the total, or on an exact amount. The relative to the total option enables a relative mode which is similar to the Relative option on the Expressions tab of the property dialog. The value may be entered as a calculated formula. Click on the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog.

Show only values that accumulate to:

When this option is selected,all rows up to the current row are accumulated, and the result is compared to the value set in the option. The relative to the total option enables a relative mode which is similar to the Relative option on the Expressions tab of the property dialog, and compares the accumulated values (based on first, largest or smallest values) to the overall total. The value may be entered as a calculated formula. Click on the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog. Select Include Boundary Values to include the dimension value that contains the comparison value.

Expression syntax for calculated formulas

Options

Show Others

Enabling this option will produce an Others segment in the chart. All dimension values that do not meet the comparison criteria for the display restrictions will be grouped into the Others segment. If there are dimensions after the selected dimension, Collapse Inner Dimensions will control whether individual values for the subsequent / inner dimensions display on the chart. In the Label field, enter the name you wish to display in the chart. If no text is entered, the label will be automatically set to the expression text.
The value may be entered as a calculated formula. Click on the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog.

Show Total

The chart will display a total for the selected dimension when this option is enabled. This total behaves differently than the expression total, which is still configured on the Expressions tab of the property dialog. Label: Enter the name you wish to display in the chart. If no text is entered, the label will be automatically set to the expression text. The value may be entered as a calculated formula. Click on the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog.

Global Grouping Mode

The option only applies to inner dimensions. When this option is enabled the restrictions will be calculated on the selected dimension only. All previous dimensions will be ignored. If this is disabled, the restrictions are calculated based on all preceding dimensions.

Expression Totals Compared to Dimension Totals

Dimension Totals are generated by the calculation engine, and are then returned to the charting engine as separate rows (or dimension values). This will have an impact on the Others rows. The difference between using Expression Totals and Dimension Totals can be seen below.

When Dimension Totals is used, it is possible to have sub-totals within a straight table.

Chart Properties: Expressions

To reach the Chart Properties: Expressions tab, right-click on a chart or table and select Properties from the Object menu.

When creating a chart, two questions should be asked:

• What should the size of the bars etc. illustrate? These are the Expression(s) ( e.g. sum of NetSales).
• How should the data be grouped? These are the Dimension(s) ( e.g. per Country).

Expression List

The expression list in the top-left pane is a complete tree control with numerous control options.

In front of each expression (or expression group) an expansion icon (a box with a ' + ' ) is shown. Clicking the icon opens up underlying sub-expressions or attribute expressions. The icon is simultaneously replaced by a collapse icon ( ' - ' ). Certain plot options utilize sub-expressions, i.e. a set of two or more expressions that together define the plot symbol (e.g. Stock or Box Plot described below).

Expression data can also be dynamically formatted by means of attribute expressions. Click on the expansion icon in front of any expression to display the placeholders for the dimension’s attribute expressions. These are:

Background Color

Edit the default Background Color expression to create the attribute expression for calculating the plot color of the data point. The calculated color will have precedence over the default QlikView color selection and must be a valid color representation, which is achieved by using the color functions. If the result of the expression is not a valid color representation, the program will default to black. An auxiliary expression for Text Color can be created using the same method.

Color functions

Text Color

An auxiliary expression for Text Color can be created using the same method as for the background color (see above).

Text Format

Edit the Text Format expression to enter an attribute expression for calculating the font style of text associated with the data point (For tables: text in the table cell for each dimension cell. The calculated text format will have precedence over table style defined in the Chart Properties: Style.

The expression used as text format expression should return a string containing a '<B>' for bold text, '<I>' for italic text and/or '<U>' for underlined text. Note that = is necessary before the string.

Pie Popout

Click on the Pie Popout in order to enter an attribute expression for calculating whether the pie slice associated with the data point should be drawn in an extracted "popout" position. This type of attribute expression only has effect on pie charts.

Bar Offset

Click on Bar Offset in order to enter an attribute expression for calculating an offset for the bar or bar segment associated with the data point. The offset can be positive or negative and will move the bar or segment accordingly. This is useful e.g. when making so called waterfall charts. This type of attribute expression only has effect on bar charts.

Line Style

Click on Line Style in order to enter an attribute expression for calculating the line style for the line or line segment associated with the data point. This type of attribute expression only has effect on line, combo and radar charts. The relative width of the line can be controlled by including a tag <Wn> where n is a multiplying factor to be applied on the default line width of the chart. The number n must be a real number between 0.5 and 8.

Example: <W2.5>

The style of the line can be controlled by including a tag <Sn> where n is an integer between 1 and 4 indicating the style to be used (1=continuous, 2= dashed, 3=dotted, 4=dashed/dotted). Example: <S3>. The <Wn> and <Sn> tags can be freely combined, but only the first occurrence of each counts. The tags must be enclosed by single quotations.

Show Value

Click on Show Value in order to enter an attribute expression for calculating whether the data point plot should be complemented with a "value on data point" value, even if Values on Data Points has not been selected for the main expression. If Values on Data Points is selected for the main expression the attribute expression will be disregarded. This type of attribute expression only has effect on bar, line, pie, funnel and combo charts.

Add

New expressions and sub-expressions, are created by means of the Add button. The option is also available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking in the list of expressions.

Delete

The Delete button lets you remove previously created expressions from the list. The option is also available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking on an expression in the list of expressions.

Copy

The Copy option is only available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking on an expression or a sub/attribute expression in the list of expressions. When using this command on a main expression, all data and settings associated with the expression (including label) will be copied to the clipboard as a piece of xml.

The expression may then be pasted back into the same chart or into any other QlikView chart in the same or another document. If you use the command on an attribute expression, only the attribute expression definition will be copied. An attribute expression may then be pasted onto any main expression in the same or another chart.

Export...

The Export... option is only available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking on an expression in the list of expressions. When using this command on a main expression, all data and settings associated with the expression (including label) may be exported to an xml file.

The expression may then be imported back into the same chart or into any other QlikView chart in the same or another document. The command opens the Export Expression as dialog from which you can choose the destination of the export file. The file will receive the extension Ex.xml.

Paste

The Paste option is only available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking on an expression or sub/attribute expressions in the list of expressions. If a main expression has previously been copied to the clipboard, you may paste it into the blank area in the list of expressions, creating a new expression identical to the copied one. If an attribute expression has been copied, you may paste it onto a main expression.

Import

The Import option is only available in the context menu that appears when right-clicking in the blank area in the list of expressions. The command opens a dialog where you can browse to previously exported expression. The imported expression will appear as a new expression in the chart.

Promote/Demote

If several expressions are displayed, they can be sorted by means of the Promote and Demote buttons. This affects the order in which columns etc. are displayed in the chart.

Group

The Group button can be used for merging expressions into one or more cyclic groups, provided that two or more expressions are available. In the QlikView layout, you can cycle through the expressions belonging to one group by clicking the cycle icon that is displayed in the chart (= Cycle Group). Right-click the same cycle icon to get a pop-up list of the expressions belonging to the group that are currently unused, for direct selection.

Ungroup

Selecting an expression belonging to a group and clicking Ungroup, extracts the expression from the group. If only one expression remains in the cycle group after extraction, that last expression is also extracted and the group is removed.

Enable

Disabling this check box will set the expression to be omitted from the chart.

Relative

Enabling this check box will set the chart to show the result in percent instead of absolute numbers. This option is not available for pivot tables.

Invisible

Enabling this check box prevents the plotting of this expression while retaining the space allocated for it.

Conditional

Enabling this checkbox allows you to define a condition, based on the current selection, that determines if the expression should be displayed or not. If the condition evaluates to TRUE or NULL the expression is displayed, if the condition evaluates to FALSE the expression is not displayed.

Label

In front of the expression label one or several icons are used for indicating the chart type used and/or the Display Options selected for the expression (see below).

Definition

Shows the composition of the selected expression. It is possible to edit the expression directly in this box. By clicking the ... button the full Edit Expression dialog is opened.

Comment

This is a commentary field where the creator of the expression can describe the purpose and function of the expression.

Display Options

This group is used for modifying the way that data points are plotted or what will be entered in the expression cells of chart tables. Note that some options are only available for certain chart types, some options cannot be combined and some options will utilize one or more additional expressions in order to create complex plots.

Bar

Shows the values of the selected expression as bars. This option is only available for bar and combo charts.

Symbol

Shows the values of the selected expression as symbols. This option is only available for line and combo charts. Choose between several different symbols in the drop-down menu.

Line

Shows the values of the selected expression as a line. This option is only available for line and combo charts. Choose between Normal, Smooth and three different Plateau lines in the drop-down menu.

Stock

Mark this check box to plot the expression as a stock marker. The expression will be preceded by its own icon in the Expressions list and appear as an empty placeholder with four sub expressions.

The first sub expression will be used for plotting a high point of the stock marker. The second sub expression will be used for a low point. These two sub expressions must contain valid definitions in order for the stock marker to be drawn.

The third sub expression is optional but is otherwise used for a close point of the stock marker. The forth sub expression is also optional but is otherwise used for an open point of the stock marker.

New empty sub expressions will be created automatically when Stock check box is marked for the expression. When Stock check box has been selected for an expression you cannot select Bar, Line, Symbol, Box Plot or Has Error Bars check boxes for the same expression. Stock check box cannot be selected for an expression if any of those options are already selected for the expression. This option is only available for combo charts.

Box Plot

Mark this check box to plot the expression as a box plot, often used for the display of statistical data. The expression will be preceded by its own icon in the Expressions list and appear as an empty placeholder with five sub expressions.

The first sub expression will be used for plotting a box top point of the box plot. The second sub expression will be used for a box bottom point. These two expressions must contain valid definitions in order for the box plot to be drawn.

The third to fifth sub expressions are optional. If used, those sub expression define a median, an upper whisker, and a lower whisker.

A common extension to a Box Plot is so called outliners for extreme values. These can be achieved by plotting separate expressions as symbol. New empty sub expressions will be created automatically when Box Plot is marked for the main expression. When Box Plot has been selected for an expression you cannot select Bar, Line, Symbol, Stock or Has Error Bars check boxes for the same expression. Box Plot cannot be selected for an expression if any of those options are already selected for the expression. This option is only available for combo charts.

Has Error Bars

Mark this check box to utilize one or two expressions following the selected expression as auxiliary expressions for error bars plotted on top of the main expression’s data points. If Symmetric is selected only one auxiliary expression will be used and plotted symmetrically around the data point. If Asymmetric is selected two auxiliary expressions will be used and plotted above and below the data point respectively.

The error bar expressions should return positive numbers. The auxiliary expressions utilized for error bars are preceded by their own icons (symmetric), (asymmetric high) or (asymmetric low) in the Expressions list and cannot be utilized for anything else in the chart. If there are no expressions already defined after the selected expression, new dummy auxiliary expressions will be created automatically. This option is only available for bar, line and combo charts.

Values on Data Point

Mark this check box to have the result of an expression plotted as text on top of the data points. This option is only available for bar, line, combo and pie charts. When used for pie charts, the value will be shown next to the pie slices.

Text on Axis

Mark this check box to have the result of an expression plotted as text at each x-axis value, the axis and the axis labels. This option is only available for bar, line and combo charts.

Text as Pop-up

Mark this check box to have the result of an expression shown in the pop-up balloon messages appearing when hovering over a data point in a chart in the layout. This option can be used with or without any of the other display options. It is thus possible to have an expression that does not appear in the chart itself but only in hover pop-ups.

Representation

This option is only available for straight tables and pivot tables.

Text

The expression values are always interpreted and displayed as text.

Image

With this option QlikView will attempt to interpret each expression value as a reference to an image. The reference may be a path to an image file on disk (e.g. C:\Mypic.jpg) or inside the QlikView document itself (e.g. qmem://<Name>/<Peter>). If QlikView cannot interpret an expression value as a valid image reference, the value itself will be displayed, unless the Hide Text When Image Missing box is checked.

Circular Gauge, Linear Gauge, Traffic Light Gauge, LED Gauge

With either gauge option, the gauge chart will be inscribed in the available table cell as an image. The layout of the gauge can be modified in the Chart Properties: Presentation dialog that is reached from the Gauge Settings button.

Mini Chart

With this option QlikView will display the expression values in a bar or line chart. The chart will be inscribed in the available table cell. The visual settings for the chart can be modified via the Mini Chart Settings button. This option is only available for straight tables.

Mini chart settings

Link

Select this option to enter an expression in the Definition field that will create a clickable link in the table cell. The expression should return a text that can be interpreted as DisplayText<url>LinkText. The DisplayText will be displayed in the table cell and LinkText will be the link that is opened in a new browser window.

If a link is defined, the value in the table cell will be underlined. If no link is defined the value will not be underlined. Note that it is not possible to make selections in a cell with Link as display mode. By clicking the ... button the full Edit Expression dialog is opened.

Examples:  

=Name & '<url>' & Link

=Name & '<url>www.qlikview.com'

where Name and Link are table fields loaded in the script.

Image Formatting

Only available when the Image option has been selected above. This option is only available for straight tables and pivot tables. This setting describes how QlikView formats the image to fit in the cell. There are four alternatives: 

• No Stretch: If this option is selected, the image will be shown as is, without any stretching. This may cause parts of the picture to be invisible or only part of the cell to be filled.
• Fill: If this option is selected, the image will be stretched to fit the cell without keeping the aspect ratio of the image.
• Keep Aspect: If this option is selected, the image will be stretched as far as possible to fill the cell while keeping the aspect ratio.
• Fill with Aspect: If this option is selected, the image will be stretched to fill the cell in both directions while keeping the aspect ratio. This typically results in cropping of the image in one direction.

Accumulation

By choosing between the settings in this group, you decide whether the values in the chart should be accumulated or not. In an accumulated chart, each y-value is added to the y-value of the following x-value. In an accumulated bar chart showing the sum of sales per year, e.g. the value of the year 1996 is added to that of the year 1997.

If your chart contains several expressions, select the expression which values to be accumulated in the Expressions list. Accumulation is not available for pivot tables.

No Accumulation

If this option is selected, the y-values of the selected chart expression will not be accumulated.

Full Accumulation

If this option is selected, each y-value will accumulate all previous y-values of the expression. See above under Accumulation. Full accumulation does not work for multiple dimensions containing Null or 0 values.

Accumulate n Steps Back

By entering a number in the box, you set the number of y-values in the expression to be accumulated. See above under Accumulation.

Total Mode

This group is enabled for the selected expression for Straight Table chart objects only. There are three possible settings:

• No Totals: Totals are not calculated for the selected expression.
• Expression Total: The total of the expression evaluated on the next level. For example, if an expression generates the average monthly salary for a number of employees, the Expression Total will generate the total average of all the salaries.
• F(x) of Rows: If this option is selected, the individual values of each data point (each bar in a bar chart, each row in a straight table etc.) for the selected expression will be aggregated using the aggregation function selected from the drop-down list (typically summed up).

Bar Border Width

Specifies the width of the border line around bars plotted by this expression in bar and combo charts. The value can be specified in mm, cm, inches (", inch), pixels (px, pxl, pixel), points (pt, pts, point) or docunits (du, docunit).

Expressions as Legend

When several expressions are used, this option displays a legend showing the expressions and their corresponding colors next to the chart.

Trendlines

In selected QlikView charts expression plots can be complemented or replaced by statistical trend lines.

Trend lines can only be displayed in scatter charts, line charts and in bar/combo charts with maximally one dimension and one expression shown as bars. For other types of charts, the settings in the Trendlines group are unavailable and have no effect. In scatter charts the data points are treated as if y=f(x). For bar, line and combo charts it is allowed to deselect all options under Display Options and still add trend lines, which will then be plotted without the underlying data points. Trend lines in bar, line and combo charts may be extrapolated by specifying a forecast and/or backcast interval (Axes page). The extrapolated lines will be dotted. Trend lines in charts with a discrete x-axis will be shown as lines with symbols. On a continuous axis only the line will be shown.

• Average: The average is plotted as a straight line.
• Linear: A linear regression line is plotted.
• Polynomial of 2nd degree: A polynomial trend line of the second degree is plotted.
• Polynomial of 3rd degree: A polynomial trend line of the third degree is plotted.
• Polynomial of 4th degree: A polynomial trend line of the fourth degree is plotted.
• Exponential: An exponential trend line is plotted.
• Show Equation: If this check box is marked for a specific expression, the expression’s trend lines will be complemented by the trendline equation expressed as text in the chart.
• Show R2:If this check box is marked for a specific expression, the expression’s trend lines will be complemented by the coefficient of determination expressed as text in the chart.

Linear regression in table charts

Chart Properties: Sort

The Chart Properties: Sort page is reached by a right-click on a chart and selecting Properties from the Object menu.

This is where you decide the sort order of the chart dimension(s) from a number of available sort orders.

The Dimensions list contains the chart's dimensions. To assign a sort order, mark a dimension and choose one or more sort orders on the right side.

There is a hierarchy in the group from top to bottom so that when conflicting sort orders are selected, the first one encountered will take precedence. The selected sort order can be reversed by switching between Ascending and Descending or A -> Z and Z -> A.

By clicking the Default button, dimension values will be set to the default defined in the Document Properties: Sort dialog.

The check box Override Group Sort Order is only available when a group dimension is selected in the Dimensions list. Normally the sort order of a group dimension is determined for each field in a group via the group properties. By enabling this option you can override any such settings on group level and apply a single sort order for the dimension, regardless of which field is active in the group.

Chart Properties: Style

On this page you can determine a basic style for the chart. Not all the listed features are available for every chart type.

• Look: Choose one of the available styles. This may in some instances affect not only the appearance of the chart but also its functionality.
• Orientation: Set the orientation of the chart, vertical or horizontal.
• Subtype: The mode is set in this group, either Grouped or Stacked mode for bars (Overlayed or Stacked for Radar charts. This setting is only functional when the chart displays two dimensions or one dimension and more than one expression. Negative values in stacked bars are stacked separately downwards below the x-axis. For bar charts, when using continuous axes scaling, stacked layout is the only allowed layout.
  
  For the presentation of bar charts with multiple dimensions and expressions the following principles apply:
  • A maximum of two dimensions can be shown on the x-axis.
  • A third dimension can be shown with multicolored stacked bars.
  • Only table charts can display more than three dimensions.
  • When two or more expressions are enabled, the two first dimensions are shown on the x-axis and the expression with multicolored stacked bars.
  • When two or more expressions are enabled and the subgroup is set to stacked, all expressions within one stack will be calculated according to one axis (by default the left). This will be the case even if you set one expression to be calculated according to the left axis and one to be calculated according to the right axis.

  The following list shows how subtypes are presented with multiple dimensions and expressions:

  • One dimension
    • 1 expression: single bar
    • 2+ expressions: expressions are grouped or stacked
  • Two dimensions
    • 1 expression: Dimensions are grouped or stacked
    • 2+ expressions: Dimensions are grouped
  • Three dimensions
    • 1 expression: 1st and 2nd dimensions are grouped, 3rd dimension is stacked
    • 2+ expressions: 1st and 2nd dimensions are grouped, expressions are stacked
  • Four dimensions
    • 1 expression: 1st and 2nd dimensions are grouped, 3rd dimension is stacked
    • 2+ expressions: 1st and 2nd dimensions are grouped, expressions are stacked
• 3D View: The settings in this group define the angle from which the chart is viewed in 3D modes.
  • Top Angle: Defines the vertical angle of the 3D view. The value must be an integer between 5 and 45.
  • Side Angle: Defines the side angle of the 3D view. The value must be an integer between 5 and 45.
• Plot Color Style: This control can be used to impose a color style on all plot colors in the chart. When a style is selected in the drop-down list all colors under Color Map on the Colors page will be changed to the selected style. The change is instantaneous and the setting itself will not be saved until the next time you enter this page of the dialog. The actual base colors in the color map are unaffected. The Plot Color Style is not available for all chart looks. The following options are available:
  • Solid Color: Sets all colors in the color map to solid colors.
  • Dark Gradient: Sets all colors in the color map to a color gradient going towards black.
  • Light Gradient: Sets all colors in the color map to a color gradient going towards a darker tone.
  • Glossy: Gives a glossy look to all bars.
• Plot Area Background Style: This control can be used to change the appearance of the plot area background. This setting is only available for charts with a plot area. The following options are available:
  • Frame: A frame is drawn around the plot area.
  • Shadow: This option gives a shadow effect on the plot area background.
  • Minimal: This setting removes the plot area background.
• Preview: Offers a preview of the basic visual properties of the chart.

Chart Properties: Presentation (Bar- Line- Combo- Radar- Mekko Chart)

This tab is used collectively for bar charts, line charts, combo charts, radar charts and mekko charts.

The Bar Settings group contains various display options for bars that are used in bar charts and combo charts.

In the Values on Data Points group you can set display options for values on data points, provided that this option has been selected for one or more chart expressions under Display Options in Chart Properties: Expressions page.

In the Error Bars group display options for any error bars used in the chart is determined

In the Line/Symbol Settings group display options for lines and data point symbols that are used in line charts and combo charts are determined. It is also possible to determine the width of trendlines.

 

In the Legend group you can control the display of dimension data labels in the chart. Mark the check box to display data labels. Data labels are shown only for the current top level of the chart.

Legend Settings

In the Chart Scrolling group you can make settings for scrolling in the chart.

In the Reference Lines group you can define reference (grid) lines intersecting the chart plot area from a given point on a continuous x-axis or a y-axis. Existing reference lines are listed in the window.

Reference Lines

The Text in Chart group is used for adding free-floating text to the chart.

Chart texts

Free-floating texts appear at the top left position in the chart, but can be repositioned when the chart is in the layout edit mode.

Sizing and moving chart components

Legend Settings

The layout of the chart legend is controlled by the various settings of this dialog.

Reference Lines

The Reference Lines dialog may vary slightly in appearance depending on the kind of chart that is used. A reference line is a line intersecting the chart plot area from a given point on one or both axes. It may be used, for example, to indicate a certain level or percentiles of chart data. The reference line is only drawn if it falls within the current range of the axis from which it origins.

Chart texts

Chart Properties: Axes (Bar- Line- Combo- Radar- Mekko Chart)

The dialog is opened from the Chart Properties dialog of bar charts, line charts, combo charts and radar charts.

In this dialog the appearance of the axes and the expressions, represented by the y-axes of the chart, can be set. One or two y-axes scales may be defined. In case the x-axis represents numeric values it may be set to continuous (see below).

The contents of the dialog:

Expression Axes

Set a separate Axis Color and Width for the y-axis as well as a separate Font for the scale numbering, by clicking the appropriate options.

Values entered in the Scale group may be specified as a calculated formula. Click the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog for easier editing of long formulas.

Expression syntax for calculated formulas

Dimension Axis

Set a separate Axis Color and Width for the x-axis as well as a separate Font for the scale numbering, by clicking the appropriate alternatives.

Values entered in the Scale group may be specified as a calculated formula. Click the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog for easier editing of long formulas.

Expression syntax for calculated formulas

Chart Properties: Colors

The Chart Properties: Colors page is opened by right-clicking a chart window and choosing the Properties command from the Object menu.

In the Data Appearance group it is possible to assign up to 18 different colors to the dimension field values of charts.

In the Frame Background group color settings are made for the plot area background and the background of the area surrounding the plot area.

In the Plot Area Border group you can assign Width and Color for the rectangle surrounding the plot area.

See also:

Color Area

Advanced Color Map

In the Advanced Color Map dialog, color settings for several different levels can be retrieved, set or cleared.

Chart Properties: Number

This property page applies to the active chart and contains the following controls for formatting values:

The Show in Percent (%) button operates on the following formats: Number, Integer and Fixed to.

Decimal and Thousand separators can be set in the edit boxes of the Separators group.

In the Symbol edit boxes symbols for unit, 1000, 1000 000 and 1000 000 000 can be entered.

The ISO button sets the time, date and timestamp formatting to ISO standard.

The System button sets the formatting to system settings.

Font

Here the Font, Font style and Size of the font to be used can be set.

The font can be set for any single object (Object Properties: Font), or all objects in a document (Apply to Objects on Document Properties: Font).

Further, the default document fonts for new objects can be set on Document Properties: Font. There are two default fonts:

1. The first default font (List Boxes, Charts, etc) is used for most objects, including list boxes and charts.
2. The second default font (Text Objects and Buttons) is used for buttons and text boxes, which are objects that usually need a larger font.

Finally, the default fonts for new documents can be set on User Preferences: Font.

For charts, buttons and text objects (except search objects) a font Color can also be specified. The color may Fixed or it can be dynamically Calculated from an expression. The expression must be a valid color representation, which is created using the color functions. If the result of the expression is not a valid color representation, the font color will default to black.

Color functions

Additional settings are:

• Drop Shadow: If this option is checked a drop shadow will be added to the text.
• Underline: If this option is checked the text will be underlined.

A sample of the selected font is shown in the preview pane.

Layout

A Layout setting will apply to the current object only, if it is made from the Object Properties page.
A Layout setting will apply to all objects of the specified type(s) in the document, if it is made from the Document Properties page.

Use Borders

Enable this setting in order to use a border around the sheet object. Specify the type of border by selecting it in the drop-down menu.

• Shadow Intensity: The Shadow Intensity drop-down menu makes it possible to set the intensity of the shadow that surrounds the sheet objects. There is also the choice of No Shadow.
• Border Style: The following predefined border types are available:
  • Solid: A solid unicolored border.
  • Depressed: Border giving the impression of depressing the sheet object from the background.
  • Raised: Border giving the impression of raising the sheet object from the background.
  • Walled: Border giving the impression of a wall around the sheet object.
• Border Width: This option is available for all border types. The width can be specified in mm, cm, inches (", inch), pixels (px, pxl, pixel), points (pt, pts, point) or docunits (du, docunit).
• Color: Click this button to open a dialog in which an appropriate base color can be chosen from the color palette for all border types.
• Rainbow: Creates a rainbow colored border for all border types. The rainbow will start with the selected base color on top of the sheet object.

When Simplified is the chosen Styling Mode in Document Properties: General, there is no choice of border type, there is only the Shadow Intensity drop-down menu and the Border Width setting.

Rounded Corners

In the Rounded Corners group the general shape of the sheet object is defined. These settings allow for drawing of sheet objects ranging from perfectly circular/elliptical via super elliptical to rectangular. Rounded Corners is only available if you have selected Advanced Styling Mode in Document Properties: General.

• Rounded Corners: Checking this option makes the alternatives for rounded corner shapes possible.
• Corners: Corners for which the check box remains unmarked will be drawn rectangular instead.
• Squareness: A variable number between 2 and 100 where 100 defines a rectangle with perfectly square corners and 2 corresponds to a perfect ellipse (a circle for a 1:1 aspect ratio). A squareness between 2 and 5 is usually optimal for achieving rounded corners.
• Corner Radius: This setting determines the radius of the corners in fixed distance (Fixed) or in percent of the total quadrant (Relative (%)). This setting lets you control the extent to which the corners will be affected by the underlying general shape set under Squareness. The distance can be specified in mm, cm, inches (", inch), pixels (px, pxl, pixel), points (pt, pts, point) or docunits (du, docunit).

Layer

In the Layer group an object can be defined as residing in one of three layers:

• Bottom: A sheet object with the Bottom layer property can never obscure sheet objects in the Normal and Top layers. It can only be placed on top of other sheet objects in the Bottom layer.
• Normal: When created, sheet objects reside in the Normal (middle) layer. A sheet object in the Normal layer can never be obscured by sheet objects in the Bottom layer and can never obscure sheet objects in the Top layer.
• Top: A sheet object in the Top layer can never be obscured by sheet objects in the Normal and Bottom layers. Only other sheet objects in the Top layer can be placed on top of it.
• Custom: The Top, Normal and Bottom layers correspond to internally numbered layers 1, 0 and -1 respectively. In fact all values between -128 and 127 are accepted. Choose this option to enter a value of your choice.

Theme Maker...

Opens the Theme Maker wizard where you can create a layout theme.

Apply Theme ...

You can apply a layout theme to the object, sheet or document.

Layout Themes

Show

In the Show group it is possible to specify a condition under which the sheet object is displayed:

• Always: The sheet object will always be displayed.
• Conditional: The sheet object will be shown or hidden depending on a conditional function which will be evaluated continuously depending on e.g. selections etc. The sheet object will only be hidden when the condition returns FALSE.
  

  Conditional functions

Options

In the Options group, it is possible to disallow moving and resizing of the sheet object. The settings in this group are only relevant if the corresponding check boxes are enabled in Document Properties: Layout and Sheet Properties: Security.

• Allow Move/Size: If this option has been deselected it will be impossible to move or resize the sheet object.
• Allow Copy/Clone: If this option has been deselected it will be impossible to make a copy of the sheet object.
• Allow Info: When the info function is in use an info icon will be displayed in the window caption whenever a field value has information associated to it. If you don't want the info icon to be displayed in the caption, you can uncheck this option.
  
  Info
• Size to Data: Normally the borders around all table sheet objects in QlikView will shrink when selections cause the size of the table to be less than allocated size for the sheet object. By deselecting this check box this automatic adjustment of size will be turned off leaving any surplus space blank.

Scrollbars

Various controls for changing the scrollbar layout are located in the Scrollbars group:

• Preserve Scroll Position: With this setting enabled, QlikView will try to preserve the scroll position of tables and charts with a scroll bar when a selection is made in another object. The setting must be enabled in User Preferences: Objects as well. The scroll position is not preserved when you close the document.
• Scroll Buttons: Sets the scroll button color. Select a color by clicking the button. Note that medium gray tones often render the best results for scroll bars. Either color can be defined as a solid color or a gradient via the Color Area dialog that opens when you click the appropriate button.
• Scroll Background: Sets the scrollbar background color. Select a color by clicking the button.
• Scrollbar Width: This control affects both the width and the relative size of the scrollbar symbols.
• Scroll Style: Sets the scroll bar style. Select a style in the drop-down control. The Classic scroll bar style corresponds to QlikView 4/5 scroll bars. The Standard scroll bar style gives a more modern look. The third style is Light, which is a thinner, lighter bar.
  The Styling Mode must be set to Advanced for the scroll bar style to be visible. This setting can be found on the General tab by opening the Settings drop-down menu and selecting Document Properties.

 

• Apply To...: Opens the Caption and Border Properties dialog where you can set where to apply the properties that have been set on the Layout page.

Caption

A Caption setting will apply to the current object only, if it is made from the Object Properties page.
A Caption setting will apply to all objects of the specified type(s) in the document, if it is made from the Document Properties page.

On the Caption page, specify layout options that are completely different from the general layout of the object.

• Show Caption: When this option has been checked a caption will be drawn at the top of the sheet object. List boxes and other "box objects" will have the option switched on by default whereas buttons, text objects and line/arrow objects will not.
• Title Text: In the text box you can enter a title to be shown in the caption of the sheet object. Use the Font... button to change the caption font.

Set the colors of the caption in its different states. The settings for Active Colors and Inactive Colors can be made separately from each other.

Click the Background Color or Text Color button to open the Color Area dialog. The Background Color can be defined as a solid or a gradient color on the Color Area dialog. Text Color can be defined a Fixed or a Calculated color using color functions.

Color functions

• Wrap Text: If this option is checked, the caption will be displayed in two or more rows.
• Caption Height (Lines): Set the number of caption lines in this edit box.

The precise size and position of the QlikView object can be determined and adjusted by the size/position settings for the Normal or Minimized QlikView sheet object. These settings are measured in pixels:

• X-pos: Sets the horizontal position of the left side of sheet object in relation to the sheet's left edge.
• Y-pos: Sets the vertical position of the top side of sheet object in relation to the sheet's upper edge.
• Width: Sets the width of the QlikView sheet object.
• Height: Sets the height of the QlikView sheet object.

The orientation of the caption label can be altered with the Caption Alignment options:

• Horizontal: The label can be horizontally aligned: Left, Centered or Right within the caption area.
• Vertical: The label can be vertically aligned: Top, Centered or Bottom within the caption area.

Special Icons
Many of the object menu commands of the sheet objects can be configured as caption icons. Select commands to be shown as caption icons by marking the check box to the left of each command in the list.

• Allow Minimize: When this option has been checked a minimize icon will be displayed in the window caption of the sheet object, providing that the object is minimizable. Furthermore, this will make it possible to minimize the object by double-clicking the caption.
• Auto Minimize: This option becomes available when Allow Minimize is checked. When Auto Minimize is checked for several sheet objects on the same sheet, all but one will be automatically minimized at any time. This is useful e.g. for alternately displaying several graphs in the same sheet area.
• Allow Maximize: When this option has been checked a maximize icon will be displayed in the window caption of the sheet object, providing that the object is maximizable. Furthermore, this will make it possible to maximizing the object by double-clicking the caption. If both Allow Minimize and Allow Maximize are checked, double-clicking will effect minimizing of the object.
• Help Text: Here you may enter a help text to be displayed in a pop-up window. The help text may be specified as a calculated formula. This option is not available at document level. Click the ... button to open the Edit Expression dialog for easier editing of long formulas.
  

  
  Expression syntax for calculated formulas
  

  Enter e.g. a description of the sheet object. A help icon will be added to the window caption of the object. When the mouse pointer is over the icon, the text will be displayed in a pop-up window.