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Scatter plot properties

You can change the layout and formatting of scatter plots in Qlik Sense.

You open the properties panel for a visualization by clicking Edit Edit sheet in the toolbar and clicking the visualization that you want to edit.

If the properties panel is hidden, click open right panel Show properties in the lower right-hand corner.

Information noteIf the visualization displays Linked Object Linked visualization in the properties panel, the visualization is linked to a master item. You can edit the master item or unlink the visualization from the master item to edit only the current visualization.
Information noteSome of the settings in the properties panel are only available under certain circumstances, for example, when you use more than one dimension or measure, or when you select an option that makes other options available.

Data

Click Add to add a dimension or a measure.

Dimensions

On the Data tab, under Dimensions, click Add to open a list of available Dimensions and Fields. Select the dimension or field that you want to use.

You can also click Expression to create a dimension in the expression editor. Another way to create a dimension is to type the expression directly in the text box. Expressions added in this way must begin with an equals sign (=). Here is an example with a calculated dimension:

=If (Week < 14, Week, 'Sales')

If Add is dimmed, you cannot add more dimensions.

You can edit a dimension that is linked to a master item by updating the master item, or by unlinking the dimension from the master item and editing only this instance.

  • <Dimension name>: Click the dimension name to open the dimension settings.

    If you want to delete the dimension, right-click the dimension and select Delete in the dialog. Alternatively, click the dimension and click Delete.

    • Dimension: Only displayed for master items. To edit only this instance of the dimension, click Linked Object to unlink the dimension from the master item.
    • Field: If you have added a field from Fields in the assets panel, the field name is automatically displayed. Click Expression to open the expression editor.
    • Label: Enter a label for the dimension. If you have added a field from Fields in the assets panel, the field name is automatically displayed.
    • Include null values: When selected, the measure values of all null dimensions are summarized and presented as one dimension item in a visualization. All null values are displayed as gaps or dashes (-).
    • Limitation: Limits the number of displayed values. When you set a limitation, the only dimensions displayed are those where the measure value meets the limitation criterion:
      • No limitation: The default value.

      • Fixed number: Select to display the top or bottom values. Set the number of values. You can also use an expression to set the number. Click Expression to open the expression editor.

      • Exact value: Use the operators and set the exact limit value. You can also use an expression to set the number. Click Expression to open the expression editor.

      • Relative value: Use the operators and set the relative limit value in percent. You can also use an expression to set the number. Click Expression to open the expression editor.

      • Calculated on measure: <measure>: Shown when you make a limitation to the number of displayed dimension values. The dimensions whose measure value meet the criterion are displayed.

    • Show others: When selected, the last value in the visualization (colored gray), summarizes all the remaining values. When some kind of limitation is set (Fixed number, Exact value, or Relative number), the value counts as 1 in that setting. If, for example, Exact value is used and set to 10, the tenth value is Others.

      This option is not available in box plot dimensions.

    • Other label: Enter a label for the summarized values (when Show others is selected). You can also use an expression as a label. Click Expression to open the expression editor.
    • Master item: Create a master dimension based on the dimension expression by clicking Add new. If the dimension is already linked to a master item, click Edit to update the master item. All instances of the linked dimension will be updated.

  • Add alternative: Alternative dimensions and measures are dimensions and measures that are added to a visualization, but are not displayed until a user chooses to switch which dimensions and measures are being displayed during visual exploration.

You can drag a field from Measures to Dimensions to change how it is used. Moving a measure to Dimensions removes its aggregation. You cannot drag a master measure to Dimensions. You can only drag a measure to Dimensions if its expression is simple. For more information on expressions, see Using expressions in visualizations.

Measures

On the Data tab, under Measures, click Add to open a list of available measures. Select the measure that you want to add to the visualization. If you select a field, you are automatically presented with some common aggregation functions that you can choose between for the measure.

If no measure is available, you need to create one. You can enter the expression directly in the text box, or click Expression to create a measure in the expression editor.

You can edit a measure that is linked to a master item by updating the master item, or by unlinking the measure from the master item and editing only this instance.

If Add is dimmed, you cannot add more measures.

  • <Measure name>
    • Expression: Click Expression to open the expression editor. The existing expression is displayed by default.
    • Label: Enter a label for the measure. Measures not saved in Master items are by default displayed with the expression as label.
    • Measure: Only displayed for master items. To edit only this instance of the measure, click Linked Object to unlink the measure from the master item.
    • Number formatting: Different options for formatting the measure values. If you want to change the number format at app level, and not just for a single measure, it is better to do that in the regional settings, that is, in the SET statements at the beginning of the script in the data load editor.

      The following number formats are available:

      • Auto: Qlik Sense automatically sets a number formatting based on the source data.

        To represent numeric abbreviations, the international SI units are used, such as k (thousand), M (million), and G (billion).

      • Number: By default, the formatting is set to Simple, and you can select the formatting from the options in the drop-down list. Click the button to change to Custom formatting, and use the Format pattern box to change the format pattern.

        Examples:  

        • # ##0 describes the number as an integer with a thousands separator. In this example " " is used as a thousands separator.
        • ###0 describes the number as an integer without a thousands separator.
        • 0000 describes the number as an integer with at least four digits. For example, the number 123 will be shown as 0123.
        • 0.000 describes the number with three decimals. In this example "." is used as a decimal separator.

        If you add the percent sign (%) to the format pattern, the measure values are automatically multiplied by 100.

      • Money: By default, the format pattern used for money is the same as set up in the operating system. Use the Format pattern box to change the format pattern.
      • Date: By default, the formatting is set to Simple, and you can select the formatting from the options in the drop-down list. Click the button to change to Custom formatting, and use the Format pattern box to change the format pattern.
      • Duration: By default, the format pattern used for duration is the same as set up in the operating system. Duration can be formatted as days, or as a combination of days, hours, minutes, seconds and fractions of seconds. Use the Format pattern box to change the format pattern.
      • Custom: By default, the format pattern used for custom is the same as set up in the operating system. Use the Format pattern boxes to change the format pattern.
        • Decimal separator: Set the decimal separator.
        • Thousands separator: Set the thousands separator.
        • Format pattern: Set the number format pattern.
        • Reset pattern: Click to reset to default pattern.
      • Measure expression: The format pattern is determined by the measure expression. Use this option to display custom number formatting for a measure in a visualization.

        Limitations:

        Only works with visualizations that accept measures.

        Does not affect the number formatting of the axis.

    • Master item: Create a master measure based on the measure expression by clicking Add new. If the measure is already linked to a master item, you can update the master item by clicking Edit. All instances of the linked dimension will be updated.

  • Add alternative: Alternative dimensions and measures are dimensions and measures that are added to a visualization, but are not displayed until a user chooses to switch which dimensions and measures are being displayed during visual exploration.

You can drag a field from Dimensions to Measures to change how it is used. Moving a dimension to Measures assigns it an aggregation. You cannot drag a master dimension to Measures.

Scripts

Information noteOnly available if chart level scripting has been enabled in your app. See Turning on chart level scripting.

On the Data tab, under Scripts, click Add to create a chart script. You can add more than one chart script.

You can enter the chart script directly in the text box, or click Expression to create a chart script in the expression editor.

Add-ons

X-axis reference lines:

  • Add reference line: Click to add a new reference line.
  • Show: When selected, the reference line is displayed.
  • Label: Enter a label for the reference line.
  • Color: In the color picker, select the color of the reference line and the label.
  • Reference line expression: Enter a value or an expression for the reference line. Click Expression to open the expression editor.
  • Delete: Click to remove the reference line.

Y-axis reference lines:

  • Add reference line: Click to add a new reference line.
  • Show: When selected, the reference line is displayed.
  • Label: Enter a label for the reference line.
  • Color: In the color picker, select the color of the reference line and the label.
  • Reference line expression: Enter a value or an expression for the reference line. Click Expression to open the expression editor.
  • Delete: Click to remove the reference line.

Data handling

  • Include zero values: When unselected, measures that have the value ‘0’ are not included in the presentation. If there is more than one measure value, all the measure values must have the value ‘0’ to be excluded from the presentation.
  • Calculation condition: Specify an expression in this text field to set a condition that needs to be fulfilled (true) for the object to be displayed. The value may be entered as a calculated formula. For example: count(distinct Team)<3. If the condition is not fulfilled, the message or expression entered in Displayed message is displayed.

    A calculation condition is useful when a chart or table is slow to respond due to a large amount of data. You can use the calculation condition to hide an object until the user has filtered the data to a more manageable level by applying selections. Use the Displayed message property to guide the user to filter the data.

Regression lines:

  • Add regression line: Click to add a new regression line.

  • Label: Enter a label for the regression line.

  • Type: Select a type of regression line.

    • Average: Shows the average value of the data.

    • Linear: Shows a linear increase or decrease of values.

    • Second Degree Polynomial: Shows a curved line to represent fluctuating data with one hill or valley.

    • Third Degree Polynomial: Shows a curved line to represent fluctuating data with up to two hills or valleys.

    • Fourth Degree Polynomial: Shows a curved line to represent fluctuating data with up to three hills or valleys.

    • Exponential: Shows a curved line. Use when data values rise or fall at increasingly higher rates.

    • Logarithmic: Shows a curved line. Use when the rate of change in data increases or decreases quickly, then levels out.

    • Power: Shows a curved line. Use with data sets that compare measurements that increase at specific rates.

  • Colors: In the color picker, select the color of the regression line and the label.

  • Dashed: Select or clear to make the regression line dashed or solid.

  • Direction of fit: Select the direction of fit.

    • Minimize vertically: Creates a line where y is a function of x and the square y distance is minimized. A regression line displaying the Average is a horizontal line.

    • Minimize horizontally: Creates a line where x is a function of y and the square x distance is minimized. A regression line displaying the Average is a vertical line.

Appearance

General

  • Show titlesOn by default in all visualizations except filter panes, KPIs, and text & image visualizations.

    Enter Title, Subtitle, and Footnote. By default, the string is interpreted as a text string. However, you can also use the text field for an expression, or a combination of text and expression. An equals sign (=), at the beginning of a string shows that it contains an expression.

    Click Expression if you want to create an expression by using the expression editor.

    Information noteTitles are displayed on a single line. If you inject line breaks they will be ignored.

    Example:  

    Assume that the following string is used, including quotation marks: 'Sales: ' & Sum(Sales).

    By default, the string is interpreted as a text string and is displayed as presented in the example. But if you begin the string with an equals sign: (='Sales: ' & Sum(Sales)), the string is interpreted as an expression instead. The output is then Sales: <value of expression>, where <value of expression> is the calculated value.

  • Disable hover menu: Select to disable the hover menu in the visualization.

  • Show details: Set to Show if you want to allow users to be able to choose to view details, such as descriptions, measures, and dimensions.
  • Show disclaimer: Set to Show if you want to see visualization disclaimers that appear at the bottom of the chart, such as limited data or the chart has negative values.

Alternate states

State: Set the state to apply to the visualization. You can select:

  • Any alternate state defined in Master items.
  • <inherited>, in which case the state defined for the sheet is used.
  • <default state>, which represents the state where no alternate state is applied.

For more information about alternate states, see Using alternate states for comparative analysis.

Presentation

  • Navigation: By default, off. When set to Auto, the navigation tool is displayed, with options to pan and zoom.

  • Bubble size: Set the size of the data point bubbles.

    For a scatter plot with two measures, this sets the uniform size of all bubbles.

    For a scatter plot with three measures, this sets the scale of the bubble sizes. In a scatter plot with three measures, the third measure controls the size of each bubble.

  • Labels: Select what labels to display, you have three options:
    • Auto: The number of labels displayed varies with the size of the visualization
    • All: All labels are displayed. This option may cause labels to overlap.
    • None: No labels are displayed.
  • Compression resolution: Set the resolution for compressed data. Only available for large data sets (>1000 data points).
  • Grid line spacing: Select the spacing of the grid lines. The Auto setting is Medium.

Colors and legends

You can set the presentation colors of the distribution plot. You only need to select Custom if you want to change the settings.

  • Colors: Select how the chart values are colored. There are two settings:
    • Auto: Colors the chart values using default settings.
    • Custom: Manually select the method of coloring your values in the chart. The following methods are available:
      • Single color: Color the chart using a single color (by default blue). Use the color picker to change the dimension color.
        • Use library colors: Option available when a master dimension used in the visualization has a color assigned to it. You can select to use the master dimension color or to disable the master dimension color.

      • By dimension: Color the chart by dimension values. By default, 12 colors are used for the dimensions. The colors are reused when there are more than 12 dimension values. When selected, the following settings are available:

        • Select dimension: Enter a field or expression containing the values to color objects in this chart.
        • Library colors: Select whether to use the master dimension color or to disable the master dimension color. Option available only when a master dimension used in the visualization has a color assigned to it.
        • Persistent colors: Select to have colors remain the same between selection states.
        • Color scheme: Select 12 colors or 100 colors to be used for the different values. The 12 colors can all be distinguished by people with color vision deficiency, but not all of the 100 colors.

      • By measure:
        • Select measure: Select the measure to use to color your chart.
        • Library colors: Select whether to use the master measure color or to disable the master measure color. Option available only when a master measure used in the visualization has assigned colors.
        • Label: Enter text or an expression for the measure that displays in the legend.
        • Color scheme: Select a color scheme from the following options:
          • Sequential gradient: The transition between the different color groups is made using different shades of colors. High measure values have darker hues.

          • Sequential classes: The transition between the different color groups is made using distinctly different colors.

          • Diverging gradient: Used when working with data that is ordered from low to high, for instance, to show the relationship between different areas on a chart. Low and high values have dark colors, mid-range colors are light.
          • Diverging classes: Can be seen as two sequential classes combined, with the mid-range shared. The two extremes, high and low, are emphasized with dark colors with contrasting hues, and the mid-range critical values are emphasized with light colors.
        • Reverse colors: When selected, the color scheme is reversed.
        • Range: Define the range of values used to color by measure or by expression.
          • Auto: The color range is set by the measure or expression values.
          • Custom: When custom is selected, you can set the Min and Max values for the color range.
      • By expression: Color the chart using an expression to define colors for values. Supported color formats are: RGB, ARGB, and HSL.
        • Expression: Enter the expression that you want to use. Click Expression to open the expression editor.
        • The expression is a color code: Selected by default. In most cases, it is best to keep this setting. When the selection is cleared, the expression evaluates to a number, which in turn is plotted against one of the chart gradients.

          For more information, see Coloring a visualization

          When the coloring is by measure or by expression, you can set the color range (Min and Max values). By setting the color range, the colors remain constant throughout selections and paging. When using color by expression, the option The expression is a color code must be cleared before you can set the color range.

  • Show legend: Not available when Single color is selected. By default set to Off. The legend is displayed if there is enough space. The placement can be changed in the Legend position setting.
  • Legend position: Select where to display the legend.
  • Show legend title: When selected, the legend title is displayed.

X-axis

  • Labels and title: Select what to display of labels and title.
  • Position: Select where to display the axis.
  • Scale: Set the spacing of the axis scale.
  • Range: Select to set the min value, the max value, or both. The min value cannot be larger than the max value. You can use expressions for the values.

Y-axis

  • Labels and title: Select what to display of labels and title.
  • Position: Select where to display the axis.
  • Scale: Set the spacing of the axis scale.
  • Range: Select to set the min value, the max value, or both. The min value cannot be larger than the max value. You can use expressions for the values.

Tooltip

  • Tooltip: Set to Custom to add any combination of measures, a chart, or an image, to the tooltip.
  • Hide basic rows: Hide the rows of the tooltip that show basic information. If a custom tooltip has no measures and a title and description, Hide basic rows will also hide dimension values as well.
  • Title: Enter a title for the tooltip.
  • Description: Enter a description for the tooltip.
  • Measures: Click Add measure to show the measure as a tooltip.
    • Select a measure from a field using From a field. You can also use an expression to add a measure. Click Expression to open the expression editor. The existing expression is displayed by default.
    • You can change the label of the measure using Label and the formatting using Number formatting. If the measure is a master item, you can use the master measure formatting or turn off formatting and select another format using Number formatting.
  • Chart: Click Add chart to add a chart to the tooltip.
    • Master items: Select a master visualization from the list to show as a tooltip.
    • Chart size: Select the size of the chart container.
      • Small. Sets the width and height of the container to 140 pixels.
      • Medium. Sets the width and height of the container to 200 pixels.
      • Large. Sets the width and height of the container to 340 pixels.
    • Edit master item: Appears after you select a master visualization. Click to edit the master item.
  • Images: Click Add an image to add an image to the tooltip.
    • Type: Choose the location of the image from either your Media library or from a URL.
    • Size: Set the size of the tooltip container. Qlik Sense fits the image into the container.
      • Small. Sets the width and height of the container to 50 pixels.
      • Medium. Sets the width and height of the container to 200 pixels.
      • Large. Sets the width and height of the container to 340 pixels.
      • Original. Qlik Sense fits the image into the container. If the image is larger than 340 pixels, it is scaled down.
    • Media library: Appears when you choose Media library for Type. Click to select an image from your media library.
    • URL: Appears when you choose URL for Type. Enter a URL.

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