You can use the bar & area chart (Bar & area chart) to create simple or stacked bar charts and area charts. You can enhance the charts with transitions and connectors, and use the 100% bar chart option to make all stacked bars the same height. The bar & area chart is included in the Visualization bundle.
| Dimensions | Measures | Result |
|---|---|---|
| no dimension | up to 10 measures | A simple bar chart with one bar for each measure. |
| 1 dimension | 1 measure | A simple bar chart with one bar for each dimension value. |
| 1 dimension | up to 5 measures | A stacked bar chart with one bar for each dimension value or an area chart. |
| 2 dimensions | 1 measure | A stacked bar chart with one bar for each value of the first dimension or an area chart. Each bar will show the measure value for each value of the second dimension. |
Bar & area chart recipes
Here are some examples of charts you can create with the bar & area chart.
100% stacked bar chart
This example creates a stacked bar chart where each bar is the same height. You can use this to compare the bar segments relative to each other, but not in absolute values.
You need a chart with two dimensions and one measure. Set the following properties:
- Appearance > Presentation > 100% bars = 100% bars
- Appearance > Presentation > Grid height relative to max bar = 1
- Appearance > Colors and Legend >Single Colors = Multi-color
We can add connectors to the chart. Set the following additional properties:
- Appearance > Presentation > Show bar connectors = Bars with connectors
- Appearance > Presentation > Bar spacing = 0.5
- Appearance > Presentation > Outer bar spacing = 0
Area chart
This example creates an area chart. You can use the same data set as in the previous examples. Set the following properties:
- Appearance > Presentation > 100% bars = Not 100%
- Appearance > Presentation > Grid height relative to max bar = 1.1
- Appearance > Presentation > Show bar connectors = Bars with connectors
- Appearance > Presentation > Bar spacing = 1
- Appearance > Presentation > Outer bar spacing = 0
Just like the stacked bar chart, you can make a 100% area chart by changing the following properties:
- Appearance > Presentation > 100% bars = 100% bars
- Appearance > Presentation > Grid height relative to max bar = 1
Changing the appearance of the chart
You can customize the appearance of your chart.
Adding connectors
You can add connectors between bars by setting Appearance > Presentation > Show bar connectors to Bars with connectors. You can adjust the width of the connectors with the Bar spacing setting. If you set Bar spacing to 1, you will get an area chart.
Setting stacked bars to 100%
You can set the bars to be equally high to compare the bar segments relative to each other. Set Appearance > Presentation > 100% bars to 100% bars.
Adding transitions
You can add transition effects when the chart is updated by changed selections under Appearance > Transitions.
Limitations
For information about general limitations, see Limitations.
Negative measure values are not supported.