Overview
The main chart configuration menu provides you with all the formatting options for your chart. You can use these options to change the legend, background, axis and label settings.
Chart
The chart section of the format menu has been discussed above mainly for the chart selection drop down. This is not covered in detail here but should be referred to above.
The main formatting options consist of the chart format drop down and the Chart Title drop down.
Settings
The chart format options are the most dynamic options and are based on the type of chart selected. For example for a pie chart you will be able to set the shadow colour and exploding slice options.
The common options found in the chart format drop down include interactivity options such as visible series selection.
Title
The title option allows you to change the title of the chart as well as the style - such as the font settings.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Title Setting |
Use this setting to determine how the title of the chart should be derived. Your options include:
|
Chart Title |
Use this to Change the Chart title - by default it will use the Report Name. |
Style |
Allows you to set the font options for the title |
Legend
The Legend is a box that identifies the patterns or colours that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart. This section of the menu lets you set the following options.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Position |
By using this option you can set the location of the legend relative to the chart. You can also choose to hide the legend as well. |
Font |
Set the font (Colour, Style) of the legend using this drop down menu. |
Style |
The style lets you set the background colour and borders of the legend box. |
Background
The background options let you set the style and colour of the main chart elements such as the plot and chart areas. You can apply elements such as background images and or gridlines.
Gridlines
Gridline options are available for all category charts, bubble and scatter charts.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Gridlines |
Lines you can add to a chart that make it easier to view and evaluate data. Gridlines extend from the tick marks on an axis across the plot area. |
Band Colour |
Highlight the Y axis gridlines with a band colour. This will insert a selected colour for each alternating gridline pair. |
Band Opacity |
Use this setting to reduce the opacity of the band colour - making it 'lighter'. |
Plot
The plot area is the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. The drop down options let you set the background colours applied to the plot area.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Style |
If you wish to set the colour of the plot area you can do so either as a solid colour or as a gradient. |
Direction |
If you have chosen gradient you can choose the direction of the gradient starting with the 1st colour and moving to the 2nd. |
Colour |
Choose the colours you wish to apply as the background to the plot area. If you have chose gradient you will have two colour selections. |
Image |
You can apply an image as the background to a plot area. You will have to have images loaded in through the administration consol for this option to be available. Images will be layered behind any other plot area formatting. |
Border |
For pie charts you will be able to set the plot border. Select solid if you want to display it. |
Border Colour |
For pie charts you will be able to set the border colour. |
Border Width |
For pie charts you will be able to set the border width. |
Chart Area
The entire chart and all its elements are described as the chart area. The drop down options let you set the background colours applied to the chart area.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Style |
If you wish to set the colour of the chart area you can do so either as a solid colour or as a gradient. |
Direction |
If you have chosen gradient you can choose the direction of the gradient starting with the 1st colour and moving to the 2nd. |
Colour |
Choose the colours you wish to apply as the background to the plot area. If you have chose gradient you will have two colour selections. |
Image |
You can apply an image as the background to a plot area. You will have to have images loaded in through the administration consol for this option to be available. Images will be layered behind any other plot area formatting. |
Border |
To set the chart border use this option. Select solid if you want to display it. |
Border Colour |
Set the border colour using this selection. |
Border Width |
Set the border width using this selection. |
Axis
A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.
Titles
Option |
Description |
---|---|
X Axis Title |
Determine the test to be placed on the X Axis - if you do not wish any title to be displayed delete the text from the text box |
Style |
If you wish to set the font styles of the X Axis choose the custom setting. |
Y Axis Title |
Determine the test to be placed on the Y Axis - if you do not wish any title to be displayed delete the text from the text box |
Style
The Axis style drop down lets you determine the formats to be applied to axis. This drop down is divided into 2 sections - X and Y axis.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Colour |
Set the colour of the Axis line for both the X & Y axis options |
Thickness |
Set the thickness of the Axis line for both the X & Y axis options |
Y Axis Arrow |
For the Y axis you can include an arrow to show the direction of the scale. This will appear at the top of the axis. |
Y Axis Location |
For the Y axis you can determine on which side of the chart it is to be displayed. |
Rotate X Axis Label |
You can rotate the X axis - which is useful to fit longer category names by choosing from the following options: Standard, 45 (degrees) Down, 90 Down, 45 Up, 90 Up |
X Category Spacing |
The X category spacing allows you to set the gap between each value in the series. The larger the gap the more each category value will stand out. |
X Series Spacing |
The X category spacing allows you to set the gap between each series. By reducing the spacing you create the appearance of grouping series by category value. |
Scale
The Axis scale drop down lets you determine the scale dimensions. Generally you will only be able to set the Y Axis attributes - unless you are using XY charts in which case you can set both X & Y attributes.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Upper Bound |
By setting the upper bound you will set the maximum value to be displayed on the chart axis. |
Lower Bound |
By setting the lower bound you will set the minimum value to be displayed on the chart axis. |
Scale Unit |
The scale unit allows you to set the numeric spacing between the axis values. |
Ref. Line 1 |
This allows you to place a reference line on the Y axis. You can add multiple lines by clicking on the Add button.
|
Ref. Line Position |
This allows you to place a reference line on the X axis when using scatter or bubble charts. Only one can be added. |
Labels
Labels can be added to charts to print out the values of the data point onto the chart in text format. Generally the formatting of label options are only available for pie charts.
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Display |
Select Yes if you wish labels to be displayed - select custom if you wish to change the default settings. |
Label Contains |
Select the values that you wish include in the label |
Hide Label Lines |
To remove the label lines that indicate which segment the label belongs to select 'no' |
Font |
Change the font settings for the label. |
Background Style |
You can apply solid and gradient settings to the label background. The gradient is based on the chart size not the label size. |
Gradient Direction |
Set the direction that you wish the gradient to be applied to. This is useful if you have set the gradient on the chart area and want the labels to be offset against that. |
Background Colour |
Choose the colour for the label background |
Border |
Select the border settings for the label. |
Shadow Colour |
Use this option to set the shadow colour of the label that is displayed on the chart. |