Area charts
There are two area chart components available in Dashboard Publisher. All area chart components must be connected to a data source.
Area Chart
Section titled “Area Chart”Similar to a Line Chart, but with the area below the line filled with color.
Stacked Area Chart
Section titled “Stacked Area Chart”Similar to an Area Chart, but displaying multiple data series that start each point from the point left by the previous data series, so the entire graph represents the total of all the data plotted.
Properties
Section titled “Properties”- Component Name — enter a label for the component (optional). The label will not be visible in the dashboard; it is useful for identifying components quickly while laying out your dashboard.
- Chart Format — set the Title (default “Chart Title”), Title Colour, Sub Title, Sub Title Colour and Font.
- Size — set the component’s Fill and Height.
- Chart Settings — includes:
- Downloadable Data — adds an export menu to the chart so viewers can download it as a JPEG, PNG or Excel file. It’s off by default.
- Data Sorting — None, Ascending or Descending.
- Smooth Data Gaps.
- Tooltips, with Tooltip Number Format and Tooltip Number of Decimals (default 1).
- Show Data Labels, with Data Labels Colour, Data Label Number Format and Data Label Number of Decimals (default 0).
- Colours — there are 10 default colours pre-set in Dashboard Publisher. You can change any or all of these by clicking the arrow next to each colour.
- Horizontal Axis — includes Opposite Side, Reversed Direction, and grid line colour and width. The Stacked Area Chart also has Reverse Stack Direction.
- Vertical Axis — set the Minimum Value, Maximum Value and Units, plus the same options as the horizontal axis.
- Legend — configure the legend settings.
- Border and Background — add borders and/or background colours to the component.
Data source settings
Section titled “Data source settings”When you connect an area chart to a data store, you’re asked to select supporting variable(s) - Limit: 1. This is the variable the data is plotted against. Save stays disabled until you choose one.
After a data source is connected, you can still change Decimal Places and Format with commas on the DATA SOURCE tab.
Each data source also has its own filter bindings on the DATA SOURCE tab. See Dashboard filters for details.
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”Can I add multiple data sources to an area chart?
Yes. Both the Area Chart and Stacked Area Chart support unlimited data sources.
What aggregation types do area charts support?
Area charts only support the Mean aggregation type. This is more restrictive than other chart types. If you need NPS or Categorical aggregation, consider using a line chart instead. For CSat, use a column chart or bar chart, as line charts don’t support CSat.
What’s the difference between an Area Chart and a Stacked Area Chart?
A standard Area Chart fills the area below each data line independently — data series can overlap. A Stacked Area Chart stacks each data series on top of the previous one, so the top of the chart represents the combined total of all data plotted.
Can area charts connect to data explorations?
Yes. Both the Area Chart and Stacked Area Chart support connecting to data explorations as well as data stores.
How can viewers download a chart or its data?
Turn on Downloadable Data under Chart Settings. The chart then shows an export menu where viewers can download it as a JPEG, PNG or Excel file.
Why does my chart show an error icon instead of data?
This happens when a field the chart uses has since been excluded from exports and AI. Excluded fields are withheld from Dashboard Publisher, so they no longer appear in the variable pickers, and charts that already use them show an error icon. Connect the chart to a different variable, or ask the data owner whether the field can be included again.