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Sorting and Formatting Charts

Default Chart Settings

Learn how to sort your data in different charts and tables and how to structure them with colors or indentations.

When you have chosen a chart for your data series you often need to sort and format the chart elements to get a better overview of the data.
You can learn how to visualize your data in charts in this article: Data visualisation with different Chart types.

Select a chart and the chart editor will open on the right. There you can find the settings to sort and format your charts.

These settings are generally available for all charts but might differ in terms of naming or availability due to restrictions for certain charts.

Sort Levels in Charts

To sort the level values shown in your chart, use the “Sort” button in the “Levels and Filters” section of the chart editor.

This option allows custom ordering for all level values per level via drag and drop.

Format Charts

To format the appearance of a chart, navigate to the “Formatting” section in the chart editor.

Formatting the Scales and Digits

With this setting you can define the level values for each axis and add more axis to your chart.

Additionally, you can define the scales and the digits for your chart.

Formatting your Columns/Data Series

Here you have the option to assign colors to each column/data series in your chart.

This will help you to highlight certain columns/data series or differentiate between columns/data series.

Mixed Charts

In mixed Charts you can also decide which data should be displayed as line, bar, area or spline.

Formatting your Rows/X-Axis

In charts you can also set the format for each level value to highlight it in your chart or for example to show the calculation of sums more clearly.

  • Standard will display the level value as a normal text.

  • Subtotal will display the level value in bold with a horizontal line above it

  • Grand total will display the level value in the chart in bold with horizontal lines above and below.

This way of formatting is especially useful for building financial statements like a profit and loss statement or a cash flow statement. 

For an even better overview you can also indent the elements multiple steps. In combination with the formatting options, this will make e.g. your Tables look more structured and easier to interpret. 

Merged cells in Tables

Cells in the table header or on the left side are merged when possible. Be sure to place them in the correct order in the rows or columns with the "Configure axes" dialog.

In the example below we added ‘Country’ above ‘City’ and ‘Year’ above ‘Quarter’ to display upper levels in merged cells and add columns with totals.

Configure Axes

Table

Note that levels have to be part of the same Dimension to be displayed as merged cells. In this example we used the Dimension Location with the levels Country and City and the Dimension Time with Year and Quarter.

Overlapping values in Charts

In Advance!

Due to overlapping data labels, not all values can always be shown. This can be solved by changing the sorting of the Nodes or using the feature of 'stack totals'.


A reoccurring issue related to Area Charts and Line Charts is, that the sorting of the Nodes (data series) influences the priority of labels in the Chart. 

For example, when a chart features two nodes (Data table) and node B is sorted above node A, the chart will prioritize the label of node B and therefore, in case of overlapping labels will only show the label of node B (Example 1).

Example 1: 

This does NOT mean that wrong numbers are displayed.

To change the prioritization of the nodes, click on 'sort and format' next to the node button and reorder the nodes. 


To avoid overlapping labels, the feature of 'Stack totals' can be used. 

In 'Example 2' the stack totals option 'Combined sum' is selected, which now shows the total value of both Nodes combined

Example 2:

More information on the 'Stack totals' - option can be found here

Data table

Node

2021

2022

A

4000

6000

B

30

50








Contact

You may contact the Valsight Customer Support via:

+49 30 46799042

support@valsight.com

Availability: Mon-Fri *, 9 AM to 5 PM (Berlin, Germany) .

*Except Public holidays in Berlin, Germany.

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