Using Additional Formatting Features

How to:

This section describes additional formatting features that are available for charts.


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Procedure: How to Set 3D Depth on a Bar Chart

You can apply a 3D-effect to a 2D-chart.

Note: If you find that the depth of the 3D effect makes it difficult to distinguish the values on the Y-axis scale, then you can turn this option off. This procedure explains how to set the 3D effect for a default vertical bar chart.

The following image shows a bar chart before the 3D effect is applied.

Bar Chart Without 3D Depth

  1. Create a 2D chart.
  2. In Live Preview, apply the 3D effect in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Features group, click 3D Effect.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the frame of the chart, point to Show 3D, and select On, as shown in the following image.

    2D Chart with Right Click Menu with 3D Option

    The 3D effect is applied to the chart, as shown in the following image.

    Bar Chart With 3D Depth


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Procedure: How to Rotate a Chart

You can rotate bar, line, and area charts to change the orientation of the data.

The following image shows a vertical chart before it is rotated.

Vertical Chart Not Rotated

  1. Create a chart.
  2. On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Rotate.

    The chart is rotated 90 degrees clockwise. The following is an example of the same chart above, now rotated.

    Vertical Chart Rotated 90 Degrees Clockwise


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Procedure: How to Display a Static Reference Line

Reference lines draw attention to specific data locations on a chart. You can add up to three horizontal (X axis) and three vertical (Y axis) reference lines to a chart.

In InfoAssist, reference lines can be created using either a constant or a computed field.

Field values allows a property to be dynamic, so that the reference line can change position dynamically on the chart depending on the value of the field that is assigned to it.

Note: A reference line value should be a single value, such as 10K, for example. In the Reference line dialog box, if you select a field with multiple values, (Quantity Sold, for example), then InfoAssist plots the last value on the chart.

  1. Create a chart.
  2. On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Reference.
  3. In the drop-down menu that opens, select one of the following:
    • Add Reference Line to Y axis
    • Add Reference Line to X axis

    The Reference Line dialog box opens, as shown in the following image.

    Reference Line Dialog Box

  4. Create the reference line with a static value that you set.
    1. Select the Value option.
    2. In the Value text field, type the value that you want to distinguish with the reference line.
  5. In the Text field, type the text for the reference line.
  6. In the Position drop-down menu, select the position for the reference line on the chart.

    The options are:

    • Above Center (default)
    • Above Left
    • Above Right
    • Below Center
    • Below Left
    • Below Right
  7. Click the Style button to set the style for the reference line. The options are:
    • Solid (default)
    • Dots
    • Many Dots
    • Dashed
    • Dashed Dots
    • Long Dash
    • Mixed Dashes
  8. Click the Color button to open the Color dialog box, where you can select a color for the reference line and the text.
  9. Click the Weight button to select the weight of the reference line. The options are:
    • 1px - Light (default)
    • 2px - Medium
    • 3px - Heavy
  10. Click OK to save the options that you have selected, and close the Reference Line dialog box.

    The reference line is added to the chart.

    The following image shows a bar chart with a Y-axis reference line. The reference line was added by typing 120 in the Value field, and Top Selling Product in the Text field. The reference line uses the default Above Center setting for position. It is formatted as a red, dotted line, of medium weight.

    Chart With Reference Line


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Procedure: How to Display a Dynamic Reference Line

In InfoAssist, reference lines can be created using either a constant or a computed field.

Field values allows a property to be dynamic, so that the reference line can change position dynamically on the chart depending on the value of the field that is assigned to it.

Note: A reference line value should be a single value, such as 10K, for example. In the Reference line dialog box, if you select a field with multiple values, (Quantity Sold, for example), then InfoAssist plots the last value on the chart.

The following procedure provides an example of how to create a dynamic reference line, where the value changes based on the date. In this example, you can track the number of estimated delivery days per shipping company, where the number of days estimated for delivery are based on whether or not the sale date is a holiday.

  1. Create a COMPUTE field to calculate the Reference Line.
    1. On the Data tab, in the Calculation group, click Summary (Compute).

      The Summary Field (COMPUTE) dialog box opens.

    2. In the Field text box, enter Reference.
    3. Set the format to 12.
    4. Enter IF WF_RETAIL.DIM_TIME_SALES.TIME_HOL EQ 'Y' THEN 5 ELSE 2 into the expression.
    5. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  2. Hide the Reference field from the chart.
  3. Add a dynamic reference line.
    1. On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Reference.
    2. From the drop-down menu, select Add Reference Line to Y-Axis.

      The Reference Line dialog box opens.

    3. Select the Field option.
    4. From the Field drop-down menu, select Reference.
    5. In the Text field, enter Acceptable.
    6. From the Weight drop-down menu, select 2px - Medium.
    7. From the Position drop-down menu, select Above Left.
    8. Optionally, you can change the color and style of the Reference line.
    9. Click OK to close the Reference Line dialog box.
  4. Run the chart.

    Auto Prompt appears, as shown in the following image.

    1. Select 20100101 (January 1, 2010) and click Run to see that five days are acceptable since the date is a holiday.
    2. Select 20100202 (January 2, 2010) and click Run again to see that two days are acceptable since the date is not a holiday.
  5. Click Save.

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Procedure: How to Display Annotations

Annotations are explanatory notes or comments. You can add up to eight annotations on a chart.

  1. Create a chart.
  2. On the Format tab, in the Features group, click Annotate.
  3. In the drop-down menu that opens, click Add an annotation.

    The Annotation dialog box opens, as shown in the following image.

    Annotation dialog box

  4. In the text input field, type the text for the annotation.
  5. In the Position drop-down menu, select the position for the annotation on the chart. The options are:
    • Top Left
    • Top Middle
    • Top Right
    • Middle Left
    • Middle Right
    • Bottom Left
    • Bottom Middle
    • Bottom Right
  6. Click OK to save the options that you selected, and close the Annotation dialog box.

    The annotation is added to the chart.

  7. Click Run to generate the report.

    The following image shows a chart with an annotation in the middle right position.

    Chart With Annotation


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