Graph Types

There are 12 different types of graphs that you can create using the Ivinex Reporting tool. All of them have lots of different options, and today I’m going to try and address the basic use of each one of the different graph types.

Bar Graph

A bar graph is the default graph. It will show data represented with horizontal bars (fig. 1).

Fig. 1 – Bar Graph

To create a bar graph start by clicking the “New” button under the “Graph” sub tab. Doing so will bring up a new box above the “New” button.

First select “Bar Graph” from the “Graph Type” drop-down. Then give your graph a title in the “Title” box. Next you’re going to want to decide how you want to group your data using the “Group By” field. Click on the “–Select–” link and pick one of the columns you want to group by. In my example I’m grouping by who “Tasks” are assigned to.

The “Then By” selector isn’t important here. It’s actually used only for “stacked” charts to display sub groups of data withing a parent group. For now, don’t select anything here.

Next is the “Graph Values” selector. Here you’re going to want to pick the field where you’ll get your values for your graph. You can do this one of two ways.

• If you have a numerical value that you want to sum for your grouping then you can select that column here
• If you don’t have a numerical value that you’re going to use then go ahead and select the same column that you used for your group.

The reason you can do either of those things here is because we decide what kind of mathematical operation you want performed in the “Aggregation” drop-down. There are 3 options here:

• Count: Use this option if you’re not using a numerical column in the “Graph Values” selector.
• Sum: Use this option if you want to sum (add) all the values in each group together.
• Average: Use this option if you want an average of all the values in a group.

Your last two fields are the X Axis Label and Y Axis Label fields. These fields allow you to enter text that will appear as the labels for the X and Y Axis of the graph. If you don’t want labels, you don’t have to enter anything.

Stacked Bar

A Stacked Bar graph is very similar to a standard Bar Graph. It just breaks down the data a little further.

Fig. 3 – Stacked Bar Graph

In order to create a Stacked Bar graph you need to select “Stacked Bar” from the Graph Type field and then make sure you select two ways to group the data using the “Group By” and “Then By” selectors. In the “Group By” selector make sure you pick the column that you want to use as the main grouping, and in the “Then By” pick a column that will be the sub grouping (i.e. the grouping that’s broken down within each bar, as pictured in fig. 3).

Pie Chart

A Pie Chart graph is set up exactly like a Bar Graph would be, except that you select “Pie Chart” from the Graph Type field.

Fig. 4 – Pie Chart

3D Pie

A 3D Pie is VERY similar to a Pie Chart. You make a 3D Pie the same way you make a Bar Graph. The only difference is that you will select “3D Pie” instead of “Bar Graph”.

Fig. 5 – 3D Pie

Column

The Column graph type is similar to the Bar Graph type, except in a Column graph data is displayed vertically rather than horizontally (like in the Bar Graph).

Fig. 6 – Column Graph

The only difference in setting up a Column graph VS. a Bar Graph is that you would select “Column” in the “Graph Type” field instead of “Bar Graph”.

3D Column

The 3D Column is just the same as the Column graph. You set it up the same as a Bar Graph except that you select “3D Column” instead of “Bar Graph” in the “Graph Type” dropdown.

Fig. 7 – 3D Column Graph

Stacked Column

A Stacked Column graph is similar to the last two graph types, but with sub grouping like in the Stacked Bar graph.

Fig. 8 – Stacked Column Graph

To create this graph type you will start by selecting “Stacked Column” from the “Graph Type” field. Then you’ll set it up just like a Bar Graph, except you’ll add in a selection for the “Then By” selector. The column you pick here will be the column that is use to sub-group data in the graph.

Stacked 3D Column

A Stacked 3D Column is exactly the same as a Stacked Column, except that it’s displayed in 3D format.

Fig. 9 – Stacked 3D Column Graph

Parallel 3D Column

A Parallel 3D Column graph is similar to the Stacked 3D Column graph, except rather than stacking each sub-grouping of data it will display the sub-groups parallel to each other.

To create this graph you’ll simply configure it like a Bar Graph (choosing “Parallel 3D Column” as the Graph Type), except you’ll select a column in the “Then By” selector.

Fig. 10 – Parallel 3D Column

Line

A Line graph is useful if you want to display data trending over a time period. You would set it up similar to a Bar Graph, but selecting “Line” in the Graph Type rather than “Bar Graph”.

Fig. 11 – Line Graph

You’ll also make sure you select a column in both the “Group By” and “Then By” selectors.

Area

An Area graph is similar to a Line graph except the area below the line will be filled in with a solid color.

Fig. 12 – Area Graph

Stacked Area

The Stacked Area chart is similar to the Area, except that it will display sub-grouping of data.

Fig. 13 – Stacked Area

To create a Stacked Area graph start by selecting the Graph Type “Stacked Area” and then configure it similarly to the Bar Graph. However, instead of only setting the “Group By” selector you’ll also set a column in the “Then By” selector to be the sub-group of data.