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How to use roles for your series in Visualizer ​

Visualizer supports different roles that can be assigned to your chart series.

Each role has its own purpose and each of them offers a unique way in which your users will interact with your charts.

NOTE: The roles are explicitly defined here in this doc.

In this article

Each role from the list above will be presented using the Line chart or the Column / Bar charts.

Important note: In the process of creating the charts, after adding the data for the chart and just before choosing the custom role ( annotation, certainty etc ) column/s, the chart will display an error "All series on a given axis must be the same data type". This is normal and will go away after the column/s with the special roles are defined, and the chart is saved.

1. Annotation ​

Using the annotation role, we can  display custom text near some data points on the chart. The text displays by default, without any user interaction.

For this example, we have a line chart, with three columns Year ( of type string ), Sales ( of type number ), and Expenses ( of type number ). After each of the Sales and Expenses columns, we have a dedicated column we've named Annotation ( of type string ) which is used as the annotation column of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the  Settings tab > Series Settings > Select each of the Annotation columns and for them choose the Annotation Special Role.

2. Annotation Text ​

Using the annotation text role, we can  extend the functionality of the annotation role, by also displaying custom text near some data points on the chart on hover.

Note: If you have an annotationText column in your chart, you must also have an annotation column.

For this example, we have a line chart, with the three columns Year ( of type string ), Sales ( of type number ), and Expenses ( of type number ). After each of the Sales and Expenses columns, we have two dedicated columns: Annotation ( of type string ) and annotationText ( of type string ) which are used as the annotation and annotationText columns of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the  Settings tab > Series Settings > Select each of the annotation and annotationText columns and for them choose the Annotation Special Role/Annotation Text Role.

3. Certainty ​

Certainty indicates whether a data point on the chart is certain or not. How this is displayed depends on the chart type. For example, it might be indicated by dashed lines or a striped fill.

For this example, we have a line chart, with three columns Year ( of type string ), Sales ( of type number ), and Expenses ( of type number ). For each of the Sales and Expenses columns, we have a dedicated column certainty ( of type boolean ) which is used as the certainty column of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the Settings tab > Series Settings > Select each of the certainty columns and for them choose the Certainty Special Role.

4. Emphasis ​

Emphasizes specified chart data points. Displayed as a thick line and/or large point.

For this example, we have a line chart, with the three columns Year ( of type string ), Sales ( of type number ), and Expenses ( of type number ). For each of the Sales and Expenses columns, we have a dedicated column emphasis ( of type boolean ) which is used as the emphasis column of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the   Settings tab > Series Settings > Select each of the emphasis columns and for them choose the Emphasis Special Role.

5. Scope ​

Using the scope role, we can indicate whether  a point on the chart is in or out of scope. If a point is out of scope, it is visually de-emphasized.

For this example, we have a line chart, with two columns Year ( of type string ) and Sales ( of type number ), and a third column Scope ( of type boolean ) which is used as the scope column of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the  Settings tab > Series Settings > Select the Scope column and for that choose the Scope Special Role.

6. Style ​

Using the style role, we can style certain properties of the chart, like color, opacity, stroke-width, stroke-color, stroke-opacity, fill-color and fill-opacity.

For this example, we have a column chart, with two columns Year ( of type string ) and Sales ( of type number ), and a third column Style ( of type string ) which is used as the style column of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the  Settings tab > Series Settings > Select the Style column and for that choose the Style Special Role.

Note: for the style column make sure to use double quotes, for example:

"stroke-color: #871B47; stroke-opacity: 0.6; stroke-width: 8; fill-color: blue; fill-opacity: 0.2"

.

7. Tooltip ​

Using the tooltip role, we can add custom content to the tooltips by adding a new column to the chart and marking it with the tooltip role.

For this example, we have a column chart, with two columns Year ( of type string ) and Sales ( of type number ), and a third column Tooltip ( of type string ) which is used as the tooltip of the chart. For that to happen, you must go to the Settings tab > Series Settings > Select the Tooltip column and for that choose the Tooltip Special Role.

8. Interval ​

Using the interval role, you can display a range around the data points of a series, such as a minimum and maximum or a confidence interval. Add one or more columns of type number next to your data column, then go to the Settings tab > Series Settings, select each interval column, and choose the Interval role.

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