How to Create a Chart

Overview

Scoop makes it easy to transform your data into compelling visualizations. Whether you want a simple bar chart or a complex time series, you can create charts in just a few clicks.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Your Dataset

Navigate to your dataset in Scoop. Make sure your data is loaded and you can see the spreadsheet view.

Step 2: Select Data to Visualize

Click on a column header to select it, or use the Explorer panel to choose which dimensions and metrics to visualize:

Dimensions (text/categories): These become your chart labels (X-axis, legend)
Metrics (numbers): These become your chart values (Y-axis)

Step 3: Choose Chart Type

Click the Chart button in the toolbar. Scoop offers several chart types:

Chart Type	Best For
Bar Chart	Comparing categories
Line Chart	Trends over time
Pie Chart	Part-to-whole relationships
Area Chart	Cumulative trends
Scatter Plot	Correlations between metrics
Table	Detailed data with multiple metrics

Step 4: Configure Your Chart

In the chart configuration panel:

Select dimensions for grouping (e.g., Region, Product Category)
Select metrics to measure (e.g., Revenue, Count)
Add filters to focus on specific data subsets
Adjust date range if working with time-based data

Step 5: Customize Appearance

Fine-tune your chart's look:

Colors: Click the color picker to match your brand
Labels: Toggle data labels on/off
Legend: Position the legend where it works best
Sorting: Order bars/segments by value or alphabetically

Tips for Great Charts

Keep it simple: One chart, one insight. Don't overcrowd with too many series.
Use appropriate scales: Let Scoop auto-scale, or set manual min/max for emphasis.
Add context: Include titles that explain the "so what" of the visualization.
Consider your audience: Executives prefer high-level summaries; analysts may want drill-down capability.

What's Next?

Once you've created a chart you like, learn how to save it for reuse and sharing.