# How to Create a Chart Build visualizations from your data in just a few clicks 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—no coding required. # Quick Start | Step | Action | Result | |------|--------|--------| | 1 | Click a metric column | Instant chart appears | | 2 | Select chart type | Visualization updates | | 3 | Add grouping dimension | Data segmented | | 4 | Customize appearance | Ready to share | # Step-by-Step Guide ## Step 1: Open Your Dataset Navigate to your dataset in Scoop. Ensure your data is loaded and visible. | Access Method | How | |---------------|-----| | From Datasets page | Click dataset name | | From Explorer | Select dataset from dropdown | | From Canvas | Click "Add Visualization" | ## Step 2: Select Data to Visualize Choose what to visualize using the Explorer panel: | Data Type | Role in Chart | Examples | |-----------|---------------|----------| | **Dimensions** (text/categories) | X-axis labels, legend groups | Region, Product, Status | | **Metrics** (numbers) | Y-axis values, bar heights | Revenue, Count, Amount | | **Dates** | Time axis, trends | Created Date, Close Date | **Quick selection:** - Click any column header to visualize it instantly - Scoop auto-detects whether it's a dimension or metric ## Step 3: Choose Chart Type Click the **Chart** button in the toolbar to select your visualization: | Chart Type | Best For | Example Use | |------------|----------|-------------| | **Column Chart** | Comparing categories | Revenue by Region | | **Bar Chart** | Horizontal comparison | Top 10 Products | | **Line Chart** | Trends over time | Monthly Revenue | | **Area Chart** | Cumulative trends | Pipeline over time | | **Pie Chart** | Part-to-whole | Revenue by Segment | | **Donut Chart** | Part-to-whole with center stat | Deal Stage Distribution | | **Scatter Plot** | Correlations | Price vs. Volume | | **KPI Card** | Single metric highlight | Total Revenue | | **Table** | Detailed multi-metric | Full data view | ### Choosing the Right Chart | Your Question | Recommended Chart | |---------------|-------------------| | "How do these categories compare?" | Column/Bar | | "What's the trend over time?" | Line/Area | | "What portion is each segment?" | Pie/Donut | | "Is there a correlation?" | Scatter | | "What's the key number?" | KPI Card | | "Show me the details" | Table | ## Step 4: Configure Your Chart ### Dimensions (Grouping) | Setting | Purpose | Example | |---------|---------|---------| | **Group By** | Split data into categories | By Region | | **Stack By** | Add second grouping level | Stack by Product | | **Color By** | Color segments differently | Color by Status | ### Metrics (Values) | Setting | Purpose | Example | |---------|---------|---------| | **Primary Metric** | Main value displayed | Sum of Revenue | | **Secondary Metric** | Additional axis (dual-axis) | Count of Deals | | **Aggregation** | How to combine values | Sum, Count, Average | ### Filters | Filter Type | Effect | |-------------|--------| | **Dimension filter** | Include/exclude categories | | **Date range** | Limit time period | | **Metric filter** | Only values meeting criteria | ### Date Settings | Setting | Options | |---------|---------| | **Date Column** | Which date to analyze by | | **Period** | Day, Week, Month, Quarter, Year | | **Range** | Last week/month/year, custom | | **Period Type** | Rolling vs. Calendar | ## Step 5: Customize Appearance ### Colors | Option | Description | |--------|-------------| | **Theme colors** | Apply from visual theme | | **Custom colors** | Pick specific colors | | **Color by value** | Conditional coloring | ### Labels and Legends | Setting | Options | |---------|---------| | **Data labels** | Show values on chart | | **Legend position** | Top, bottom, left, right, none | | **Axis labels** | Customize axis text | | **Title** | Chart heading | ### Sorting | Option | Effect | |--------|--------| | **By value** | Largest to smallest (or reverse) | | **Alphabetical** | A-Z ordering | | **Custom** | Define your own order | ### Formatting | Setting | Options | |---------|---------| | **Number format** | Currency, percentage, decimals | | **Axis range** | Auto or manual min/max | | **Grid lines** | Show or hide | # Interactive Features ## Drill-Down Click any chart element to drill into details: | Click | Result | |-------|--------| | Bar/slice | Filter to that value | | Time period | Drill to finer granularity | | Category | See underlying records | ## Tooltips Hover over chart elements for: - Exact values - Percentage of total - Additional metrics ## Filtering Click elements to filter other charts on the same canvas. # Common Chart Configurations ## Sales Performance | Element | Configuration | |---------|---------------| | Chart Type | Column | | Metric | Sum of Amount | | Dimension | Sales Rep | | Sort | By value, descending | ## Trend Over Time | Element | Configuration | |---------|---------------| | Chart Type | Line | | Metric | Sum of Revenue | | Date | Monthly | | Range | Last 12 months | ## Pipeline Distribution | Element | Configuration | |---------|---------------| | Chart Type | Donut | | Metric | Count of Deals | | Dimension | Stage | | Sort | By pipeline order | ## Top Products | Element | Configuration | |---------|---------------| | Chart Type | Horizontal Bar | | Metric | Sum of Sales | | Dimension | Product | | Filter | Top 10 by value | # Tips for Great Charts ## Keep It Simple | Practice | Why | |----------|-----| | One insight per chart | Clear communication | | Limit series to 5-7 | Avoid visual clutter | | Use clear labels | Immediate understanding | ## Choose Appropriate Scales | Scenario | Recommendation | |----------|----------------| | General comparison | Let Scoop auto-scale | | Emphasize differences | Set manual range | | Multiple charts | Use consistent scales | ## Add Context | Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Descriptive title | Explain the insight | | Annotations | Call out key points | | Comparison lines | Show targets/benchmarks | ## Consider Your Audience | Audience | Recommendation | |----------|----------------| | Executives | High-level summaries, KPIs | | Analysts | Detailed, drill-down enabled | | Operations | Current status, actionable | # Troubleshooting ## Chart Shows No Data - Check filter settings - Verify date range includes data - Confirm dimension/metric selection ## Wrong Values Displayed - Check aggregation method (sum vs. count) - Verify correct date column selected - Review filter conditions ## Chart Looks Crowded - Add filters to reduce data - Use "Top N" to limit categories - Consider different chart type ## Colors Don't Match - Apply consistent theme - Check color-by settings - Verify legend mapping # What's Next? - [Save Your Chart](how-to-save-a-chart) - Preserve for reuse - [Add to Canvas](../../Canvases/canvas-objects) - Build presentations - [Time Series Charts](../charting-time-series-data) - Advanced time analysis - [Visual Themes](../visual-themes) - Consistent styling