Bullet chart reference
How to use and configure bullet charts
Last updated
How to use and configure bullet charts
Last updated
Bullet charts give you a way to quickly see how well a given metric is performing against target benchmarks. Bullet charts are simple, having just 3 components:
A center bar showing the actual value of the metric you are graphing
A vertical line showing a target value
Colored bands that represent threshold ranges, such as poor, average, and good
Bullet charts are often used in dashboards to provide meter or gauge-like widgets that monitor various "health" or performance KPI (key performance indicators).
Bullet charts in Insights visualize a single metric. You can optionally display a target value, and set up to 3 ranges. You can also change the chart colors, and apply data filters.
Example:
The bullet chart below is based on quantity sold metric for a fictional store. At a glance, you can see that the average grade exceeds the target:
The center bar shows the metric value (31K, in this example)
The vertical bar shows the target quantity sold (set at 28K in the chart configuration)
The colored bands in the graph show the ranges for poor, average, and good quantity sold.
Select the chart, then on the right, use the properties panel to configure the chart options.
The options in a chart's data properties panel affect how the data is organized and displayed.
A data source provides the connection between the component and the underlying data set. Data source options are:
To change the chart's data source, click the current data source name.
Click +BLEND DATA to see data from multiple data sources in the same chart. Learn more about data blending.
This option appears if your data source has a valid date dimension.
The Date Range Dimension is used as the basis for limiting the date range of the chart. For example, this is the dimension used if you set a date range property for the chart, or if a viewer of the report uses a date range control to limit the time frame.
Metrics measure the things contained in dimensions and provide the numeric scale and data series for the chart.
Add metrics to the chart by dragging fields from the Available Fields panel on the right. You can also click Add metric in the Data tab.
Bullet charts can have a single metric.
Range limits specify the threshold values for the chart. Ranges often indicate "poor," "average," and "good" thresholds. By default, bullet charts set the range values to 1, 2, and 3. You should adjust these to better fit your actual data. You can remove a range from the chart by setting it to 0. If you don't want ranges at all, set all 3 ranges to the same value (use a value large enough to display the metric value).
Range 1
Set the threshold for the "poor" range.
Range 2
Set the threshold for the "average" range.
Range 3
Set the threshold for the "good" range.
Lets you specify the target value for the chart.
Show target
Shows or hides the vertical target bar
Target value
Set the target value.
The default date range property lets you set a timeframe for an individual chart.
Default date range options
Auto
Use the default date range determined by the chart's data source.
Custom
Lets you use the calendar widget to select a custom date range for the chart.
Date compare type
Displays comparison data for the selected time period.
The filter property restricts the data displayed in the component by including or excluding the values you specify. Learn more about the filter property.
Filter options
Filter name
Click an existing filter to edit it. Mouse over the filter name and click X to delete it.
+Add a filter
Creates a new filter for the chart.
A chart's style properties control the overall presentation and appearance of the chart.
This section controls the appearance of the center value bar and the ranges.
Bar color
Sets the color of the value bar.
Range color
Sets the color of the ranges.
Controls the appearance of the chart axis.
Show axis
Shows or hides the chart axis.
Font color
Sets the color of the axis labels.
Font family
Sets the font family of the axis labels.
These options control the appearance of the chart background container.
Background
Sets the chart background color.
Border Radius
Adds rounded borders to the chart background. When the radius is 0, the background shape has 90° corners. Border radius of 100° produces a circular shape.
Opacity
Sets the chart's opacity. 100% opacity completely hides objects behind the chart. 0% opacity makes the chart invisible.
Border Color
Sets the chart border color.
Border Weight
Sets the chart border line thickness.
Border Style
Sets the chart border line style.
Add border shadow
Adds a shadow to the chart lower and right borders.
The chart header lets viewers perform various actions on the chart such as exporting the data or viewing the chart in the Explorer tool. Chart header options are:
Show on hover (default)
Three vertical dots appear when you mouse over the chart header. Click these to access the header options.
Always show
The header options always appear.
Do not show
The header options never appear. Note that report viewers can always access the options by right clicking the chart.
Color
Set the color of the chart header options.
Filter property
To view or edit the data source, click . (You must have at least view permission to see this icon.)
