Engage Data Studio - Graphical Visualization
Bar and Column Charts

Bar and column charts use length to represent a measure. In many cases these are the most effective ways to compare hierarchies or categories.

The bars can be displayed horizontally (bar chart) or vertically (column chart). To express the differences in size, the bars/columns are sorted from high to low by default. You can change the ordering in the settings of the chart.

In this topic:

  • Bar charts
  • Column charts
  • Grouped bar chart

Horizontal bar charts

Bar charts are typically used when:

  • the hierarchies have longer names and/or you want to place the value of the measure in the bar. Both are less visible in a column chart.
  • there is a single variable to compare, for example DAY OF WEEK
  • you want to visualize values across groups or categories, enable users to quickly make comparisons between related items.
  • Ideally when only a limited number of distinct hierarchy-values to compare -
  • Avoid > 20 hierarchy-values to compare

Column charts

Column charts are typically used

  • when making a comparison over time, for example: displaying values over the last 7 days
  • Single variable to compare, for example DAY OF WEEK
  • Make sure the names of the hierarchy are short or use abbreviations
  • Ideally when only a limited number of distinct hierarchy-values to compare
  • Avoid > 30 hierarchy-values to compare

 

Grouped bar chart

There are different options to create a grouped or stacked bar chart

1. Use the specific grouped/stacked bar chart

2. Start from a normal bar chart and change the mode

3. Start from a normal bar chart and activate the mode-option for the end-user

 

When to use:

  • When 2 or 3 measures are different, but still related to each other, for example: Open %, Click % and CTO %
  • Try to minimize the number of measures shown next to each other best practice < 4 measures
  • Make sure that the measures all have the same granularity (for example, all percentages) and make sure the sizes are comparable. When you compare the number of inhabitants of a country, to the people that have bought something in your store last week, the differences are very large, leading to only seeing the largest number.