Chart Types and Visualizations

Overview

The Analytics Module provides powerful chart types and visualization options to help you effectively display and analyze your organization's data. This guide covers all available chart types, their configuration options, and best practices for creating meaningful visualizations.

Available Chart Types

The Analytics Module supports seven main chart types, each designed for specific data visualization needs:

Chart Type Constants

Based on the system's chart type definitions:

• Bar Chart For comparing values across categories
• Line Chart For showing trends over time
• Pie Chart For displaying proportions of a whole
• Dual-Axis Chart For comparing different metrics with different scales

Bar Charts

What are Bar Charts?

Bar charts display data using rectangular bars, where the length of each bar represents the value of a data point.

When to Use Bar Charts

• Comparing values across different categories
• Showing rankings or order of items
• Displaying discrete data with clear categories
• Comparing multiple data series side by side

Configuration Options

Basic Settings

• Chart Type: Select "Bar Chart" from the chart type dropdown
• Orientation: Choose between vertical (default) or horizontal bars
• Stacked Display: Enable to stack multiple data series on top of each other

Advanced Options

• Horizontal Orientation: Toggle to display bars horizontally
• Stacked Bars: Enable when you have multiple data series to show composition
• Hide Zero Values: Exclude items with zero values from display
• KPI Target Lines: Add reference lines to measure performance against targets

Example Use Cases

• Inspection Completion Rates by Site: Compare completion percentages across different locations
• Task Counts by Status: Show distribution of tasks across different statuses
• Issue Distribution by Category: Display the number of issues in each category
• Resource Utilization by Type: Compare usage levels across different resource types

Line Charts

What are Line Charts?

Line charts connect data points with straight lines, making them ideal for showing trends and changes over time.

When to Use Line Charts

• Showing trends over time
• Displaying continuous data with clear progression
• Comparing multiple trends on the same chart
• Identifying patterns and seasonal variations

Configuration Options

Basic Settings

• Chart Type: Select "Line Chart" from the chart type dropdown
• Smooth Curves: Enable for smoother line transitions
• Multiple Series: Add multiple data series for comparison

Advanced Options

• Stacked Lines: Enable to show cumulative values
• Hide Zero Values: Exclude data points with zero values
• KPI Target Lines: Add horizontal reference lines for targets
• Data Point Markers: Show or hide markers at each data point

Example Use Cases

• Inspection Scores Over Time: Track performance trends across months
• Task Completion Trends: Show how completion rates change over time
• Issue Resolution Times: Display average resolution time trends
• Resource Performance Trends: Track resource efficiency over time

Pie Charts

What are Pie Charts?

Pie charts display data as slices of a circle, where each slice represents a proportion of the whole.

When to Use Pie Charts

• Showing proportions of a whole
• Displaying percentages or ratios
• Comparing parts to the total
• Simple categorical data with clear divisions

Configuration Options

Basic Settings

• Chart Type: Select "Pie Chart" from the chart type dropdown
• Single Attribute: Choose one attribute to group data by
• Percentage Display: Show values as percentages of the total

Advanced Options

• Donut Chart: Enable for a hollow center (if supported)
• Exploded Slices: Separate specific slices for emphasis
• Custom Colors: Assign specific colors to categories
• Legend Position: Configure legend placement

Example Use Cases

• Status Distribution of Tasks: Show percentage of tasks in each status
• Issue Category Breakdown: Display proportion of issues by category
• Resource Type Distribution: Show allocation of resources by type
• Inspection Completion Status: Display completed vs. pending inspections

Dual-Axis Charts

What are Dual-Axis Charts?

Dual-axis charts combine two different metrics on separate Y-axes, allowing you to compare data with different scales or units.

When to Use Dual-Axis Charts

• Comparing different metrics with different scales
• Showing correlation between two variables
• Displaying mixed data types (counts vs. percentages, etc.)
• Complex data analysis requiring multiple perspectives

Configuration Options

Basic Settings

• Chart Type: Select "Dual-Axis Chart" from the chart type dropdown
• Multiple Metrics: Add up to 3 different metrics
• Mixed Chart Types: Combine bars and lines on different axes

Metric Configuration

• Primary Metric: First metric displayed on the left Y-axis
• Secondary Metric: Second metric displayed on the right Y-axis
• Chart Type per Metric: Choose bar or line for each metric
• Axis Labels: Customize axis titles and units

Example Use Cases

• Inspection Count vs. Average Score: Compare volume with quality metrics
• Task Completion vs. Duration: Show completion rates against time taken
• Issue Count vs. Resolution Time: Display issue volume vs. resolution speed
• Resource Utilization vs. Performance: Compare usage with efficiency metrics

Troubleshooting Chart Issues

Common Chart Problems

Charts Not Displaying

• Check data availability: Ensure data exists for selected filters
• Verify permissions: Confirm access to required data
• Browser compatibility: Test in different browsers
• JavaScript errors: Check browser console for errors

Incorrect Data Display

• Filter settings: Verify filter configurations
• Date range: Check if date range is appropriate
• Metric selection: Ensure correct metrics are selected
• Attribute configuration: Verify attribute grouping settings

Performance Issues

• Data volume: Reduce amount of data being processed
• Chart complexity: Simplify chart configurations
• Filter optimization: Use more specific filters
• Caching: Enable chart data caching if available

Getting Help with Charts

Self-Service Solutions

1. Check Documentation: Review this guide for specific chart types
2. Test Configurations: Try different chart settings
3. Validate Data: Ensure data is correct and complete
4. Clear Cache: Refresh browser and clear cache

When to Contact Support

• Persistent Errors: Issues that don't resolve with troubleshooting
• Data Accuracy: Suspected data problems
• Feature Requests: New chart types or functionality
• Performance Issues: Slow chart loading or interaction