The most common Shape Chart is a Scatter Chart or Scatter Plot. Scatter Charts use Cartesian coordinates to display values for two variables for a set of data and are a useful summary of bivariate data. A variation of a Scatter Chart is a Bubble Chart where the size of the shape indicates a value.

Download and connect to the sample data source. We are making this chart using 1 dimension and 2 measures.

Contents

• Build a Scatter Plot Chart
• Build a Bubble Chart
• Data Labels
  • Show Data Labels
  • Allow labels to overlap other labels
  • Data Label Repositioning
  • Show/Hide Individual Data Labels
• Change Shape Size
• Change Shape Type
• Plot a Symbol Map
• Other Actions

Build a Scatter Plot Chart

1. Connect to sample data source in Aqua Data Studio.
2. From the Dimensions pane, select City.
3. From Measures pane, select Profit and Freight.
4. Click the  tab, and then click. Visualization builds a Scatter Plot Chart.
   

Hollow shapes allow you to see more values in a Scatter Chart than solid shapes because they do not completely obscure values underneath or nearby.

Build a Bubble Chart

To build a Bubble Chart

1. Connect to sample data source in Aqua Data Studio.
2. From the Dimensions Pane, select ShipDate.
3. From the Measures Pane, select Profit, Freight, Tax Amount.
4. Click the  tab and then click. Visualization builds the Bubble Chart.
   

You will notice that Visualization moved Tax Amount to the Size Deck and ShipDate and Proft to the Rows Deck and Freight to the Column Deck. We have moved ShipDate to the Color Deck so that each year is displayed in a different color. 

Data Labels

Show Data Labels

• : Click this icon on the Visual Analytics toolbar to see data labels for dimension fields in the chart view.
  
• Label Deck: Place a field in this deck to display labels on a per measure basis. In this example, we have a chart view containing profit and freight cost for various product categories in various territories. If you just want to view the freight values, then open the Freight accordion > open the Label Deck > select the Show Data Labels check box.
  

Allow labels to overlap other labels

In dual axis and merged axes separate scale scenarios, the data labels will overlap each other, even when the check box is unselected. This is by design. 

Data Label Repositioning

You can also reset the position of individual data labels to their previous position, by right-clicking the data label and choosing Reset Position.

Show/Hide Individual Data Labels

Change Shape Size

1. In the Chart Properties Deck, click the Size Deck.
2. Move the slider to the right, to increase the shape size or to the left to decrease the shape size.
   If you click Reset Shape Size, Visual Analytics reverts the chart to its original appearance.
   

You can also add a measure field to vary the size of the shape. In the following example, we have added Total Amount from Measures into the Size Deck. This alters the circles so that their size represents the sum of Total Amount for each City. 

Change Shape Type

1. In the Chart Properties Deck, click Shape Deck.
2. Select a shape type.
   

Plot a Symbol Map

• From the Dimensions pane, move City and place it in the Geo Deck.
  

Visual Analytics plots shape for each city based on freight. In the vizx file, we have removed Profit from the Columns Deck. For more information on Symbol Map, see How to Make a Symbol Map.

In the Geo Deck, you also have the option to show/hide borders for the plotted state/city. The borders add clarity between different states of the plotted country. By default, the state borders appear for the plotted data. 

Other Actions