Display types for reports and report parts
To decide which display type to use for a report or report part, determine what you want it to communicate. Then, identify the most effective display type to suit the purpose.
| Purpose of the report or report part | Display type to use |
|---|---|
Show the relationships between three or more query items |
Crosstab table |
Show detailed information from your database, such as product lists and customer lists |
List table |
Emphasize the magnitude of change over time |
Area chart, line chart |
Show trends over time |
Area chart, column chart, line chart |
Compare data |
Bar chart, column chart, gauge chart |
Show the relationship of parts to the whole |
Pie chart, donut chart, stacked charts |
Show the parts that contribute to the total |
Stacked column chart |
Show groups of related data |
Bar chart, column chart |
Highlight proportions |
Pie chart, donut chart |
Compare different kinds of quantitative information |
Column chart, line chart |
Show the distribution of data |
Scatter chart, bubble chart, point chart |
You can select the following formats for chart display types:
- Standard
- Standard charts compare specific values and represent discrete data, such as data for different regions or individual employees.
- Stacked
- Stacked charts compare the proportional contributions within a category, showing the relative value that each data series contributes to the total. The top of each stack represents the accumulated totals for each category.
- 100 percent stacked
- 100 percent stacked charts compare the proportional contributions across all categories, showing the relative contribution of each data series to the total. This format highlights proportions. When absolute values are required, use another format.
- Three-dimensional
- Three-dimensional charts are a visually effective display for presentations. When exact values are not important, such as for control or monitoring purposes, use another format. The distortion in three-dimensional charts can make them difficult to read accurately. Legacy chart formats support three-dimensional charts.
Crosstab or list tables
Table
Crosstab or list tables are useful for displaying data in rows and columns (crosstab) or in columns (list table), especially to show large sets of data.
Area charts
Area
Area charts are useful for emphasizing the magnitude of change over time. Area charts are also used to show the relationship of parts to the whole.
Area charts are like line charts, but the areas below the lines are filled with colors or patterns.
You can select the following formats: stacked, 100 percent stacked, or three-dimensional.
Bar charts
Bar
Bar charts are useful for plotting many data series.
Bar charts use horizontal data markers to compare individual values.
You can select the following formats: standard, stacked, 100 percent stacked, or three-dimensional.
Column charts
Column
Column charts are useful for comparing discrete data.
Column charts use vertical data markers to compare individual values.
You can select the following formats: standard, stacked, 100 percent stacked, or three-dimensional.
Gauge charts
Gauge
Gauge charts are useful for comparing values between a small number of variables, either with multiple needles on the same gauge or with multiple gauges.
Gauge charts display data by using needles to show information as a reading on a dial. The value for each needle is easily read against the colored data range.
Line charts
Line
Line charts are useful for showing trends over time and comparing many data series.
Line charts plot data at regular points connected by lines.
You can select the following format: standard or three-dimensional.
Pie and donut charts
Pie,
Donut
Pie charts are useful for highlighting proportions.
They use segments of a circle to show the relationship of parts to the whole. To highlight actual values, use another chart type, such as a stacked chart.
Pie charts plot a single data series. If you need to plot multiple data series, use a 100 percent stacked chart.
You can select the following formats: standard, donut, or three-dimensional.
Scatter, bubble, and point charts
Scatter, Bubble, Point
A scatter chart uses data points to plot two measures anywhere along a scale, not only at regular tick marks, and is useful for exploring correlations between different sets of data.
A bubble chart, like a scatter chart, uses data points and bubbles to plot measures anywhere along a scale. The size of the bubble represents a third measure, and the color represents a fourth measure. It is useful for representing financial data.
A point chart uses multiple points to plot data along an ordinal axis. It is the same as a line chart without the lines. Only the data points are shown. A point chart is useful for showing quantitative data in an uncluttered fashion. To display a point chart, the report object must contain at least one measure (numeric value).