Overview
Column charts are ideal for comparing data over time or across categories. The X-axis displays categories, while the Y-axis represents numerical values. They are sometimes referred to as vertical bar charts.
Plan Availability | All plan types |
Permissions | Workspace Admins, Solution Creators and Solution managers can create, edit and delete Column Charts. |
Related Reading |
When to Use a Column Chart
Single Value Comparison: Perfect for comparing a single value across categories or time.
Clustered Columns: Useful for comparing groups of values, especially over time.
Quick Insights: Easily visualize changes or trends over time.
When to Avoid Column Charts
Fixed Totals: For data where values sum to a fixed number, consider a Pie charts.
Large Data Sets: For many categories, a Bar chart may provide better readability.
Configuring Column Chart Saved Views
Setting up a Column Chart in SmartSuite is simple. Follow these steps:
Add a New Chart Saved View:
Refer to the SmartSuite guide for creating saved views.
Select Chart Type:
Choose from: Column Chart, Stacked Column, or 100% Stacked Column.
Specify Chart Values:
Pick numeric or list-type fields to display data.
Group By (Optional):
Cluster values into categories, such as grouping by year.
Reorder Legend Items (Optional):
Drag and drop items in the legend to prioritize display order.
Column Chart Types
Standard Column Chart:
Displays each value as a separate vertical bar.
Stacked Column Chart:
Combines values in one bar, stacking them for visual comparison.
100% Stacked Column Chart:
Shows values as percentages of the total, highlighting relative contributions.
Specifying Column Chart Values
Data Types: Choose from numeric fields (e.g., Number, Currency) or list-based fields (e.g., Single Select, Linked Records).
Aggregation Options:
Sum: Adds all values.
Avg: Calculates the average.
Min/Max: Displays the smallest or largest value.
You can add multiple values to compare side-by-side. Reorder columns by dragging items in the legend.
Group By Options
Clustering Categories: Organize values into groups (e.g., by year or type).
Sorting Options: When no "Group By" field is selected, sort values by "First to Last" or "Last to First."
Chart Total
Displays the total value of the Pie Chart.
You can choose to calculate the total for a specific field, with options for MIN, MAX, and AVG values.
Benchmark Line
Allows you to set a reference line on the chart to highlight a key threshold or goal.
Helps track whether data values exceed or fall below important benchmarks.
Dynamic Filter
Set filters for data that can change over time with a single click, such as status, priority, or numeric fields.
Advanced Options
Provides additional customization, including the ability to show data labels, X Axis Labels and Y Axis Labels on the chart for better readability.
Configuring Column Chart Widgets
Column charts can also be added to SmartSuite Dashboards as widgets. Follow these steps:
Name the Widget:
Provide a clear, descriptive name.
Select Source:
Choose a Solution and specific Table containing your data.
Adjust Chart Parameters:
Configure Values, Groups, Chart Totals, Benchmark Lines, Dynamic Filters and Advanced Options.
Add to Dashboard:
Click "Add Widget" to place the chart on your dashboard.
Note: You can also filter data by specific criteria within the widget view. To learn more, visit this article.
Practical Use Cases and Scenarios
1. Comparing Single Values
Scenario: Analyze sales growth by month.
Solution: Use a standard column chart to display sales figures for each month.
2. Highlighting Outliers
Scenario: Detect anomalies in monthly expenses.
Solution: Use a column chart to identify unusually high or low values.
3. Percentage Comparison
Scenario: Show percentage contribution of teams to a project.
Solution: Use a 100% stacked column chart for clear comparisons.
4. Monitoring Performance Over Time
Scenario: Track the performance of marketing campaigns over a year.
Solution: Use a grouped column chart to compare campaign metrics across months.