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A fundamental element in report building that serves to enhance the readability, analytical depth, and persuasive power of a report by transforming data into visually appealing and easily comprehensible formats.
Table of Contents
NOTE: The Report Generator produces reports from templates created by the user; Therefore, you MUST have a template created before producing a report with the Report Generator. To be present in a report, a widget must:
- Exist in a report template, or it can be
- Added to a report while being created with the Report Generator
See these articles for the following related instructions:
Data points and objects are essential components of any IR Widget that displays data. Make sure to understand how they play a role in data visualization from this article:
Summary
A versatile tool designed to visually represent data, making it easier for readers to understand trends, patterns, and insights within a report. This widget can be employed to create various types of charts, such as bar, column, line, and spider, Select the most suitable chart type for presentation based on the data's characteristics and the specific insights you want to communicate.
Purpose
Here's an overview of the purpose and benefits of using the General Chart widget in reports:
Simplifies Complex Data
- Visual Representation: Converts complex datasets into easy-to-understand visual formats, helping to simplify the comprehension of large amounts of data or complicated relationships between data points.
Enhances Analytical Insights
- Trend Analysis: Provides readers with the ability to analyze trends over time, making it easy to understand how certain metrics have evolved.
- Comparative Analysis: Allows for a side-by-side comparison of different data sets, making it easier to identify differences or similarities.
- Pattern Recognition: Helps to identify patterns or outliers in the data, which might not be immediately apparent when looking at raw numbers.
Improves Engagement
- Engaging Visuals: Charts and graphs are more engaging than blocks of text or tables of numbers, which can help keep the audience's attention and improve their overall experience with the report.
- Storytelling: A well-designed chart can tell a story much more effectively than words alone, providing a narrative arc to data that can make the report more compelling and memorable.
Supports Decision Making
- Data-Driven Decisions: By making data more accessible and understandable, General Chart widgets support better-informed decision-making processes for businesses, researchers, and policymakers.
- Evidence Presentation: Charts are an effective way to support arguments or recommendations within a report, adding credibility and persuasiveness to the document.
Enhances Report Clarity and Professionalism
- Clarity: The use of charts helps in breaking down complex information into digestible pieces, clarifying the message that the report aims to convey.
- Professionalism: Professionally designed charts enhance the overall quality and credibility of the report, making it more likely to be taken seriously by its intended audience.
Flexibility and Customization
- Adaptable to Various Data Types: Whether dealing with quantitative data, qualitative assessments, or forecasts, the General Chart widget can be adapted to suit a wide range of information needs.
- Customizable Designs: Users can customize the appearance of their charts, including colors, labels, and legends, to match the report's design and branding requirements.
General Chart Setup
1) To set up the general chart, click the control panel icon to open the widget control panel.
2) When the widget control panel appears, add a title, and if desired, a subtitle.
3) Choose the chart type: column, bar, line, spider
4) See this article for instructions on the Object and Data Point Control Panels.
5) Choose additional display options.
6) Choose a color palette for the graphics and the number of decimal places for the data label.
7) Click Save to apply your changes.
