Category: Chart types

Workaround – Dynamic dates in Bar chart

Certain analyses produce category series - which by design do not keep any time parameters. With below workaround you can pass time information through analyses and show it in Bar chart.

Add formulas

We have formulas which output time parameters, add needed ones to Series list:
week()
month()
quarter()
year()
From their output you will build dynamic dates.

Cross sampling

  1. Mark series and 'Add selected series as new column' under a Group.
  2. Add each time formula in same Group with 'Add selected series as new single series column'.
  3. Add calculations.
  4. You can also rename columns for easier identification in next steps.

Sorting

If you are using it - don't sort time formulas. See below, that's all it is needed.

Bar chart

Prepare simple chart:

  1. Open Graph layout.
  2. Under Text leave only one series.
  3. Under Bar delete all series.
  4. On the left mark series and use 'Add new Text column' > 'One column per series with value'.

Add dynamic dates:

  1. Double-click on a cell.
  2. Roll out Dynamic properties.
  3. Find the right series for this cell, select Value.
  4. In next column you can use next/previous number i.e.; {s s5.Value}/{s s9.Value}, {s s6.Value}/{s s10.Value} and so on.

Animated charts

This feature was first introduced in Macrobond 1.28 and later. Major improvements were added in 1.29.

Overview

This feature was first introduced in Macrobond 1.28 and later. Major improvements were added in 1.29.

With this feature you can animate your charts. With version 1.28 you can animate only Time charts, but in version 1.29 we introduced also animation of Scatter charts, Category charts, and Category scatter charts, added live preview on chart in main application and more animation formats.

Currently it is not possible to animate Bar charts and Pie charts.

How to create animated chart?

Preview chart

This feature is available in Macrobond 1.29 and later.

Under Presentation properties > Export animation you will find a panel with few settings about which you can read below. Note that you can select these setting for each individual series. To do this click on each line/column and you will see separate settings.

Elements of animation

  • Animate when - you can choose from: After previous, With previous, Never.
  • Delay - it’s a length of intervals between drawing each line. To start all series at the same time set it to 0 with Animate when: With previous.
  • Duration - how long it will take to draw line from the start to the end.
  • End delay – when you want to use looped animation (i.e., GIF) you can set how long last image will be shown before the cycle starts again.
  • Timer – calculates total time needed to execute all elements of animation.
  • Show value on hover in SVG - after checking it you will be able to hover over SVG image and see each data point with date and value. This is a tooltip and you can change its color/style in Style sheet. For more information see Tooltip - Color and style settings.

Animation formats

In version 1.28 only SVG was available. Since version 1.29 you can choose from:

  • vector image/animation: SVG;
  • animation: GIF (looped), MP4.

How to show it to others?

Copy special (SVG)

Right-click on your chart and choose Copy special. In new window you can select SVG format.

File > Export image or video (SVG, GIF, MP4)

There are two places from which you can export video. First from upper menu: File > Export image or video. And second, in main app working space right-click on a chart and select Export image or video.

If you enable ‘Copy path to clipboard’ when exportin GIF or MP4 you can paste the chart directly to Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Note that you can save preferred export settings with 'Save as export favorite.' Then on chart, after right-click, you will see Export favorites list where you can quickly select favorite format.

LinkedIn

Go to File > Send to LinkedIn to connect to you account and send image, MP4 or GIF file. For more information see Publishing charts on LinkedIn.

Animation in version 1.28

In version 1.28 setting are only available under File > Export image.

You can specify Directory, File name, Size (you can use Current). The only available format is SVG with settings (check Animate line graphs):

  • Show data point on hover - you will be able to hover over image and see each data point with date and value. This is a tooltip and you can change its color/style in Style sheet. For more information see Tooltip - Color and style settings.
  • Delay per graph - length of intervals between drawing each line. Set it to 0 to have all of them shown in the same moment.
  • Duration - how long it will take to draw line from the start to the end.

Style sheet

This feature is available in Macrobond 1.29 and later.

The Presentation properties > Export animation panel is available in Style sheets.

Radial bar chart

Overview

There is no dedicated chart type but with formulas and Cross sampling you can create one with Category Scatter chart.

How to create a Radial bar chart?

  1. Prepare series.
  2. Prepare position's values - in Formula analysis use a hundred series of each of below formulas (note that bolded parts will change in each formula, see the file in Examples for how to pair those values or just copy them from there):
    • FlagForecast(Cos(25*Pi()/50), fx:s1<=((1/100)*100))
    • FlagForecast(Sin(25*Pi()/50), fx:s1<=((1/100)*100))
    • and add these at the end of each batch a full original series i.e.; fx:s1.
    • We recommend to rename first and last series of hundred's as "series 1,Start" till "series 1, end" and "series 1a,Start" till "series 1a, end" etc.
  3. Add Cross sampling with one 'Calculations: Last'. Create group for each series with:
    • first column with "series 1,Start" till "series 1, end",
    • second column with "series 1a,Start" till "series 1a, end",
    • for third column, mark main series for the group and use 'Add selected series as new single series column'.
    • We recommend to rename columns to X, Y, V.
  4. Add Arithmetic analysis to create a distance between each circle. Multiply them by 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, etc.. We do not recommend to use value equal or above 1.
  5. Add Category Scatter chart. Open Graph layout (Ctrl+L), leave/create pairs from X and Y series.
  6. Graphic style
    • Turn off labels - click on each line, under Presentation properties > Content un-check 'Show value labels'. Use Chart (upper menu) > Select to pick series. Instead use Observation labels or Legend labels.
    • Change line's style - click on each line, go to Presentation properties > Appearance > Graph style: Custom, set Line width.
    • Disable forecast - click on each line, go to Presentation properties > Appearance > Graph style: Custom, Forecast > Line and select 'None'.
    • Scale adjusting:
      • under Presentation properties > Appearance > Tick position select 'None',
      • un-check Presentation properties > Appearance > Show labels, to hide numbers.
    • To turn off borders go to Presentation properties > Border > Width, select 'None'.
    • To turn off grid line, click on one and un-check box under Presentation properties > Appearance > Show grid line.
  7. Chart size - to avoid stretching the chart use Chart view size.

Examples

Radial 'A Countries'

We have chosen five countries and presented their current Human Development Index position as a radial bar chart.

Economic indicators

In this example we have calculated percentile ranks relative to historic data for eight different USA's indicators.

Distribution stack chart

Overview

Dates are represented by cells stacked on each other which create a distribution chart. Whole chart can be then colored by specific rules.

How to create a Distribution stack chart?

  1. Add Formula analysis:
    • Create brackets with if() formulas e.g.;
      if(fx:s1<0, year(), null())
      if(fx:s1>=0 & fx:s1<20, year(), null())
      if(fx:s1>=20, year(), null())
  2. Add Cross sampling:
    • Add Calculations 'Last' and enough Nth last values to cover the elements + 2-3 spares.
    • Create group with bracket-series.
  3. Add Transpose to flip data. Include only 'Nth las values' for Brackets group.
  4. Add Bar chart.
    • Open Graph layout (Ctrl+L). Mark brackets series and use 'Add new Text column' > 'One column per series per value'.
    • To remove all n/a go to Column defaults tab > Default cell text > Edit, paste in:
      {s .Value -m " "}
    • Go to Chart properties > Appearance > check 'Reversed' to flip chart.
    • Go to Chart properties > Chart elements > Rules to apply colors.

Examples

New houses

See the distribution of years (with date) by number of starts of new house construction.

Equity return

We show here distribution of years by S&P 500 index YoY growth rates. Years were divided into four groups and colored to make it easier to read the chart.

Radar chart/Spider chart

Overview

There is no dedicated chart type but with formulas and Cross sampling you can create one with Category Scatter chart.

How to create a Radar chart?

  1. Prepare series - one of the methods would be to use  PercentRank(series1, series1) formulas: 
    PercentRank() returns the rank of a value in a series as a percentage (0..100) of the values in the series, e.g.,PercentRank(sek, sek) calculates the percentile value of the series 'sek' for each observation.
  2. Prepare position's values - in next Formula analysis use these four formulas for each series (note that some elements should be changed, see below for more information):
    • fx:s1*Sin((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • fx:s1*Cos((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • 100*Sin((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • 100*Cos((0)*2*pi()/6) 
      Changing elements:
- Each set of formulas should have successive number after Cos/Sin e.g., fx:s1*Cos((1)*2*pi()/6), fx:s1*Cos((2)*2*pi()/6).
- The number at the end (here '6') is total number of series in initial data set.
- We also recommend to rename these series as 'series1 X'; 'series1 Y', 'series1 X Max'; 'series1 Y Max'.
NOTE: If you want to flip the chart by 90 degrees set Cos-series as first (X-series), and Sin-series as second (Y-series).
    • and add these at the end of list:
      • 0
      • 1
  3. Add Cross sampling with four 'Calculations: Last'.
    • Name three of them as 25th %-ile, 50th %-ile, 75th %-ile - these will be needed for intermediate lines. The fourth is your outer shape, the 100%-ile Max-series.
    • To avoid clutter, in Output mode > Label generation select the best option for your data set.
    • In Group panel create columns for X-series, Y-series, X Max-series, Y Max-series. Same series should be at first and last position (without this duplication the shape will not be closed).
    • Select '0' and add press 'Add selected series as new single series column', same for '1'.
    • We recommend to rename all columns to X, Y, X Max, Y Max, 0, and 1.
  4. Add Arithmetic analysis to prepare radar's intermediate lines.
    • Whole '25th %-ile' list multiply by 0.25
    • Whole '50th %-ile' list multiply by 0.5
    • Whole '75th %-ile' list multiply by 0.75
  5. Add Category Scatter chart.
    • Open Graph layout (Ctrl+L), leave/create pairs for:
      • Last X, Y
      • Last, X Max, Y Max
      • 25th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
      • 50th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
      • 75th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
    • Additionally you can create pairs for:
      • 0-point - add two 'Last, 0' series
      • markers - add Bubble graph type and Last X; Last Y; Last 1 (or add them on a line's graph style).
  6. Graphic style
    • Turn off labels - due to how it is constructed there will always be one doubled label. Click on each line, under Presentation properties > Content un-check 'Show value labels'.
      Instead use Legend labels or Observation labels - see here how to add them. You can copy-paste them to other points.
    • To change each line's style click on it and go to Presentation properties > Appearance > Graph style: Custom, set Line width and style.
    • Scale adjusting:
      • under Presentation properties > Scale > Display range set for example -150/150,
      • under Presentation properties > Appearance > Tick position select 'None',
      • un-check Presentation properties > Appearance > Show labels to hide numbers.
    • To turn off borders go to Presentation properties > Border > Width, select 'None'.
    • To turn off grid line, click on one and un-check box under Presentation properties > Appearance > Show grid line.
  7. Chart size - to avoid stretching the chart use Chart view size.

Adding more lines

You can easily add more lines.

  1. Go to Cross sampling and add, for example, calculation 'Value at: -1y' (for values one year back).
  2. Go to chart, open Graph layout (Ctrl+L).
  3. Adjust series - leave just Line for 'Value at, -1y, X' and 'Value at, -1y, Y'.

Examples

Radar on 'A Countries'

We have chosen five countries and presented their current and 2000's Human Development Index position on a radar.

Spider Pigs

Here we showed latest data for agricultural production from New Zealand. You can also see how to flip the outer shape of radar.

Economic spider web

In this example we have calculated percentile ranks relative to historic data for eight different USA's indicators.

 

Dashboard

Overview

Dashboard can be created from Bar chart using combination of Text, Graph, Symbol columns and Rules applied to them.

How to create a Dashboard?

  1. Add series and perform calculations.
  2. Add Bar chart and open Graph layout (Ctrl+L).
  3. Arrange series the way you want. Each section in Graph layout is a new column:
    • Note that those transparent yellow and blue colors do not appear in the application.
  4. Rename columns and titles.
    • If you need to add a dynamic date - add to Series list: Month() and Year(), and as another Group in Cross sampling. When editing column's title use those series in i.e.,: Data for {s s7.Value}/{s s6.Value}.
  5. Add Rules - see Bar chart conditional formatting rules and the example below.
    • If you want to highlight whole column in one color - set rule that will always be true, for example 'Greater than -1' (for a series that cannot go below 0).
  6. Set width for each section - click on a cell in column and go to Column properties > Column.
    • Note that this is made for 'Expanding' mode. You can change the mode under Chart properties > Width
  7. Add separator between sections - click on a column and go to Column properties > Separator left/right, select Color and Width.
  8. Add general border - go to Graph area properties > Border, select Color and Width.
  9. Add notes - go to Chart properties > Notes, select one of them and type in text. 

Examples

Dashboard - Tourists expenditures

In this example we compare average expenditures from past years to latest month values.

Dashboard - Land use

In this example we compare land area (forest and agricultural) of different countries.

Bubbles on string chart

Overview

Bubble chart can be also modified for specific use, for example when you want to compare series showing values as weights.

How to create Bubbles on string chart?

  1. Add series on a List.
  2. Perform calculations and/or analyses.
  3. Add Formula analysis with values from 1 to x, where x is a number of your series in the list.
  4. Add Time chart, open Graph layout.
  5. Pair series - number-series with regular series - under Bubble graph type. First add number-series.

Other graphical elements

  • You can turn off Legend - click outside chart area and un-check box under Presentation properties > Chart elements > Legend.
  • To add labels on the right side - click inside chart area and under Presentation properties > Elements > Vertical axis value labels check box. Double-click on each label to edit it.
  • Click on y-axis and under Presentation properties > Appearance > Tick position set to None and uncheck 'Show labels'.
  • Click on y-axis and under uncheck Presentation properties > Appearance > Show labels.

Example

Importance of weight

In this example we used bubbles to show change in importance of main US CPI weights.

Quadrant chart

Overview

Shaded Quadrant chart is helpful when you want to show in an instance positions or proportions of points in each arbitrary fixed quadrant.

How to create a Quadrant chart?

  1. Add series and perform needed analyses.
  2. Add Scatter chart or Category scatter chart.
  3. On a chart navigate to Actions ribbon to Chart properties > Annotations and add Horizontal line and Vertical line on chart to divide your chart into four areas.
    • You don't have to add it ideally on point. After adding line you can click on it and change its position by typing right value in Line > Position.
  4. Then navigate to Chart properties > Chart ornaments > Text box and add four Text boxes.
    • Note! Text box will push out all other labels (point's labels) because for main-app it's the same type of object - but once you add all four Text boxes, labels will go above Text boxes and you will be able to move them freely.

Setting background colors

This has to be done for each Text box separately:

  1. To add color for Text box click on it, go to Presentation properties and check 'Custom style'.
  2. Click on Presentation properties > Appearance > Background > [...] icon.
  3. By default color is set to 'Solid' - if you don't want to change it, just select colors for quadrants. If you want quadrants to have gradients, change Color type to 'Gradient'.
  4. Select colors, opacity and gradient angle, for example:
    • Left-upper: #99FEA527 60%, #33FFFFFF 20%, angle 60 (orange-white),
    • Right-upper: #99008000 60%, #33FFFFFF 20%, angle 120 (green-white),
    • Left-down: #33FFFFFF 20%, #99B61818 60%, angle 120 (white-red),
    • Right-down: #33FFFFFF 20%, #99DCCD2E 60%, angle 60 (white-yellow).
  5. Under Presentation properties > Border > Border width select 'None'.

Examples

Social Progress Index vs GDP growth

In this example we showed relationship between Brent Oil price and US oil consumption.

Brent Oil Price vs US oil consumption

In this example we showed relationship between Brent Oil price and US oil consumption.

Hit rate

Calculate Hit rate for each quadrant.

 

Fan chart

Overview

Using Forecast analysis on multiple same series you can create a Fan chart from Time chart and show uncertainty associated with forecasts.

How to create a Fan chart?

  1. Add same series on Series list - as many times as you have predicted variants - plus one which will be the 'core' series.
  2. Change descriptions on Series list if needed.
  3. Add Forecast analysis, use 'Edit' to add forecast to each variant-series.
  4. If this is an Index (like in below example) you can add Rate of change analysis and create percentage series.
  5. Add Time chart, change colors or apply Style sheet.

Examples

Euro Area CPI

Different scenarios for future inflation added in Forecast analysis.

EUR per USD percentile distribution

We calculate the distribution with user-defined formula .prob() and present it with Fan chart. For more information see How formula with dot works? and User defined formulas.

Dumbbell chart

Overview

There is no dedicated chart type for Dumbbell charts. However, with Scalar/Cross sampling analyses  you can create it out of Bar chart.

How to create a Dumbbell chart?

  1. Use Scalar (or Cross sampling) with 'Calculations: Value at' for two points in time.
  2. Add Bar chart (after Scalar countries will be sorted alphabetically).
  3. Open Graph layout (Ctrl+L), arrange series:
    • turn the graph type to 'Range',
    • in left panel mark both series, use 'Add new Graph column', change the graph type to 'Markers' and drag it under first Graph,
    • mark series, use 'Add new Text column' > 'With value', drag it above Graph.
    • mark another series, use 'Add new Text column' > 'With value'.
    • Press 'OK'.

Adjusting chart elements

  1. Click on any range bar, change number under Graph properties > Content > Bar height.
  2. To change range bar color go to Graph properties > Appearance and change Graph style to Custom, select new color.
  3. Click on group of markers go to Graph properties > Appearance and change Graph style to Custom, select new color and size.
  4. Edit legend, main title and columns' titles.

Background graphic elements

  1. To add vertical line, click on one of them, under Grid line properties >Appearance change its color.
  2. To match x-axis' tick color, click on x-axis, go to Axis properties > Appearance > Tick color and change its color.
  3. To change background color go to Graph area properties > Row appearance > Background 1. To remove it put it to 'transparent color'.

Examples

Dumbbell chart (with lists)

In this example we have used Lists with HICP data and processed them with Scalar (or Cross sampling) to compare values for 2019 and 2022. Using lists make it easier to introduce changes - you make addition/deletion on a list, everything else stay the same.

Bar chart - dumbbell

In this example, we show simple sorted dumbbell chart based on High/Low values.