Parameters for Comparison Chart Types

A list of parameters for comparison chart types, including bar, column, and waterfall charts.

Chart types such as Bar and Waterfall are grouped under the Comparison section in the Builder panel.

For an overview of the different chart types, see Charts overview.

Comparison chart parameters

Suggestions for when to use Bar/Column or Waterfall charts:

Bar/Column: compares the differences in sales revenue between countries.
Stacked Bar/Column: includes at least three series of data, each series represented by a color stacked in a single bar (for example, sales for 2013, 2014, and 2015).

Tip

You only need one dimension for the Stacked bar chart (as the Color parameter) and as many measures as you want.
Waterfall: shows how an initial value is affected by a series of intermediate increase or decrease values.

You can have up to two dimensions in your chart: the first (primary) dimension provides subtotals or interim totals (for example, sales per month); and the second (breakdown) dimension provides further details (for example, sales by product per month).

Waterfall charts support only the Version dimension in the Color parameter. If you don't have a version dimension (for example, Actual or Forecast versions), the Color list will be empty.

The initial and the final values are represented by columns attached to the baseline, while the intermediate values are denoted by floating columns. The columns are color-coded to show Increase, Decrease, and Total values.

For more information on waterfall charts, see Waterfall Charts.
Combination chart: compares two different types of data in the same chart.

Some chart types require a specific number of measures or dimensions and will either not work or not provide good results if you use the wrong parameters.

Bar/Column, Stacked Bar/Column, or Waterfall charts
Chart Orientation: select either Horizontal or Vertical orientation.

Show Chart as 100%: select when you want to show the Stacked Bar/Column chart as 100% stacked.

Note

If the stacked bar or column chart has only negative values, they will be shown in a 100% stacked chart. However, if the stacked chart has both positive and negative values, when shown as a 100% stacked chart the negative values won't be shown.

Required or optional parameters:

1+ - minimum

1 - maximum

2 - maximum

0+ - optional

NA - Not Applicable
Measures or Dimensions	Parameter	Bar/Column	Stacked Bar/Column	Waterfall
Measures	Measures	1+	1+	1+
Measures	Color*	0+	NA	NA
Dimensions	Dimensions	0+	0+	2
	Color*	0+	1+	Version**
	Trellis	0+	0+	NA

* When you have a Measure in the Color parameter, you can have only one parameter. If you already had Dimensions in the Color parameter or a different Measure, the new Measure will replace those parameters.

** Waterfall charts support only the Version dimension in the Color parameter, and only the pattern can be changed, not the color. If you don't have a version dimension (for example, Actual or Forecast versions), the Color list will be empty.

Note

Prior to SAP Analytics Cloud version 2020.12, the white pattern in the Color parameter pattern options showed a white fill for bar and column charts, but no fill color (transparent fill) for stacked charts.
As of version 2020.12, there are separate options for white fill and transparent fill.

When you use the builder panel to edit an existing chart, the fill color will automatically be updated: white for bar and column charts, and transparent fill for stacked charts.

Combination chart parameters
Y Axes Overlap: Select when you want the bar and line axes to overlap.

Required or optional parameters:

1+ - minimum

1 - maximum

0+ - optional

If you do not include the second axis, you will not see the Line information.
Measures or Dimensions	Parameter	Combination Column & Line	Combination Stacked Column & Line
Measures	Column Axis	1+	1+
Measures	Line Axis	0+	0+
Dimensions	Dimensions	1+	1+
	Color	0+	0+
	Trellis	0+	0+