Adding a Time-Based Variance to a Waterfall Chart

Add a time-based variance to your chart to show the difference between time periods.

Context

The variance chart is based on all the measures in the Waterfall chart. Set up your chart with one measure and a Date filter. The Date filter must have only one value.

Procedure

Select your Waterfall chart, open the Designer, and then select (Builder).
In the Variance area, select Add Variance.

Tip
If you cannot see a variance area, find Chart Structure and select (Add Chart Components) Add Variance.
For the Measure, select All.
Select Add Version/Time, and then select Time.

From the Display Options area, apply the following options:

Option	Description
Name	Use the default name or provide a different name for the variance.
Invert Colors	Reverse the color scheme from the following default values: a positive variance is shown in green, and a negative variance is shown in red.
Set No Data as Zero	To include a NULL data point in your variance, set it to the value zero.
Scale with Base Chart	Default setting keeps the variance chart scale the same as the chart scale. If you want the variance to have its own scale, clear the checkbox.
Show Difference as	Choose whether you want to display the variance numerically or as a percentage, or both.
View Variance as	Bar – displays a classic variance chart beside the regular chart. Data Label – adds variance information to the data labels. Use data labels if there is no room to add a variance chart, or if you want variance information for charts that cannot use a variance chart. Integrated – displays the variance data as an overlay on the bar chart.

When finished, select OK.

Results

Variance information is added to your visualization. The variance bars are color-coded based on the account type and whether an increase is desirable or not. For example, an increase in income would be welcome (green), but an increase in expenses would not (red).

Variance Bar Color Based on Account Type
Account Type	Decrease (-)	Increase (+)
INC – Income	Red	Green
EXP – Expense	Green	Red
AST – Assets	Red	Green
LEQ – Liabilities & Equities	Green	Red