How to Add a Variance to a Chart

Add a variance to your chart to show the difference between versions of a measure or to show the difference between time periods.

Context

You can create variances that include either versions or time periods, or both. You can create a variance for any two accounts, even if they don't appear in your base chart. However, date dimensions must be in your chart if you want to use them in a variance.

Tip

Classic analytic models use the term measure, but planning models and models with measures and account dimensions use the term account.

Restriction

If your model with measures and accounts or your planning model have multiple hierarchies for an account dimension, you can compare accounts from the same hierarchy; however, the hierarchy has to already exist in the chart.

Procedure

Add a variance in one of the following ways:
- From a canvas page:
  1. Select your chart, open the Designer, and then select (Builder).
  2. 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.
- From a grid page:
  1. In the table, select some data.
  2. Open the Examine panel, select (more), and then select Variance Add Variance.
For both sections (COMPARE and TO), choose specific measures or choose All Measures in Use (Dynamic).
(Optional) Choose the versions or time periods.
1. In the COMPARE section, select Add Version/Time, and then select a version or time period.
2. In the TO section, select a corresponding version or time period.
Tip

You won't be able to select a version or time period in the TO section if you haven't first selected one in the COMPARE section.

Note

To use a time period, the time (date) dimension has to be included in your chart.

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 as Numeric, as a Percentage, or both. When you choose Percentage you can also choose to use an Absolute Base Value. Absolute values are useful if you are comparing negative values, but have a positive change (For example, (-20) - (-40) = +20. The percentage change (+20/-40) would be -50% if you did not use absolute values.)
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

A variance chart or 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

Tip

To hide the variance label, select Start of the navigation path

(More Actions) Next navigation step

(Show / Hide) Next navigation step

Variance Label End of the navigation path

Next Steps

To change your variance calculation, open the Edit Variance dialog in one of the following ways:

From a canvas page:
1. Open the Designer and select (Builder).
2. In the Variance area, find the variance calculation and select Edit.
From a grid page:
1. Open the Examine panel, select (more), and then select Variance Edit Variance.

Once you have added a variance to your chart, you can trigger Smart Insights to see more information about the data in the variance. For more information, see Smart Insights.