Bullet Graph

The Bullet Graph is a special visualization object that can be used to monitor a KPI against a Goal, while at the same time displaying intervals for e.g. below expectations, within accepted range and above expectations.

If you add a dimension to a Bullet graph, the visualization of the Bullet graph will repeat itself as many times as you have dimension members.

The Data tab of the Bullet Chart dialogue box will allow you to select what data to display in the graphs.

The term Rows refer to rows of dimension members in the underlying crosstable. “1” means the first row, while “-1” means the last row. E.g. From “2” to “-3” means from second row to third last row. The locker symbols can be used to lock the range to specific members, e.g. from “Product C” to “Product K”.

The Horizontal bar setting should usually contain the KPI measure you would like to monitor in the Bullet graph.

The Vertical bar setting determines the position of the goal bar in the Bullet graph. This is usually related to a second measure, but it could also be a fixed, custom value. Sometimes, the goal bar is not needed at all and can be left out if desired.

The Distribution option offers six different predefined distribution intervals. It will color the background of the Bullet graphs accordingly.

Note: In this screenshot, the data in underlying crosstab has had a descending sort order applied to Revenue.

The Labels tab of the Bullet Chart dialogue box contain options for displaying text with the Bullet graph:

• Leading text: The text in front of each Bullet graph.
• Lower text: The text below each Bullet graph.
• Mouse over: The text that displays when you hold your mouse cursor on top of one of the graphs.

All three labels’ font settings can be formatted individually.

Note: Number formatting is done with the standard Number formatting option from the Properties Smartpad.

The Axis tab is where you control the appearance of the horizontal axis of the Bullet graph.

• Minimum / Maximum: The range of the graph. Choose from a number of predefined settings or enter your own custom value.
• Ticks: These are the numbers along the axis. Can also be set to none.
• Step size: The range between each tick. Apart from the Automatic step size, you can also define your own, custom step size – either by modifying the auto setting or by entering a fixed value.

The Colors tab offers a number of predefined themes for coloring the various elements of the Bullet Chart, but you can also select your own, custom colors.

In many of the Custom fields, you can actually make small calculations based on some of the other settings in the Bullet Graph dialogue box. These settings are referred to as value placeholders.

The value placeholders you can use are:

• Value – the value of the measure you selected for the Horizontal bar on the Data tab.
• Goal – the value (measure or custom) you selected for the Vertical bar on the Data tab.
• Min – the value specified as the range minimum on the Axis tab.
• Max – the value specified as the range maximum on the Axis tab.
• Interval1, Interval2, etc. – the values specified for each interval on the Data tab.

As an example, the interval limits of Interval 1 and Interval 2 has been set as Goal plus/minus 10 percent respectively:

In fact, the Bullet Chart offers many customizable options, e.g. here, the Lower Text option has been customized to show data for both measures: