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Scatter
and Bubble
plots are suitable to visualize relationships between data values. Both plots arrange data values along the horizontal and vertical axes and display points called Symbols
on the intersections. The Bubble
plot encodes an additional data value into the size of a symbol.
In its simplest form, a scatter plot visualizes relationships between two variables. For instance, the simple scatter demo displays the correlation between the GDP per capita and life expectancy.
A bubble plot adds the third variable into visualization by encoding it into the size of displayed symbols. For instance, the simple bubble demo displays the correlation between the diameter of a tree, its height and its volume.
You can configure Scatter and Bubble plots to split data values into categories and visualize them using symbols' colors, shapes, or both. For instance, the multi-category scatter demo displays the correlation between the GDP per capita and life expectancy categorized by the continent.
You can configure all these types using the Scatter
and Bubble
plot templates and their properties described in the following sections.
You can use the following demos to explore plot properties - open a link, toggle the Report explorer, select the Plot - Plot 1
node and use the Properties panel to modify the configuration.
You could also download the report files listed below and open them in the Standalone Report Designer.
The Values
collection of Scatter and Bubble plots determines the data values whose relationships you want to visualize. The collection items include the the Value
property that should be a pair of bound field references or more advanced expressions. Values of the first expression are arranged along the horizontal axis, values of the second expression - along the vertical axis.
For instance, the Simple Scatter Plot Demo has the {gdpPercap}, {lifeExp}
Data Value.
The Color Encoding
enables the color legend and includes the Color
expression and the optional Color Aggregate
function that reduces many Color
values into a single one.
Scatter and Bubble plots calculate distinct Color Encoding
results for items produced by the Data Values
collections, convert them to fill color of corresponding data points, and displays the match between colors and encoding results in the legend. Colors come from the Chart Palette.
For instance, the Multi-category Scatter Plot Demo uses the {continent}
expression for the Color Encoding. Consequently, the report output shows the color legend that matches continents with the corresponding data points' fill color.
Note: The Color
property is the collection, but the Scatter
and Bubble
plots take the first item only.
The Shape Encoding
enables the shape legend and includes the Shape
expression and the optional Shape Aggregate
function that reduces many Shape
values into a single one.
Scatter and Bubble plot calculate distinct Shape Encoding
results for items produced by the Data Values
collections, convert them to the symbol of corresponding data points, and displays the match between symbols and encoding results in the legend. Supported shapes are Dot, Box, Diamond, Triangle, Cross, Dash, Plus.
For instance, the Multi-category Scatter Plot Demo uses the {continent}
expression for the Shape Encoding. Consequently, the report output shows the shape legend that matches continents with the corresponding data points' symbols.
Note: The Shape
property is the collection, but the Scatter
and Bubble
plots take the first item only.
If the Color Encoding and the Shape Encoding use the same value, then the shape legend and the color legend are merged into the single one, as in the Multi-category Scatter Plot Demo
.
The Size Encoding
of a Bubble
plot enables the size legend and includes the Size
expression and the optional Size Aggregate
function that reduces many Size
values into a single one. The Size Encoding works only with numeric values and breaks them down into ranges that determine the size of symbols
. It allows you to encode additional information in a bubble plot.
For instance, the Simple Bubble Plot Demo has the size encoding is set to {Volume}
expression. Thus, the plot uses the range of symbol sizes derived from distinct values of the Volume
field.
Note: The Size
property is the collection, but the Bubble
plot takes the first item only.
The following properties allow you to fine-tune the outfit of symbols that form Scatter
and Bubble
plots. You can see their effect in action by modifying the configuration of any demos referenced above.
The Symbol Opacity
is a number in percentage that determines the opacity of symbols. 100%
means they are opaque, and 0%
means that they are entirely transparent.
The line properties, the Background Color
expression, and the Symbol Shape
allow you to set up the appearance of symbols. If the Symbol Shape
is Auto
, then the plot either picks the default value or applies the Shape Encoding
that we described earlier.
The data point symbols can display tooltips and labels with the following content that you can set up using the Tooltip Template
and Label Text Template
expressions, respectively.
You can choose one of the following values in the drop-down list.
Value Field Name
usually means the field name to which the second item of the Data Value
is bound.Value Field Value
means the current value of the second item of the Data Value
.Color Field Name
usually means the field name to which the Color Encoding
is bound.Color Field Value
means the current Color Encoding
value.Shape Field Name
usually means the field name to which the Shape Encoding
is bound.Shape Field Value
means the current Shape Encoding
value.Size Field Name
usually means the field name to which the Size Encoding
is bound.Size Field Value
means the current Size Encoding
value.Also, you could use the template's Expression Editor to set the formatting for these values using the interpolation syntax and supported formatted strings. For instance, you can set the Label Text Template
to {valueField.value:f0}
in the Simple Scatter Plot Demo to display life expectancy values without decimal digits.
A subset of text properties in the Label Text
section and the line properties in the Label Border
section allow you to set up the corresponding visual parameters of the plot labels.
The Label Position
and an optional Offset
in pixels determine the location of labels relative to a parent data point symbol:
Inside
- insideOutside
- on the topCenter
- on the centerAuto
- equals to Outside
The Overlapping Labels
property indicates the handling of overlapping labels. Possible values are:
Auto
- hides some labels to prevent the overlappingShow
- shows all labels even if the overlapping persistsThe line properties in the Label Line
section allow you to add the connecting lines between labels and their parent data points. The Label Line Position
determines the connection point of a label's bounding box and the line:
Auto
- selected automaticallyCenter
- on the center of the bounding box sideThis properties determine the Interactive Action when a report reader clicks a data point symbol. You can use bound field references to pass parameters in a drill-through report or configure a dynamic bookmark or URL. The field value is evaluated in the scope of the current data value. Visit the Drill-Through Reports Walkthrough for more information. It explains how to set up the drill-through column plot, but the same technique applies to a scatter or bubble plot.
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