Creating a Chart

QuickBase offers so many options that the process of getting your data into a chart varies, depending upon how you've structured your QuickBase and what kind of chart you want to make.

To create a chart:

  1. Open the QuickBase Report Builder.

    You can do so in one of the following ways:

  2. In the Report Type section, select Chart.
    The Report Builder displays charting options.

  3. Tell QuickBase what records to include.
    If you want your chart to show only a certain kind of record or only records that meet specific conditions, you can tell QuickBase so in the report Builder's Filtering section. For example, maybe you only want to show sales figures for a specific period of time, like the last quarter. Or maybe you'd only like to see sales of "widgets" and not your other products. To make choices like this, go to the Filtering section and select the Only records that meet certain criteria radio button. Then make the selections you want. (Read how.)

  4. Select a chart type.
    Within the Chart Type section, click the dropdown to select a format. QuickBase offers a variety of chart types, each of which is designed to convey a specific type of information. For help choosing one, read about chart types.

  5. Fill the chart with data.
    QuickBase needs to know what information you want the chart to show. The program offers different options depending on what chart type you chose in Step 4. Read how to:

  6. Set Data Labels.

    The graphic nature of charts really helps viewers understand your data. But additional text never hurts. Use the Data Labels section to let people know the actual numbers and values that a bar or pie wedge represents. To add helpful text to your chart, turn on the Data labels always visible checkbox. QuickBase displays a dropdown you can use to select a labeling mode:

    Tip: If you're a QuickBase formula maven, you can create a special formula field for the chart report. This formula could use other fields to calculate a special value in your chart, or help you set matching criteria. To add a formula field, go to the Additional Options section and select Custom options. (Read more about using formulas in a report.)

  7. Preview the chart and make edits, if necessary.

    To see what your chart looks like, click the Display button. If you don't like what you see, To make further changes, click the Customize this Report link on the upper right of the page. QuickBase returns you to the Report Builder where you make changes. To see the chart again, click Display. You can go back and forth, previewing and editing many times like this, until you have the chart looking perfect.

    Note: When you preview, the report displays as "Untitled" and the heading isn't editable. Don't worry about that right now. Later, when you save the report, you'll name it and that name will appear here instead

  8. Save and/or display the report.

    About Saving Shared reports:
    You can only save a shared report if the manager of the application has granted you permission to do so. When you save a shared report, you don't need to share it with absolutely everyone. QuickBase prompts you to select the roles that should see it. To share with all application users, select All Roles. (An Application Manager can change which reports a particular role can access at any time. To learn how, see Specifying Which reports a User Can Access.) To help others understand what your report shows, type in a description. If you want the description to display above the report, turn on the Show description when displaying report checkbox.

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