Choose a Display

A display is a visual representation of the report data. You can change displays to

• show information from different perspectives
• find a trend
• compare variables, show variance, and track performance

For example, you can change a crosstab display to a pie display to view the relationship of individual components of your data to the entire data set.

When you view nested categories in graphic display types, each lowest-level intersection is shown in a separate display. To isolate the display for a nested category, click the link for the nested category.

To view summary information for the display, click the Zoom In button .

If there are no nested categories, only one display is shown.

You can use any one of the following displays to present your report. For information about viewing charts and tables together, see View a Chart and Table Together.

Tips

• If some of the chart displays show values that are very close, click the Scale Axis button on the y-axis to regenerate the axis so that the close values are more easily distinguished.
• Choose how you want to save the current view:
  • On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Save As button to publish your report to the portal .
  • Click the File Options button , and then click Prepare Bookmark to save your view as a bookmark .
  • To return to the initial view of your data, which includes resetting all dimensions to the top level, click the Display Options button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar and then click Reset. If you prepared a bookmark, however, you do not return to the initial view.

Crosstab Display

The standard crosstab display is the default display type, and it shows data in tabular format. The first two dimensions of the cube represent the rows and columns respectively.

If you nest categories, the nested categories appear in rows below or columns to the right of the top level dimensions.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Crosstab button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Crosstab.

Indented Crosstab Display

Use indented crosstabs so that the levels of nested categories are indented and the relationships between the categories are more easily identified. This display also presents a more compact format than a crosstab, making it better for printing.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Crosstab button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Indented Crosstab.

Pie Display

The pie display charts the summary row of each column to show its proportional contribution to the whole. Any negative numbers are treated as absolute values; for example, the values -50 and 50 are plotted as 50. This type of display is useful for situations where there are not too many items.

If the display does not have nested categories, a legend is shown which identifies the column and data value associated with each colored section of the pie.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Pie.

Steps to Modify the Pie Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button , and then click Options.
2. In the Pie section of the Options dialog box, choose whether to use names or values to label the pie slices.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height or Width box, type a number between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Simple Bar Display

The simple bar display charts the summary row of each column to show absolute contribution. Use to show change over a specific time period, contrast two or more variables, and reveal trends in a clear format. This type of display is useful for discrete data.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Simple Bar.

Steps to Modify the Simple Bar Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button and then, click Options.
2. In the Simple Bar section of the Options dialog box, change the following settings:
   • To modify the y-axis scale, select the Use Manual Axis Scale check box, and then enter new values for the y-axis in the Minimum Value and Maximum Value boxes.
   • To show the gridlines on the bar display, select the Show the Gridlines check box.
   • To show the data values on the bars in the bar display, select the Show Values on Bars check box.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height and Width boxes, type numbers between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Clustered Bar Display

The clustered bar display plots the cell values of a crosstab in groups so that you can easily compare related information, summaries, and categories. One bar group is created for each column. Each bar in a group represents the row value.

If the display does not have nested categories, a legend identifies the row or column represented by each color.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Clustered Bar.

Steps to Modify the Clustered Bar Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button and then, click Options.
2. In the Clustered Bar section of the Options dialog box, change the following settings:
   • To modify the y-axis scale, select the Use Manual Axis Scale check box, and then enter new values for the y-axis in the Minimum Value and Maximum Value boxes.
   • To show the gridlines on the clustered bar display, select the Show the Gridlines check box.
   • To show the data values on the bars in the clustered bar display, select the Show Values on Bars check box.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height and Width boxes, type numbers between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Stacked Bar Display

The stacked bar display shows trends across columns by plotting the relative proportions of parts to the whole and the relationship between the parts. One bar is created for each column. Within a bar, a segment represents the row value.

If the display does not have nested categories, a legend identifies the row or column represented by each color.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Stacked Bar.

Steps to Modify the Stacked Bar Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button , and then click Options.
2. In the Stacked Bar section of the Options dialog box, change the following settings:
   • To modify the y-axis scale, select the Use Manual Axis Scale check box, and then enter new values for the y-axis in the Minimum Value and Maximum Value boxes.
   • To show the gridlines on the stacked bar display, select the Show the Gridlines check box.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height and Width boxes, type numbers between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Multiline Display

The multiline display shows trends across columns by plotting the cell values of a crosstab in a line chart. One line is created for each column, with a segment of the line representing each row value. Use to reveals and compare trends and cycles that show relationships between variables, or to show time series analysis and relationships between variables.

If the display does not have nested categories, a legend identifies the row or column represented by each color.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click Multiline.

Steps to Modify the Multiline Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button , and then click Options.
2. In the Multiline section of the Options dialog box, change the following settings:
   • To modify the y-axis scale, select the Use Manual Axis Scale check box, and then enter new values for the y-axis in the Minimum Value and Maximum Value boxes.
   • To show the gridlines on the multiline display, select the Show the Gridlines check box.
   • To show markers on the multiline display, select the Show Markers check box.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height and Width boxes, type numbers between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.

Three-Dimensional Bar Display

The three-dimensional bar display shows trends across columns by plotting the cell values of a crosstab in a three-dimensional bar. One bar is created for each column, with the top of the bar representing each row value. Use to show relationships between two or more variables to analyze large quantities of data that are difficult to interpret otherwise, or to provide a different perspective on the data.

If the display does not have nested categories, a legend identifies the row or column represented by each color.

Steps

• Click the arrow to the right of the Chart button on the PowerPlay Web toolbar, and then click 3D Bar.

Steps to Modify the Three-Dimensional Bar Display

1. On the PowerPlay Web toolbar, click the Display Options button , and then click Options.
2. In the 3D Bar section of the Options dialog box, change the following settings:
   • To modify the y-axis scale, select the Use Manual Axis Scale check box, and then enter new values for the y-axis in the Minimum Value and Maximum Value boxes.
   • To show the gridlines on the three-dimensional bar display, select the Show the Gridlines check box.
3. If you want to resize the chart to a percentage of the screen , select the Percentage of Screen check box and, in the Height or Width box, type a number between 10 and 500.
4. Click Apply, and then click OK.