Skip to main content

​
Use Rulers

Rulers can be used to customize the markers used on the metric axis. You can change the (metric) axis range in a visual along with the markers along the axis. Customizing this range may help you focus your data exploration to specific data points. You can set minimum and maximum values for your axis, define the steps, enable the gridlines, and use a logarithmic scale. Rulers functionality is available only for bar charts, line charts, and waterfall visuals. Controls for rulers are provided using the interactivity sidebar. See Control How Users Interact With a Visual. Rulers can be customized for a visual using the Rulers sidebar. See the following topics:
Arc gauges use the Rulers sidebar to control some different settings than are used by most visuals. See Single Metric Visuals.

​
The Rulers Sidebar

The Rulers sidebar for a visual allows you to customize the rulers and reference lines used by the visual. When you save or export your visual, the settings configured on the Rulers sidebar are saved or exported respectively. Access the Rulers sidebar
  1. Select the visual in the Visual Gallery or on a dashboard.
  2. Select Settings on the visual drop-down menu to access the sidebar menu for the visual. Then select on the sidebar menu. The Rulers sidebar opens. The sidebar consists of two sections: the (metric) ruler settings and, possibly, reference lines. If the visual does not support reference lines, this section is not available. See Enable and Disable Ruler Grid Lines and Use Reference Lines.
    Arc gauges use the Rulers sidebar to control some different settings than are used by most visuals. See Single Metric Visuals.
  3. Select Apply to apply any changes you make.

​
Enable and Disable Ruler Grid Lines

Grid lines provide a visual cue between data elements and metric ranges in a visual. They are displayed as light gray lines on the visual canvas horizontally and vertically. When enabled, they extend from the tick marks on the axes. Grid lines may help you to analyze and compare the data elements in your visual.
Arc gauges use the Rulers sidebar to control some different settings than are used by most visuals. See Single Metric Visuals.
Enable grid lines:
  1. Access the Rulers sidebar for the visual. See The Rulers Sidebar.
  2. In the X Gridlines section of the sidebar, select (check) the X Axis checkbox to enable vertical rulers on the visual.
  3. In the Y Gridlines section of the sidebar, select (check)the Y Axis checkbox to enable horizontal rulers on the visual. By default, the Y Axis checkbox is selected.
    On a combo chart, four y-axis checkboxes are available: Y1 Axis, Y2 Axis, Y3 Axis, and Y4 Axis. By default only the Y1 Axis checkbox is selected.
  4. You can specify the minimum (Min) and maximum (Max) values of the metrics that are plotted. Also specify the value used between grid lines (the Step) shown on the chart. In all cases, you can select the Auto checkbox to have Self-Service Analytics automatically select the minimum, maximum, and step values automatically, based on the data.
    On a combo chart, you can specify minimum, maximum, and step values for all four y-axes.
  5. Select the Log Scale checkbox for any metric to change the axis based on orders of magnitude of the metric selected for that axis. See Use the Ruler Log Scale Function.
  6. Select Apply to apply the ruler settings to the visual.
Disable grid lines
  1. Access the Rulers sidebar for the visual. See The Rulers Sidebar.
  2. In the Rulers section of the sidebar, clear the X Axis checkbox to disable vertical rulers on the visual. Clear the Y Axis checkbox to disable horizontal rulers on the visual.
    On a combo chart, four axis checkboxes are available: Y1 Axis, Y2 Axis, Y3 Axis, and Y4 Axis. Clear the appropriate checkboxes to disable horizontal rulers for the appropriate combo chart dependent variables.
  3. Select Apply to apply the ruler settings to the visual.

​
Use the Ruler Log Scale Function

The log scale function changes the axis based on orders of magnitude of the metric selected for that axis. A log scale is nonlinear and best used when there is a large range in quantity. Log scales can only be used for positive values. In addition, when this option is selected, the Auto option is enabled for Min, Max, and Step. The scale is built for whole the data range. To enable the log scale function for the visual, select the Log Scale checkbox to enable. To disable, clear the checkbox.
If your dataset includes zero values or negative values, the log scale function will not work as expected.
The Log Scale function is not available for arc gauges. Arc gauges use the Rulers sidebar to control some different settings than are used by most visuals. See Single Metric Visuals.

​
Configure the Ruler Y-Axis Range Settings

The y-axis range settings on the Ruler sidebar control the minimum and maximum values for the metric shown in the visual. You can configure the default values for Min, Max, and Step. When the Rulers sidebar is initially opened, these settings are set to Auto. To customize the range, clear the Auto checkbox next to the Min and Max boxes and then enter your custom value ranges in the boxes. Customizing the axis in this way can create a view into your data that drills into specific information, explores anomalies, and otherwise explores more relevant information. You can further this exploration by clearing the Auto checkbox next to Step, and specifying the interval for the tick marks along the y-axis. Steps can be specified down to the tenth place, or one decimal point. For example, you can step the tick marks by .5 tenths. If you specify a step that cannot be displayed on the axis, the default minimal step value is applied.

​
Use Reference Lines

Reference lines on a visual can be used to mark limits, thresholds, and critical values. They can mark both positive and negative values on an axis. Multiple reference lines can be added in a visual. Reference lines are available only for bar and line charts. Controls are provided using the Rulers interactivity sidebar. See Control How Users Interact With a Visual. Reference lines can be customized for a visual using the Rulers sidebar. See the following topics:

​
Create a Reference Line

You can add multiple reference lines to a visual. Create a reference line on a visual
  1. Access the Rulers sidebar for the visual. See The Rulers Sidebar.
  2. In the Reference Lines section of the sidebar, select the add icon add icon to start a new reference line definition.
  3. Fill in the following fields for the reference line as needed:
    • Title - Specify the name for the line. The default name of the line is Reference line #.
    • Position - By default, the reference line is added to the middle of the visible axis. You can specify a different position on the axis by either entering a specific number value. The reference line changes its position depending on your input.
    • Color - Select the desired color for the line.
    • Width - Specify the line’s thickness: enter a specific value or use the slider.
    • Line type - Select from the following types: Solid, Dashed, or Dotted.
  4. Select Apply to apply the reference line to the visual.

​
Modify a Reference Line

You can modify a visual’s reference lines using the Rulers sidebar. Modify a reference line on a visual
  1. Access the Rulers sidebar for the visual. See The Rulers Sidebar.
  2. In the Reference Lines section of the sidebar, locate the reference line you want to modify.
  3. Modify the fields for the reference line as needed:
    • Title - Specify the name for the line. The default name of the line is Reference line #.
    • Position - By default, the reference line is added to the middle of the visible axis. You can specify a different position on the axis by either entering a specific number value. The reference line changes its position depending on your input.
    • Color - Select the desired color for the line.
    • Width - Specify the line’s thickness: enter a specific value or use the slider.
    • Line type - Select from the following types: Solid, Dashed, or Dotted.
  4. Select Apply to apply the reference line changes to the visual.

​
Delete a Reference Line

Delete a reference line on a visual
  1. Access the Rulers sidebar for the visual. See The Rulers Sidebar.
  2. In the Reference Lines section of the sidebar, locate the reference line you want to delete.
  3. Select to the right of the reference line definition on the Rulers sidebar.
  4. Select Apply to delete the reference line on the visual.