How to Swap Axis in Helical Insight in Interactive Report Designer Module

Overview

Open Source BI Helical Insight provides a convenient way to change the orientation of an axis-based chart without rebuilding the visualization. From Helical Insight 5.0 onwards, while creating or editing an HReport, you can use the Swap option to interchange the fields placed in Rows and Columns. Thus simply a horizontal bar chart can become a vertical bar chart and vice versa. This functionality is useful for all kind of axis charts. 

Where can you find the Swap option?

The Swap option is available from the menu associated with both the Rows and Columns shelves in the HReport designer. 

When you click the menu for either Rows or Columns, you will see options such as Clear, Custom Column, Show Hidden Rows, and Swap. 

How to Swap Axis in Helical Insight in Interactive Report Designer Module

Figure 1: The Swap option is available from the Rows/Columns menu.

How to swap the axis

  1. Create or open an HReport: Create a new HReport or open an existing HReport that contains an axis-based chart. 
  2. Configure the chart: Place the required dimensions and measures in the Rows and Columns sections of the HReport designer. 
  3. Open the Rows or Columns menu: Click the menu/drop-down associated with either Rows or Columns. 
  4. Click Swap: Select the Swap option. Helical Insight will interchange the fields configured in Rows and Columns. 
  5. 5. Review the chart: The chart orientation will change automatically based on the new Rows and Columns configuration. 

Example: Horizontal bar chart to vertical bar chart

In the example below, the first chart uses employee_name on one axis and sum_travel_cost on the other. The chart is displayed as a horizontal bar chart. 

How to Swap Axis in Helical Insight in Interactive Report Designer Module

Figure 2: Before swapping — the chart is displayed horizontally.

After clicking Swap, the Rows and Columns fields are interchanged. As a result, the same data is displayed as a vertical bar chart. 

How to Swap Axis in Helical Insight in Interactive Report Designer Module

Figure 3: After swapping — the chart is displayed vertically.

What happens when you click Swap?

The Swap operation does not require you to manually remove and re-add fields. Instead, Helical Insight interchanges the fields assigned to Rows and Columns. 

  • •  Rows become Columns. 
  • •  Columns become Rows. 
  • •  The visualization is refreshed according to the new configuration. 
  • •  The underlying data remains the same; the chart orientation changes. 

Applicable to axis-based charts

The Swap option is not limited to bar charts. It can be used with axis-based visualizations where Rows and Columns determine the chart’s orientation. Therefore, the same approach can be used for other applicable chart types supported by Helical Insight. 

Important note

The exact visual result after swapping depends on the chart type and the fields configured in Rows and Columns. For axis-based visualizations, swapping these fields can change the orientation or layout of the visualization while retaining the same underlying data. 

Summary

Helical Insight makes it easy to change the orientation of an axis-based chart using the Swap option. From version 5.0 onwards, simply open the Rows or Columns menu and click Swap. The Rows and Columns fields will be interchanged automatically, allowing you to quickly convert a horizontal visualization into a vertical one, or vice versa, without recreating the chart. 

For any other questions please reach out on support@helicalinsight.com  

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