How to Use Sparklines

Sparklines can be shown both separately in a text area or be included as a column in a graphical table. The behavior of the sparkline is quite similar in both places, but some differences exist. Therefore, this list of step instructions has been split into three different sections: Graphical table specific information, Text area specific information, and General information applicable to both instances.

Graphical table specific information

When sparklines are included in a graphical table, the settings for the sparkline column normally control a number of separate sparkline graphs, one for each value in the graphical table row axis.

To add a sparkline column to a graphical table:

Right-click on the graphical table to display the pop-up menu.
Select Add > Sparkline.

Response: A new sparkline column is added to the graphical table. A first attempt to set up a suitable sparkline is made by the application, but you probably want to adjust the settings.

Comment: You can also add a new sparkline column by using drag-and-drop. See Drag-and-Drop to learn more. Or, you can add a new sparkline from the Axes page of the Graphical Table Properties dialog.

Right-click on the new column and select Sparkline Settings from the pop-up menu.

Comment: Note that each sparkline column added to a graphical table has its own settings.

On the Axes page, select the column, hierarchy or expression to define the X-axis and Y-axis of the sparkline.
On the General page, you may want to change the Name of the new column to something that describes the sparkline content.

Comment: You can hide the name from the graphical table by clearing the Show name in header check box. (The entire header row of the graphical table can also be hidden by clearing the Header row check box on the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.)

If desired, make other changes to the default settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, or displaying start point and end point Y-axis values, see below.
When you are done, click Close.

To remove a sparkline column from a graphical table:

Right-click on the column header of the sparkline column you want to remove.
Select Remove from the pop-up menu.

To change the column header for a sparkline column:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the General page.
Type a new Name for the column.
Make sure that the Show name in header check box is selected.
Click Close.

To hide the column name from a graphical table:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the General page.
Clear the Show name in header check box.

Comment: The entire header row of the graphical table can be hidden from the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.

Click Close.

To change the scale for a sparkline column in a graphical table:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Axes page.
Click to select whether to use One scale for all sparklines in this column or Multiple scales.

Comment: Use One scale for all sparklines if you want to show the Y-axis values for all sparklines in this column presented using the same scale. Use Multiple scales to maximize the Y-axis variation within each sparkline.

Click Close.

To display Y-axis start point/end point values for the sparkline:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Appearance page.
Select the Start point and/or End point check box.

Response: The values are shown in the visualization.

If desired, change how much space to use for the values by modifying the Y-axis values width.

Comment: This setting does not change the total width of the column. To increase the total column width, place the mouse pointer at the right edge of the column header you want to resize and adjust the width by holding down the mouse button and moving the mouse horizontally.

To lock the sparkline column so it does not react to filtering:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Data page.
Make sure that the Specify separate data limiting radio button is selected.
Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one specific filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

Click Close.

Response: The sparkline shows all data, regardless of any filtering.

Text area specific information

When a sparkline is used in a text area it behaves slightly different from when it is included in a graphical table. For example, you will not get instant feedback to your setting changes since the sparkline does not show up until you leave the edit mode. However, the placement of the edit box tells you where in the text area the sparkline will show up. Below are some useful tips for working with sparklines in the text area.

To add a sparkline to a text area:

Create a text area where you want the sparkline to reside.
Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.

Comment: You can also right-click and select Edit Text Area from the pop-up menu.

Type some descriptive text in the text area regarding what the sparkline will show.
Click on the Insert Dynamic Item button, , and select the Sparkline option.

Response: The Sparkline Settings dialog is displayed.

On the Axes page, select the column, hierarchy or expression to define the X-axis and Y-axis of the sparkline.

Comment: If desired, make other changes to the default sparkline settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, or displaying start point and end point Y-axis values, see below.

Click OK.

Response: The sparkline is added to the text area. Exit edit mode to view the final result.

To resize the sparkline in a text area:

Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.

Response: The outline of the sparkline is shown as a gray box.

Click on the gray edit box to select it and drag either of the corners to resize the box.
Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar again, or click outside the text area in any other visualization to leave the Edit mode.

Response: The final result is shown in the text area.

Comment: You can always reset the size of the sparkline to the original size if you change your mind. Just open the Format Control dialog by right-clicking on the gray box, click on the Reset button and then OK, and the size will be reset.

To display Y-axis start point/end point values for the sparkline:

Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.
Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Appearance page.
Select the Start point and/or End point check box.
Click OK.
Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar again, or click outside the text area in any other visualization to leave the Edit mode.

Response: The values are shown next to the sparkline.

Comment: The values are not visible in edit mode. The gray edit box only indicates the size of the actual sparkline.

To lock the sparkline so it does not react to filtering:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Data page.
Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one specific filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

Click OK.

Response: The sparkline now shows all data, regardless of any filtering.

General information

To add actions to be performed when clicking on the sparkline:

Open the Sparkline Settings dialog and go to the Actions page.
Select the Perform action on click check box.
Click on Settings....

Response: The Action Settings dialog is displayed.

Type a good Description explaining what will happen when clicking on the sparkline.

Comment: The description can be shown in the tooltip for the sparkline.

Add the desired actions and click OK.