Specifying the series

Graphs can have one or more series.

Single-series graphs

If you want only one series—that is, if you want to graph all retrieved rows as one series of values—leave the Series box empty.

Multiple-series graphs

If you want to graph more than one series, select the Series check box and specify the column that will provide the series values.

You can select column names from the drop-down list.

Figure 24-10: Selecting a column to provide graph series values

The sample displays the Data page in the Properties view. All has been selected from the Rows drop down list, and the quarter column has been selected as the Category. The value displayed is sum ( units for graph ). The Series check box is checked, and the cursor is in the Series box. In the drop down list for Series are listed rep, quarter, product, and units, with product highlighted.

There is a set of data points for each different value of the column you specify here. For example, if you specify in the Series box a column that has 10 values, then your graph will have 10 series: one set of data points for each different value of the column.

Using expressions

You can also specify expressions for Series (on the Data page of the Properties view). For example, you could specify the following for Series:

Units / 1000

In this case, if a table had unit values of 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000, the graph would show series values of 10, 20, and 30.

Specifying multiple entries

You can specify more than one of the retrieved columns to serve as series. Separate multiple entries by commas.

You must specify the same number of entries in the Value box as you do in the Series box. The first value in the Value box corresponds to the first series identified in the Series box, the second value corresponds to the second series, and so on. The example about graphing actual and projected sales in “Examples” illustrates this technique.