Using line charts
Use line charts to compare changes in measure values over period of time, for the following scenarios:
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One measure over a period of time, for example gross sales by month.
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Multiple measures over a period of time, for example gross sales and net sales by month.
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One measure for a dimension over a period of time, for example number of flight delays per day by airline.
Line charts show the individual values of a set of measures or dimensions against the range displayed by the Y axis. Area line charts differ from regular line charts in that each value is represented by a colored area of the chart instead of just a line, to make it easier to evaluate item values relative to each other.
The following screenshot shows a line chart.
The following screenshot shows an area line chart. In this version of a line chart, the area between the line and the x-axis is filled with color.
The following screenshot shows a stacked area line chart. In this version of a line chart, the area between the line and the X axis is filled with color. Also, the individual lines are layered to more clearly show the relationships between them. The values on the y-axis show the scale of the differences between data points.
Because a stacked area line chart works differently than other line charts,
simplify it if you can. Then the audience won't try to interpret the numbers.
Instead, they can focus on the relationships of each set of values to the whole. One
way to simplify is to remove the numbers down the left side of the screen by
reducing the step size for the axis. To do this, choose the
Options icon from the on-visual menu. In Format
Options under Y-axis, enter
2 as the Step size. The following
screenshot shows the result.
Each line on the chart represents a measure value over a period of time. You can interactively view the values on the chart, as shown in the following screenshot. Hover over any line (1 in the screenshot) to see a pop-up legend that shows the values for each line on the X axis. If you hover over a data point (2), you can see the Value for that specific point on the X axis.
Use line charts to compare changes in values for one or more measures or dimensions over a period of time.
In regular line charts, each value is represented by a line, and in area line charts each value is represented by a colored area of the chart.
Use stacked area line charts to compare changes in values for one or more groups of measures or dimensions over a period of time. Stacked area line charts show the total value for each group on the x-axis. They use color segments to show the values of each measure or dimension in the group.
Line charts show up to 10,000 data points on the x-axis when no color field is selected. When color is populated, line charts show up to 400 data points on the x-axis and up to 25 data points for color. For more information about data that falls outside the display limit for this visual type, see Display limits.
The icons for line charts are as follows.
Line chart features
To understand the features supported by line charts, use the following table.
| Feature | Supported? | Comments | For more information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changing the legend display | Yes | Legends on visual types in QuickSight | |
| Changing the title display | Yes | Titles and subtitles on visual types in QuickSight in QuickSight | |
| Changing the axis range | Yes | You can set the range for the Y axis. | Range and scale on visual types in QuickSight |
| Showing or hiding axis lines, grid lines, axis labels, and axis sort icons | Yes | Axes and grid lines on visual types in QuickSight | |
| Adding a second Y-axis | Yes | Creating a dual-axis line chart | |
| Changing the visual colors | Yes | Colors in visual types in QuickSight | |
| Focusing on or excluding elements | Yes, with exceptions | You can focus on or exclude any line on the chart, except in the following cases:
In these cases, you can only focus on a line, not exclude it. |
|
| Sorting | Yes, with exceptions | You can sort data for numeric measures in the X axis and Value field wells. Other data is automatically sorted in ascending order. | Sorting visual data in Amazon QuickSight |
| Performing field aggregation | Yes | You must apply aggregation to the field that you choose for the value, and can't apply aggregation to the fields you choose for the X axis and color. | Changing field aggregation |
| Adding drill-downs | Yes | You can add drill-down levels to the X axis and Color field wells. | Adding drill-downs to visual data in Amazon QuickSight |
Creating a line chart
Use the following procedure to create a line chart.
To create a line chart
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On the analysis page, choose Visualize on the tool bar.
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Choose Add on the application bar, and then choose Add visual.
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On the Visual types pane, choose one of the line chart icons.
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From the Fields list pane, drag the fields that you want to use to the appropriate field wells. Typically, you want to use dimension or measure fields as indicated by the target field well. If you choose to use a dimension field as a measure, the Count aggregate function is automatically applied to it to create a numeric value.
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To create a single-measure line chart, drag a dimension to the X axis field well and one measure to the Value field well.
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To create a multi-measure line chart, drag a dimension to the X axis field well and two or more measures to the Value field well. Leave the Color field well empty.
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To create a multi-dimension line chart, drag a dimension to the X axis field well, one measure to the Value field well, and one dimension to the Color field well.
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(Optional) Add drill-down layers by dragging one or more additional fields to the X axis or Color field wells. For more information about adding drill-downs, see Adding drill-downs to visual data in Amazon QuickSight.
Creating a dual-axis line chart
If you have two or more metrics that you want to display in the same line chart, you can create a dual-axis line chart.
A dual-axis chart is a chart with two Y-axes (one axis at the left of the chart, and one axis at the right of the chart). For example, let's say you create a line chart. It shows the number of visitors who signed up for a mailing list and for a free service over a period of time. If the scale between those two measures varies widely over time, your chart might look something like the following line chart. Because the scale between measures varies so greatly, the measure with the smaller scale appears nearly flat at zero.
If you want to show these measures in the same chart, you can create a dual-axis line chart. The following is an example of the same line chart with two Y-axes.
To create a dual-axis line chart
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In your analysis, create a line chart. For more information about creating line charts, see Creating a line chart.
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In the Value field well, choose a field drop-down menu, choose Show on: Left Y-axis, and then choose Right Y-axis.
Or you can create a dual-axis line chart using the Properties pane:
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On the menu in the upper-right corner of the line chart, choose the Format visual icon.
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In the Properties pane that opens, choose Data series.
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In the Data series section, choose the Show on right axis icon for the value that you want to place on a separate axis. Use the search bar to quickly find a value if you need to.
The icon updates to indicate that the value is being shown on the right axis. The chart updates with two axes.
The Properties pane updates with the following options:
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To synchronize the Y-axes for both lines back into a single axis, choose Single Y-axis at the top of the Properties pane.
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To format the axis at the left of the chart, choose Left Y-axis.
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To format the axis at the right of the chart, choose Right Y-axis.
For more information about formatting axis lines, see Axes and grid lines. For more information about adjusting the range and scale of an axis, see Range and scale.
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