Cognos Charts- Different Chart types and Configuration

In Cognos, You can create different charts for displaying the reports very similar to other report types like list and crosstab.

Following are the various chart types:

Purpose	Chart type or configuration
Show contributions of parts to a whole	pie stacked configuration 100% stacked configuration
Show trends in time or contrast values across different categories	line area bar column
Compare groups of related information against actual values	standard configuration radar 3D
Compare different kinds of quantitative information	column-line

Column Charts 

Column charts are useful to compare discrete data or to show trends over time.
Column charts use vertical data markers to compare individual values.
This column chart uses actual values to show the revenue for each product line.



Pie Charts 
Pie charts are useful for highlighting proportions.
Pie charts use segments of a circle to show the relationship of parts to the whole. To highlight actual values, we recommend that you use another chart type, such as a stacked chart.
Pie charts plot a single data series. To avoid multiple pies when plotting multiple data series, we recommend that you use a 100% stacked chart.
Reports in PDF or HTML format are limited to show a maximum of 16 pie or gauge charts. If you need to see more, run the report in Excel Single Sheet format and they all appear in the report.
This pie chart shows that the largest proportion of revenue comes from the Americas, followed closely by the Central Europe region. 
Pie charts can plot data using standard, 100%, and 3D configurations.


Progressive Column Charts 
Progressive column charts are like stacked charts with each segment of a single stack displaced vertically from the next segment.
Progressive column charts are useful for emphasizing the contribution of the individual segments to the whole. 
Progressive column charts are also known as waterfall charts. These charts are not supported for Microsoft Excel output.
This progressive column chart analyzes the contribution of each product line to revenue.
Progressive column charts can plot data using standard and 3D configurations. You can also create progressive charts using horizontal bars.

Bar Charts 

Bar charts are useful for showing trends over time and for charts that plot many data series.
Bar charts use horizontal data markers to compare individual values.
This bar chart shows actual revenue for every country.
Bar charts can plot data using standard, stacked, and 100% stacked configurations.

Line Charts 
Line charts are useful for showing trends over time and for charts with many data series.

Line charts plot data at regular points connected by lines.
We do not recommend that you use stacked line charts because they are difficult to distinguish from unstacked line charts using multiple data series.
This line chart shows a rising revenue trend in every territory.
Line charts can plot data using standard, stacked, 100% stacked, and 3D configurations.

Area Charts 
Area charts are useful for emphasizing the magnitude of change over time. Stacked area charts are also used to show the relationship of parts to the whole.

Area charts are like line charts that have the areas below the lines filled with colors or patterns.
We do not recommend that you use standard area charts in a chart that has multiple data series because it is possible for areas with lower values to be covered by others.
This stacked area chart shows the quantity of products sold over a two-year period in multiple territories.
Area charts can plot data using standard, stacked, 100% stacked, and 3D configurations.

Combination Charts 

Combination charts are useful for plotting multiple data series by using combinations of columns, areas, and lines.
This combination chart shows planned revenue as a column chart and actual revenue as an area chart.
Combination charts can plot data using standard, stacked, 100% stacked, and 3D configurations.

Radar Charts 

Radar charts are useful as a comparative tool and for charts with few data series.
Radar charts integrate multiple axes into a single radial figure. Data is plotted on each axis and joined to adjacent axes by connecting lines.This radar chart shows the revenue from multiple retailer types in multiple territories.
Radar charts can plot data using standard and stacked configurations.

Scatter Charts 

Scatter charts use data points to plot two measures anywhere along a scale, not only at regular tick marks.
Scatter charts are useful for exploring correlations between different sets of data. 
This scatter chart shows the correlation between production cost and gross profit for each product line.





Bubble Charts 

Bubble charts use data points and bubbles to plot measures anywhere along a scale, like scatter charts. The size of the bubble represents a third measure.
Bubble charts are useful for visually representing financial data. These charts are not supported for Microsoft Excel output.
This bubble chart plots quantity and revenue by product line. The size of the bubble represents gross profit.

Point Charts 
Point charts are useful for showing quantitative data in an uncluttered fashion. 
Point charts use multiple points to plot data along an ordinal axis. A point chart is similar to a line chart without the lines. Only the data points are shown.
This point chart shows the revenue for each product line.




Quadrant Charts 

Quadrant charts are useful for plotting data that contains three measures, using an x-axis, a y-axis, and a bubble size that represents the value of the third measure. 
Quadrant charts are like bubble charts divided into four equal sections.
Use a quadrant chart to present data that can be categorized into quadrants, such as a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
This quadrant chart shows the relationship between production cost and gross profit. The size of the bubble represents quantity.


Polar Charts 
Polar charts are useful for showing scientific data. 

Polar charts are circular charts that use values and angles to show information as polar coordinates.
This polar chart shows the revenue and quantity for each product line. The distance along the radial axis represents revenue while the angle around the polar axis represents quantity. 



Metrics Range Charts

Metric range charts are useful for showing a target range and a tolerance range. 
A metric range chart adds a target and range marker to a column, line, or area chart.
This metric range chart shows actual revenue versus planned revenue.

Gauge Charts
Gauge charts are useful for comparing values between a small number of variables either by using multiple needles on the same gauge or by using multiple gauges.
Gauge charts use needles to show information as a reading on a dial. The value for each needle is easily read against the colored data range.
Reports in PDF or HTML format are limited to show a maximum of 16 pie or gauge charts. These charts are not supported for Microsoft Excel output.
This gauge chart shows the revenue and planned revenue for each sales territory.



Pareto Charts 
Pareto charts are useful for prioritizing and focusing process changes.

Pareto charts rank categories from the most frequent to the least frequent. It is more effective to act on the most frequent causes of events than to solve an easy yet infrequent issue. 
You can create before and after comparisons of Pareto charts to show the impact of corrective actions. These charts are not supported for Microsoft Excel output.
This Pareto chart shows that the most frequent reason for product returns is unsatisfactory product.
You can also create Pareto charts using horizontal bars.



Chart Configurations 
Chart configurations specify the grouping type of the columns, bars, lines, and areas in a chart. Some examples are standard, stacked, and 100% stacked charts.
  
Standard Charts 

Standard - or absolute - charts are useful for comparing specific values and for representing discrete data, such as different regions or individual employees. For example, a standard column chart that plots regional sales emphasizes the actual value that each region achieves in sales.
Standard charts plot the actual value of each data series from a common axis.
When you create charts using multiple data series, you can distinguish each series by the color or pattern of its data marker. Related data series are shown together in clusters for easy comparison.
In area and radar charts that have multiple data series, areas with lower values may be covered by others.
This clustered column chart shows the revenue values for each product line within each territory.

Stacked Charts 

Stacked charts are useful for comparing proportional contribution within a category. They plot the relative value that each data series contributes to the total. For example, a stacked column chart that plots product line sales will emphasize the proportion that each product line contributes to the total in each territory.
You can distinguish each data series by the color or pattern of its section in the stack. The top of each stack represents the accumulated totals for each category.
We recommend that you do not use the stacked configuration in line charts that have multiple data series because it is difficult to distinguish between standard and stacked configurations.
This stacked column chart shows the high proportion that camping equipment contributed to the actual revenue in most markets.

100% Stacked Charts 

100% stacked charts are useful for comparing proportional contribution across all categories. They plot the relative contribution of each data series to the total, expressed as a percentage. For example, a 100% stacked column chart that plots product line sales emphasizes the percentage within each region without referring to actual values.
You can distinguish each data series by the color or pattern of its section in the stack. Each stack represents 100 per cent.
100% stacked charts highlight proportions. When actual values are important, we recommend that you use another chart configuration.
This 100% stacked chart shows the percentage of sales for each product line in each region.

3-D Charts 
3-D charts are useful for creating charts with high visual content, such as graphics for use in presentations. 
3-D column, bar, line, and area charts plot data by using three axes.
3-D pie charts have a three-dimensional visual effect.
We recommend that you do not use 3-D charts where there is a need to show exact values, such as for control or monitoring purposes. The distortion in 3-D charts can make them difficult to read accurately.
This 3-D chart shows actual revenue for each product line in each territory. Note the skipping of the labels on the x and y axes.

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How to change the package for an existing report which is pointing to different package?

Now that you have learnt how to create a column chart and how to create a list report. before moving on to the other type of reports, i want to just put a note point here. 

Suppose you have started with some package. say Go sales package, and you would like to change the package that you are using to Go Data Warehouse due to some circumstances. then?


So here is the solution for doing it. This is very simple and yet to be known. There are two different ways in doing this. 

1st method:

1.Go to File menu in the Toolbox.

2.Select Report Package options

3.It will show you the Report package dialog box as shown below

4.Check  the Another Package option and select the new package which you required and click ok.

5.The new package will load and display as above with existing layout if you have created.

2nd Method:

Alternatively you can right click on the left pane of insert objects and select the option for report package and change it to any package of your choice.

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Create & Format Different Crosstabs- Single Edge, Nested, Discontinuous etc

Crosstab Reports 
Use crosstab reports to show information in a more compact form than in a grouped list. For example, create a crosstab report to show total sales by product line generated by each sales representative.
Like list reports, crosstab reports are reports that show data in rows and columns. However, the values at the intersection points of rows and columns show summarized information rather than detailed information.

For information about how to create a crosstab report, see the Report Studio Tour.
Crosstab Nodes and Crosstab Node Member: 
When you add data items to crosstabs, you create crosstab nodes and crosstab node members. These objects allow you to easily create crosstabs, using drag-and-drop operations.
Crosstabs are dimensional objects that have row edges and column edges. Each edge is composed of a set of crosstab nodes. Each crosstab node contains the following:

• One or more crosstab node members.
• Zero or one nested crosstab node, which contains one or more crosstab node members or nested crosstab nodes.
• Each crosstab node member refers to a data item that contains an expression that defines the members that appear in the crosstab.
• The following crosstab contains four crosstab nodes.

• Crosstab node 1 contains a single node member for the total. This node refers to the data item Total(Product line).
• Crosstab node 2 contains a crosstab node member that refers to the data item Product line. This member has a nested crosstab node containing a crosstab node member that refers to the data item Product type.
• Crosstab node 3 contains a single node member for the average. This node refers to the data item Average(Product line).
• Crosstab node 4 contains a crosstab node member that refers to the data item Order year. This member has two nested crosstab nodes. The first node contains a crosstab node member that refers to the data item Order month. The second node contains a crosstab node member for the total. This node refers to the data item Total(Order month).

Tip: Nodes are also created when you add data items to charts.

Moving Crosstab Node: 
Crosstab nodes can be placed anywhere in the crosstab. For example, in the previous diagram, you can drag Order month under Average(Product line) to create a row edge.
To move nested items from one edge to another, ensure that you select the crosstab node and not the crosstab node member. For example, in the previous diagram, you want to move Product line and Product type to the column edge. To do this, click Product line, and in the Properties pane, click the select ancestor button , and click Crosstab Node. Both Product line and Product type are selected.


Crosstab Node Creation Option:
In the Structure menu, the Create Crosstab Nodes option affects the drag-and-drop behavior in crosstabs. When the option is turned on, and you add a data item to a crosstab, the item is created as a crosstab node. If the option is turned off, the item is created as a crosstab node member to an existing crosstab node.

For example, in the previous diagram, if the option is turned on and you drag Country from the Insertable Objects pane beneath Product line, Country becomes a new peer node to Product line. If the option is turned off, Country becomes a new peer node to Product line and has Product type as a nested crosstab node. This happens because instead of adding a new node, you are adding a new member to the existing node that already contains Product line.

Tip: To create discontinuous crosstabs , turn the crosstab node creation option on. If you want the items on the edges of crosstabs to be related (contain the same nested items), turn the crosstab node creation option off.

Create a Single-Edge Crosstab Report. 
Create a single-edge crosstab report to show data in a list-like form. For example, you want a report that shows the quantity of products sold for each year and for each order method. Create a crosstab with Order Year and Order Method as rows and Quantity as the measure.

Steps to Crosstab Node Creation Option:
1.From the File menu, click New.
2.Click Crosstab and click OK.
3.In the Insertable Objects pane, on the Source tab , click the data item you want to add to the crosstab and drag it to Rows or Columns.
A black bar indicates where you can drop the data item.
4.Repeat step 3 to insert additional data items.
If you dragged the data item in step 3 to Rows, drag the additional items above or below the first item.
If you dragged the data item in step 3 to Columns, drag the additional items to the left or right of the first item.
5.To add measures to the crosstab, drag the measures you want to Measures.
When you run the report, a crosstab is produced that has only one edge.

Create a Nested Crosstab Report:
Nest data in a crosstab report to compare information by using more than one data item in a column or row. For example, a report shows the number of sales by product line for the past fiscal year. You decide to add a data item to further break down the number of sales by quarter.
When nesting columns in a crosstab report, there are four distinct drop zones where you can insert a new data item. The drop zone you choose will define the relationship between the data item and the column.
Rows
The following relationships are created when you insert a data item as a row:
Inserting a data item to the left or right of a column creates a parent-child relationship between them.
When you insert a data item to the left of a column, the data item becomes a parent to the column. When you insert a data item to the right of a column, the data item becomes a child of the column.
Inserting a data item above or below a column creates a union relationship between them.
Columns
The following relationships are created when you insert a data item as a column:
Inserting a data item to the left or to the right of a column creates a union relationship between the data item and the column.
Inserting a data item above or below a column creates a parent-child relationship between them.

When you insert a data item above a column, the data item becomes a parent to the column. When you insert a data item below a column, the data item becomes a child of the column.

For example, you have a crosstab with Product line as rows and Quantity and Revenue as nested rows. For columns, you have Order method with Country as a nested column.

• Product line is a parent to Quantity and Revenue.
• Quantity and Revenue are peers.
• Order method is a parent to Country.

Steps to Create a Nested Crosstab Report:
1.In the Insertable Objects pane, on the Source tab , click the data item you want to add to the report.
2.Drag the data item to the location in which you want it to appear as a nested column or nested row.
A black bar indicates where you can drop the data item.
3.Repeat steps 2 to 3 to add other nested columns or rows.
Tip: If you add more than one measure to a crosstab, all measures appear as columns. You cannot have one measure appear as a row and another as a column. To make all measures appear as rows, swap columns and rows .

Format Crosstabs:
Format crosstabs to give them the appearance you want. You can specify formatting for rows, columns, and fact cells in a crosstab, or for the entire crosstab. When you specify formatting for all rows, columns, fact cells, or the crosstab, the formatting is automatically applied to any new items you add.
Order of Styles Applied.

If you apply the same styles, such as font color, to crosstab rows, columns, and crosstab intersections, the styles are applied in the following order:

• crosstab fact cells
• fact cells in the outermost rows
• fact cells in the innermost rows
• fact cells in the outermost columns
• fact cells in the innermost columns
• crosstab intersections

The style applied to the last object in the list overrides styles applied to previous objects. In addition, class styles are applied before styles that you apply manually.
You can also quickly format crosstabs by applying table styles , and add white space to a crosstab by inserting crosstab space objects .

Steps to Format Crosstabs:
1.To format the entire crosstab, do the following:
Click anywhere in the crosstab.
Click the select ancestor button  in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab.
In the Properties pane, click the property you want and then specify a value. 
For example, to specify a background color, click Background Color and choose the color you want to use.
2.To format all rows, columns, or fact cells, click a row, column, or fact cell in the crosstab and then do the following:

• If you clicked a row, click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab Rows.
• If you clicked a column, click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab Columns.
• If you clicked a fact cell, click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab Fact Cells.
• In the Properties pane, click the property you want and then specify a value.
• For example, to specify a background color, click Background Color and choose the color you want to use.

Tip: You can also right-click the row or column and click Select Fact Cells.

3.To format all crosstab cells for a specific row or column, do the following:
Click the row or column.
Click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab Member Fact Cells. 

Tip: You can also right-click the row or column and click Select Member Fact Cells.

In the Properties pane, click the property you want and then specify a value. 
For example, to specify a background color, click Background Color and choose the color you want to use.
4.To format all row or column titles, do the following:
Click a row or column title.
Click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab Rows or Crosstab Columns.
In the Properties pane, click the property you want and then specify a value.
For example, to specify a background color, click Background Color and choose the color you want to use.
5.To format an individual row, column, or intersection, do the following:
Click the row, column, or intersection.

Tip: To format the data in a row, column, or intersection, click the unlock button  in the toolbar and then click the text item you want to format.

In the Properties pane, click the property you want and then specify a value. 
For example, to specify a background color, click Background Color and choose the color you want to use.

Tip: In cases where fact cell formatting applied to rows conflicts with fact cell formatting applied to columns, you can use the Fact Cells Precedence property in the Properties pane to determine whether the row formatting or the column formatting has precedence. To specify this property, click anywhere in the crosstab. Then click the select ancestor button in the title bar of the Properties pane and click Crosstab.

For more information about formatting reports, see Formatting a Report.

Indent Data: 
You can indent crosstab node members to set them apart from surrounding data.
When you insert a hierarchy in the rows, all members are automatically indented according to their level. By default, the first member in a set is not indented. If you insert a hierarchy in the columns, the members are not automatically indented. You can change the indentation properties of members in the report.
You can also indent objects by applying padding .

Steps to Indent Data:
1.Click the crosstab node member that you want to indent.
2.In the Properties pane, select Level Indentation, and then click the ellipsis (...) button.
3.In the Level Indentation dialog box, specify your indentation type, length, and direction, and then click OK.
Relative indentation means that the member will shift by one tab when the member's level increases relative to the previous member in the hierarchy.
Indenting based on the level in the hierarchy means that the member will shift the number of tabs equivalent to the level in the hierarchy.

Change a List into a Crosstab:
Change a list report into a crosstab report to view your data from a different perspective.
Steps
1.Click the columns that you want to appear as columns or nested columns in the crosstab.
2.From the Structure menu, click Pivot List to Crosstab. 
The list becomes a crosstab, with the columns you selected in step 2 appearing as columns and nested columns. The unselected columns, except for measures, appear as rows and nested rows. If you have one measure, it becomes the cells of the crosstab. If you have more than one measure, they appear as columns.

Tip: To make all measures appear as rows, swap columns and rows .

Example - Add Aggregate Data to a Crosstab Report 
You are a report author at The Great Outdoors Company, which sells sporting equipment. You are requested to create a report showing sales by order method to determine which methods are generating the most revenue and the highest sales volume.

Steps to Add Aggregate Data to a Crosstab Report:
1.In the Cognos Connection Welcome page, click the Public Folders link.
2.Click the GO Data Warehouse (query) link, click the Launch link in the upper right corner of the page, and then click Report Studio.
3.In the Welcome dialog box, click Create a new report or template.
4.In the New dialog box, click Crosstab and click OK.
5.In the Insertable Objects pane, on the Source tab , add the following data items to the crosstab:

• Expand Sales and Marketing (query) and Sales (query).
• Expand Product and double-click Product Line to add it as rows.
• Expand Order Method and double-click Order Method to add it as columns.
• Click Product type and drag it just to the right of Product line.
• Product type is now nested in Product line.
• Expand Sales fact. Drag Quantity to the Measures area to add it as a measure.
• Drag Revenue to the right of Quantity to add it as a second measure.

6.Click any part of the crosstab and then click the select ancestor button  in the title bar of the Properties pane.
7.Click Crosstab.
8.In the Properties pane, double-click the Font property.
9.In the Size box, click 8pt and click OK.
10.Click one of the measures.
11.Click the aggregate button and click Maximum.
When you run the report, you can see that for camping equipment, Cooking Gear generated the highest sales volume for the Special order method, and Tents generated the most revenue. Tents ordered by the Web order method generated the largest revenue.

Example - Create a Discontinuous Crosstab 
You are a report author at The Great Outdoors Company, which sells sporting equipment. You are requested to create a report showing sales for each product line by quarter and by order method. Since the report will have columns with data from different dimensions, you create a discontinuous crosstab report. Discontinuous crosstabs are also known as disconnected or disjoint crosstabs, or crosstabs with unrelated columns.

Steps to Create a Discontinuous Crosstab:
1.In the Cognos Connection Welcome page, click the Public Folders link.
2.Click the GO Data Warehouse (query) link, click the Launch link in the upper right corner of the page, and then click Report Studio.
3.In the Welcome dialog box, click Create a new report or template.
4.In the New dialog box, click Crosstab and click OK.
5.In the Insertable Objects pane, on the Source tab , drag the following data items to the crosstab:
Product line from Product to Rows
Order method from Order Method to Columns
Revenue from Sales fact to Measures
6.Pause the pointer over the query explorer button  and click Query1.
7.On the Toolbox tab, drag Data Item to the Data Items pane.
The Data Item Expression dialog box appears.
8.In the Expression Definition box, type the following and click OK:
[Employee summary (query)].[Employee by region].[Region]
9.In the Properties pane, double-click the Name property, rename the data item Region, and press the Enter key.
10.Pause the pointer over the page explorer button  and click Page1.
11.On the Source Tab, drag Region to the left of Order method.
Tip: Ensure that the pointer

Example - Create a Discontinuous Crosstab 
is directly beside Order method before you drop Region. Otherwise, Region may appear as a nested row instead of a column.
12.Click Region.
13.In the Properties pane, double-click the Sorting property.
14.From the Data Items pane, drag Region to the Sort List pane.
15.Click the sort order button to sort quarters in ascending order.
16.Run the report.

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