Graphs

About Graphs

Visualize data with a variety of graph styles including bar graphs, pie charts, line charts, and more.

Creating a New Graph

To add a graph:

  1. Click the New Graph page item icon. For more control over its placement, click and drag the New Graph page icon directly onto your report.
  2. If Qualtrics prompts you for a data source, click the Select Data Source or Select Item drop-down to specify where the graph data should come from.

Choosing a Data Source for Your Graph

The data source for a graph can be changed at any time, or multiple data sources may be used.

To change or add a data source:

  1. Click the Data Source icon.
  2. Click the Survey or Question drop-down to change which survey or question the data is coming from.
  3. Click the Plus sign to add another data source.
  4. Click the Minus sign to remove a data source.

Changing the Graph Type

A variety of graph types are available to choose from including bar charts, stack charts, gauges, and pie charts. Click the Graph Type drop-down to select a different type:

Setting the Graph Options

Each graph has an extensive list of customization options. To edit options for the entire graph, select Graph Options. To edit options for a single data source, select Data Source and click the Graph Icon next to any data source. The following options are available:

  • Graph Type: This gives the same options as the main Graph Type button, but will only change it for the selected graph.
  • Font: Change the font style, size, and color.
  • Colors: Change the graph’s colors. The left-most color is the primary color and the rest are secondary colors that will be used as needed.
  • 3D Depth: Adjust the thickness of the 3D aspect of the graph’s columns or elements.
  • Opacity: Adjust the amount of transparency or translucence with which to display the graph.
  • Show Values: Display the values of each element on the graph.
  • Truncate Labels: Shorten longer labels to give a cleaner appearance.
  • Reverse Data Layers: Reverse the order data layers are displayed on the graph.
  • Swap Labels With Legend Keys: Use a legend to label the graph instead of labeling along the graph axis.
  • Use Multi-Colored Bars: Use a unique color for each bar on the graph rather than one color per data source.
  • Axis and Grid Lines: Toggle the X and Y axes, X and Y grid lines, and the Label and Number axes.
  • Axis Scale Limit: Set a custom scale limit rather than using the automatically chosen axis scale. This typically refers to the Y axis.
  • Show/Hide Legend: Top is the default, but you can change the position of the legend or hide it altogether.
  • Decimal Places: Choose how many decimal places are used when displaying values. Two is the default selection.
  • Sort Data By: Choose to sort the graph by Choices, Series, Labels, or Keys.
  • Show/Hide Columns: Choose particular choices to not display in the graph.
  • Data Format: Choose if the graph should be based on the response Count, Percent, Mean, or Standard Deviation.
  • Clear Properties: Revert to the default graph settings.

Tweaking the Graph Layout

Access basic settings for how the graph appears on the page. The following options are available:

  • Show On All Pages: Show the selected graph on all pages of the report.
  • Always On Top: Specify that the graph always shows on top when it overlaps with other page items.
  • Always On Bottom: Specify that the graph always shows on bottom when it overlaps with other page items.
  • Add Description: Automatically add the question text for the question the graph represents. Double click the text to edit as needed.
  • Center Within Page Horizontal: Center the graph horizontally on the page.
  • Center Within Page Vertical: Center the graph vertically on the page.
  • Reapply Layout: Refresh the graph layout after making changes.
  • Remove Item: Removes the selected graph from the page.

More Information

  • Right-clicking on a graph will bring up the same editing and layout options, plus the option to create a new drill down report based upon its data.
  • You can change a graph’s labels by clicking directly on them.
  • For best results when working with multiple data sources on one graph, either make sure each source asks the same question and has the same graph type, or have each source ask a different question, and have a different graph type.
  • Graphs automatically adjust the axis limit. If you want to control the axis limit, do the following:
    1. Click on the graph to select it.
    2. Click the Graph Options button.
    3. Hover over Axis Scale Limit. “Use Auto Scale Limit” is automatically selected.
    4. Select one of the other options to set the limit on the Sum, Mean, or Standard Deviation.
    5. Click “change” to alter the limit.