Where bar and line charts answer "what is the value?", distribution charts show how values spread across two dimensions. Use them to spot correlation, clusters and outliers, or to see where activity concentrates. The Chart block offers three distribution chart types: Scatter, Bubble and Heat Map.
Chart Type | Best For | Data Shape |
|---|---|---|
Scatter | Correlation and clusters between two numeric values | One row per point, with an X field and a Y field |
Bubble | Scatter with a third value shown as point size | One row per point, with X, Y and size fields |
Heat Map | Intensity across a grid of two categories, such as day and hour | Rows and columns from two category fields, plus a value per cell |
Note: The Chart block has no Histogram, Box Plot or Violin Plot chart type. To show a frequency distribution, group your values into buckets in the data source query and plot the counts on a Column chart.
Scatter
Scatter places each point by two numeric fields, one on the X axis and one on the Y axis. Every point is drawn at the same size.
Setting Up a Scatter Chart
Choose the chart type: Set Chart Type to Scatter and bind your data source.
Map the X axis: Under X Axis, set Value to the field plotted horizontally. Choose the axis type and, for a linear axis, optional Min and Max values.
Add series: Under Y Axis → Series, add one or more series, each with a label and a value field for the Y position.
Set the point size: In Appearance, set Data Point Size.
Scatter also offers a Quadrant Label slot for a block shown in each quadrant, and the Threshold add-on for drawing reference lines.
Bubble
Bubble works like Scatter, but each point's size shows a third value. In the series settings, map the size field. In Appearance, set Bubble Size to the smallest and largest diameter the values are scaled into. Bubble has no fixed point size, no Min or Max on its axes, and no slots. For the full Scatter and Bubble reference, see Scatter & Bubble Charts.
Heat Map
Heat Map colours a grid of cells by value. It has no X or Y axis and no series. First choose the Chart Layout:
Layout | What it is |
|---|---|
Tabular (default) | A rectangular grid. Map a column category, a row category and a value. Under Rows, choose Flat (one record per cell) or Nested (each row holds an array of cells). |
Honeycomb | Hexagonal cells. Map a category and a value, then arrange the cells as Grid, Ring or Coordinates. |
In Appearance, turn on Cell Labels to print each value in its cell, and set the colour scale under Chart Colours.
For the full Heat Map reference, see Heatmap.
Warning: Switching the Chart Layout, or switching a Tabular heat map between Flat and Nested, replaces your bound data with sample data. Bind your data source again after switching.
Events
Event | Description |
|---|---|
On Data Point Click | Fires when the user clicks a point on a Scatter or Bubble chart. Use it to open a detail page or filter a table to that record. |
For the Chart block's shared methods and exposed state, see Bar & Column Charts.
Examples
Example: Account priority quadrant
Build a Scatter chart with satisfaction score on the X axis and revenue growth as the series value. The quadrants split where X = 0 and Y = 0, so center your values around zero in the data source (for example, subtract the average) and give the X axis a Min and Max so zero sits in the middle. Place a block in the Quadrant Label slot to name each corner.
Example: Activity heat map by day and hour
Build a Heat Map with the Tabular layout. Map hour as the column category, day as the row category and event count as the value. Turn on Cell Labels and pick a continuous colour scale under Chart Colours.
Related Pages
Page | Relationship |
|---|---|
More detail on the X/Y axis settings for Scatter and Bubble | |
The full Heat Map reference: layouts, Flat and Nested rows, cell labels | |
Use when you need aggregate comparisons, or bucketed counts | |
Progress and part-to-whole charts for KPI views |