GRAPH VIEW

TableBuilder includes a function for users to graph their table data. There are a number of ways to interact with and edit the graph.

This section includes:
Graph view
Change the graph type
Graph by row or column
Select series for pie charts
Hide categories
Edit axis labels
Graph size limits
Download graphs


GRAPH VIEW

Click the Graph View tab to generate a graph based on the table that is currently open.


If the table is currently set to use percentages, then the graph will also represent the values as percentages.

To maximise the amount of space available for viewing your graph, hide the graph options panel on the left of the screen by clicking the < arrow. Click the > arrow to open it again.

Hover your mouse over the graph to see more information about categories in the graph.



CHANGE THE GRAPH TYPE

Select one of the other graph types from the list in the graph options panel. The graph will change automatically.

Line chart


Column chart

GRAPH BY ROW OR COLUMN

By default, TableBuilder places the variables from the table rows along one axis and shows the categories from the table on the other axis. To swap the headings on the axis, use the Graph by option.


For example, the following table shows the number of persons aged 5 years and over in 2011.


The default for most graph types is that row headings are placed on the x axis.


The exception to this is bar charts (and stacked bar charts), which have the row headings on the y axis by default.


Select Column from the Graph By option to display the column headings on the x axis, instead of the row headings.


For bar charts, select Column from the Graph By option to display the column headings on the y axis, instead of the row headings.

SELECT SERIES FOR PIE CHARTS

Pie charts can only show a single row or column at a time. Use the Graph by option to choose whether to show a row or column from the table, and the Selected series drop-down to select which row or column. While pie charts can be created in TableBuilder they should be used with care as it can be difficult to make accurate comparisons about the relative size of each category.

For example, this pie chart is showing the Time between births (years). Use the Selected series drop-down to change the range of years shown in the chart.



HIDE CATEGORIES

The key below the graph is interactive. Clicking any of the categories temporarily hides them from the graph. This can be particularly useful if you have outlying data that makes it hard to focus on the most relevant data.

In this graph, Time between births (years) 0 to 4 years is much greater than the other years.


Click on 0 to 4 years in the key to temporarily hide it from the graph. The graph automatically updates, and the scale of the y axis automatically adjusts to make best use of the available screen space.

EDIT AXIS LABELS

The axis labels can be edited by clicking on them and entering a new name. Clear the text to revert to the default label.


The edited labels are displayed for as long as you remain in Graph View. The labels are also included on PDF or PNG downloads. Changes the graph type and the graph will keep the same edited labels. However, the labels will not be saved if you switch to one of the other views. For example, if you switch to Table View and then switch back to Graph View, the graph will revert to the default labels.


GRAPH SIZE LIMITS

If there are too many items in the table the graph will not generate. TableBuilder will display a message indicating that the data is too big to be graphed if there are more than:

• 216 variables
• 1,000 cells.

Go to Table View and make changes to reduce the table size. You may be able to reduce the table size by applying the Zero suppression options.


If the category labels have very long names, they may not be suitable to graph in TableBuilder. If the category labels are too long, they may be truncated with "..." in the key below the graph and in the text that appears when clicking on the graph. To best display your graph, download the table and use the graph options in your chosen application such as Excel.

DOWNLOAD GRAPHS

Graphs cannot be saved within TableBuilder. Graphs are only available for the current session. However, saving the table used to create the graph allows you to reopen the saved table and then access the graph again via Graph View.

It is not recommended that graphs are printed directly from TableBuilder. Better formatting results can be obtained by downloading the graph or the table data into your chosen application such as Excel.

1. To download a graph (for example to use in a report or presentation), select the download format from the drop-down list. Choose to download the graph as a PDF or in PNG (image) format.
   
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2. Click Go.
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3. If there are too many categories in a graphed variable, only the first page of categories will display in the downloaded PDF or PNG. Instead of graphing in TableBuilder, then downloading the graph, download the table instead. To best display your graph, download the table and use the graph options in your chosen application such as Excel.