Reference line

Enhance your data visualizations with Reference Lines—powerful guides that highlight targets, averages, thresholds, or trends within a chart. Learn how to add and customize reference lines.

Reference lines are used in charts as a benchmark against which to compare data points. This helps viewers quickly assess whether values are above or below a certain target, goal, or historical average. They also help identify trends and aid in making comparisons between different segments.

You can add reference lines for the average, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, etc of a measure or the variance.

1.Position

The reference line can be horizontal or vertical. Click the images to see the different positions available for reference lines.

Horizontal reference line

Vertical reference line

You can choose the position of the reference line on the x-axis when the vertical option is selected. In the example, the reference line is rendered at the fourth position.

Vertical reference line position

2. Display

You can use measures or the absolute or relative variance to plot reference lines. Select the source from the dropdown.

Source for reference lines

3. Based on

Select the aggregation method to be used to plot the reference line. You can also plot a reference line based on a custom input value. Click on the images to view reference lines plotted using maximum, minimum, median, and standard deviation.

Reference line based on median

Reference line based on minimum

Reference line based on maximum

When you choose standard deviation as the aggregation type, you can specify the Standard Factor in the textbox. Values between 0 and 10 are the accepted range.

Leverage the "Field" option in analytics to use storytelling tools like data-driven reference lines. Plot reference lines using input measures to visualize data over time, detect trends, and identify potential concerns. To plot data-driven reference lines, choose "Field" from the Based on dropdown and select the measure from the Value dropdown.

Data driven reference line

4. Line

Set the style (solid, dotted, dashed), thickness, and color of the reference line.

Reference line style

5. Placement

The reference line can be rendered in front of the chart or behind the chart using this option. In the example, we've plotted the reference line behind the chart.

Placement

6. Label

Enable the label toggle to display the data values for reference lines.

Label toggle

• Type

Analytics+ displays the aggregation type and the value used to plot the reference line. You can choose from the options listed below:

• Text: displays the aggregation type only

• Value: displays the calculated value only

• Text + Value: displays the aggregation type as well as the calculated value

Reference line label

• Name: You can set a custom name for the reference line. By default, the selected aggregation type will be displayed. In the example, we've set the name of the reference line to "Avg of AC".

Reference line name

• Format: You can set the label font size, style, and color. You can choose from Regular, Semi bold, and Bold font styles.

Label style

• Background color: Highlight reference line values by setting a custom background color.

Label background color

• Vertical: Set the vertical positioning of the label with respect to the reference line.

Vertical positioning

• Horizontal: Set the horizontal positioning of the label with respect to the reference line.

Horizontal

• Offset: You can position the label anywhere within the canvas by specifying the x and y coordinates.

• Rotation: The labels can be rotated for enhanced visibility.

Label rotation option

Reference lines for time series data

When your dataset contains a time series, you can render reference lines for custom dates or the current date or n-days from the current date. Select the Timeseries radio button as the Type option.

Setting a reference lines based on a custom date

When you choose the Days upto today or Days from today options, you can specify the number of days.

Reference band rendered for Days upto today