# Pin charts

Pin charts, also known as lollipop charts, are commonly used to display and compare data. It is a variation of bar charts where a dot represents the data point, and a segment connects it to the X-axis. It is often used to visualize data where the length of the bar is not as important as the value itself.

### 1. Adding the chart

Inforiver offers three variants of pin charts: *Simple, Bar colored*, and *Marker colored*.

In this example, we will visualize the 'Margin%' using a pin chart.

**Step 1:** We have added 'Category' and 'SubCategory' in the **Rows** field, and 'Sales', 'Margin', 'Margin %', and 'Total Customers' in the **Values (AC)** field in the visualization pane.

<figure><img src="/files/ggB7UTfxZfbHvit58n8d" alt=""><figcaption><p>Data mapping</p></figcaption></figure>

**Step 2:** Select the column for which you want to insert the pin chart. In the following image, the 'Margin' column has been selected.

The pin chart option gets enabled. From the **Pin chart** drop-down, select the **Simple pin chart**.

<figure><img src="/files/PwKAKoby56Er2VuCr1Cb" alt=""><figcaption><p>Column and chart type selection</p></figcaption></figure>

**Step 3:** The simple pin chart gets inserted as shown below. You can see the 'Customize' tab in the toolbar and the following [customization options](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/6.-working-with-charts/bar-and-pin-charts#2.-customization-options).

<figure><img src="/files/iP5txXudpiXz13wGiajv" alt=""><figcaption><p>Inserting a simple pin chart</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2. Customization options

Inserting a pin chart will open up the following configuration options.

### 2.1..Chart type&#x20;

Here you can change your current chart type.

Inforiver offers three variants of pin charts: **Simple Lollipop**, **Bar Colored Lollipop** and **Marker Colored Lollipop**.

<figure><img src="/files/1mCeZDmRk3WxsiWimzcR" alt=""><figcaption><p>Pin chart type options</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.2. Axis config&#xD;

This option lets you configure the axis for the chart. Clicking on the **Axis Config** option will open up the 'Axis modal' in which you can configure the following properties:

* **Axis direction** - From this drop-down, you can set the direction of the axis to either 'Left to Right' or 'Right to Left'
* **Show Y Axis** - Enable this check box if you want to display an axis on the Y Coordinate
* **Show X Axis** - Enable this check box if you want to display an axis on the X coordinate
* **Hide ticks** - With this option, you can either show/hide tick intervals

<figure><img src="/files/tXHBrtLVARYORwoLcCEl" alt=""><figcaption><p>Axis config options</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.3. Reference line&#x20;

Reference lines are horizontal or vertical lines that are added to a chart to indicate a specific value or threshold. Using this option, you can add a reference line for values such as average, median or set a custom value.

Clicking on this option will open up a **Reference line** modal to the right of the report.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/W336bMThblL2kkKvxQA1" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference line options</p></figcaption></figure>

Click on the 'Add New Line' button in the modal. This will open up a toolbar as shown below.

<figure><img src="/files/dE2NW0YtgLg40gm1d0Hk" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference line toolbar</p></figcaption></figure>

You can customize the following options in the reference line modal:

**a) Value display -** This option has two dropdowns.&#x20;

From the first drop-down, you can select the data metric for which you want to display the reference line.&#x20;

And the second drop-down lets you select the value at which the reference line needs to be inserted. You can select from the following values:

1. **Average -** Inserts a reference line at the average value of the data metric
2. **Median -** Inserts a reference line for the median value of the data metric
3. **Standard deviation -** Inserts a reference line for the standard deviation of the data metric
4. **Mid value -** Inserts a reference line at the mid value of the data metric
5. **Constant -** If you select this option, an additional 'Static value' field becomes available. Using this option, you can set the static/constant value at which you want to insert the reference line.

<figure><img src="/files/5GQLU68zV8OmA7kKa219" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference line constant option</p></figcaption></figure>

**b) Style -** This option has three dropdowns.&#x20;

From the first drop-down, you can choose the style of the reference line. You can choose from any of the following options: *Dotted, Dashed, Solid, Long Dashed,* or *Double Solid*.&#x20;

From the second drop-down, you can select the color of the reference line.&#x20;

And from the third drop-down, you can choose the position of the reference line. It has the following two options: *Front* - positions the reference line in front of data values, and *Back* - positions the reference line to the back of the data values.

<figure><img src="/files/vm7ow9TrYV8EMrbSKRQf" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference line style options</p></figcaption></figure>

After choosing all the customizations, click on 'Apply' to insert a reference line with chosen customization options.

<figure><img src="/files/8hmPkWIuqy3EWgOBsntc" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference line applied</p></figcaption></figure>

**Add more than one reference line** - To add more than one reference line, you can click on the 'add new trend line' link at the bottom of the toolbar in the reference line modal.

<figure><img src="/files/eLHdI1sQLFZ3GaVvHMv4" alt=""><figcaption><p>Add new trend line</p></figcaption></figure>

**Delete a reference line** - To delete an existing reference line, click on the trash can/delete icon.

<figure><img src="/files/eRfNEtIDopo104KLtAVq" alt=""><figcaption><p>Delete reference line</p></figcaption></figure>

**Disable a reference line** - To disable an existing reference line, click on the toggle switch button.

<figure><img src="/files/zE9kbiYF6GD5hqItsjIs" alt=""><figcaption><p>Disable a reference line</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.4. Reference band

Reference bands are similar to reference lines, but they are represented as a shaded area between two lines. They are used to indicate a range of values.&#x20;

Clicking on this option will open up a **Reference Band** modal.

<figure><img src="/files/qOEDcciZw78SasNKL2wf" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference band options</p></figcaption></figure>

From this modal, you can customize the following options

**a) Value Display -** This option has two dropdowns.&#x20;

From the first drop-down, you can select the data metric for which you want to display the reference band.&#x20;

And the second drop-down lets you select the ending value of the reference band. You can select from the following options:

1. **Average -** The average value of the data metric is set as the ending value of the reference band
2. **Median -** The median value of the data metric is set as the ending value of the reference band
3. **Standard deviation -** The standard deviation of the data metric is set as the ending value of the reference band
4. **Mid value -**&#x54;he mid value of the data metric is set as the ending value of the reference band
5. **Constant -** If you select this option, an additional 'Static Value' field becomes available. Using this option, you can set the static/constant value which is set as the ending value of the reference band.

<figure><img src="/files/aFPm62SXOM0l4FLXCErl" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference band value display</p></figcaption></figure>

**b) Start From -** Using this drop-down, you can select the starting value of the reference band. It has the following options:&#x20;

1. **Min** - The minimum value of the data metric becomes the starting value of the reference band
2. **Zero** - Zero becomes the starting value of the reference band

<figure><img src="/files/zFzm3rJW4pFkoIy8xvFz" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference band start from options</p></figcaption></figure>

3. **Constant** - If you select this option, a new input field becomes available where you can select the constant value which becomes the starting value of the reference band.

<figure><img src="/files/sEc2EZsNVrYLEd645KUL" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference band constant option</p></figcaption></figure>

**c) Line Style -** The line style option allows you to set the style and color of the lines that get displayed at the starting and ending value of the reference band.&#x20;

From the first drop-down, you can choose the style of the lines. You can choose from the following options: *Dotted, Dashed, Solid, Long Dashed,* and *Double Solid*.&#x20;

And, from the second drop-down, you can select the color of the lines.

<figure><img src="/files/OhgJxTIsKyFZk9an9m21" alt=""><figcaption><p>Reference band line style options</p></figcaption></figure>

**d) Background color** - This color picker lets you choose the color for the shaded area in the reference band.

**Delete reference band** - To delete an inserted reference band, click on the 'Delete' button at the bottom of the 'Reference Band' modal.

<figure><img src="/files/8AnIcsNu6JU922jCrN7v" alt=""><figcaption><p>Delete a reference band</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.5. Outliers

This option lets you indicate the outliers that exceed the specified threshold values.

In the customization menu, click on the **Outliers** option.

<figure><img src="/files/Si4aTHKaV8Sr0hGAfubt" alt=""><figcaption><p>Outliers option</p></figcaption></figure>

In the Outliers pop-up window, click **Enable Outlier.** The labels are visible by default, to hide them, uncheck the **Label option.**&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/KQF2e77eqpOnjue36qZ2" alt=""><figcaption><p>Custom Outliers</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Type** - This dropdown lets you configure the **Outlier** range as **Negative/Positive Threshold** or **Min/Max Threshold.**

<figure><img src="/files/gJ67oRkBcLCsdiawEBaE" alt=""><figcaption><p>Threshold types</p></figcaption></figure>

Enter the required **Negative/Positive** or **Min/Max** threshold values as shown below and Click **Apply**.

<figure><img src="/files/bxIk3IyL01LpCpiiTfI3" alt=""><figcaption><p>Custom Outliers</p></figcaption></figure>

After applying outliers, the report shows below, highlighting the Margin values exceeding 1000k.

<figure><img src="/files/YlVTldoyD2HtA8iXUeO8" alt=""><figcaption><p>Outliers</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.6. Data label config

This option lets you configure the properties related to the data label. You can configure the following properties:

* **Data label -** This checkbox lets you show/hide data labels. Note that other options become available only if this option is enabled.
* **Data label flip** - With this option, you can reverse/flip the positions of the data labels. By default, the labels are placed to the right of the bar. By enabling this option, you can flip/reverse their position to the left with respect to the bars.

<figure><img src="/files/qoyMcYUGFO9n2XiLh8u7" alt=""><figcaption><p>Data Label Flip</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Show label** - In this drop-down, you can select the format of the data label. You can display the data values as just **Value (numbers)**, as **Percentages**, or as **Both**.
* **Percentage scaling** - This drop-down gets enabled only if you have chosen 'Percentage' or 'Both' as the data format in the show label drop-down and when the chart contains hierarchical levels. Using this option, you can configure the scaling of the percentage data label. The available scaling options are
  1. **Universal - This** is the default option, and it indicates the percentage contribution of the value to the grand total.
  2. **By level -** Whereas 'By level' indicates the percentage contribution of the value to its parent level or category.

<figure><img src="/files/T6cM44cuCdiXLi7zFdR0" alt=""><figcaption><p>Percentage scaling options</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.7. Fill pattern&#x20;

You can customize the fill pattern to any of these IBCS notations: **Solid***,* **Outlined***,* or **Hatched**.

<figure><img src="/files/ScqtpMEFCdqpMHOnMJfe" alt=""><figcaption><p>Fill pattern options</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.8. Appearance

Appearance has two sub-options - **Color** and **Series display**.

<figure><img src="/files/F7UhNjBkHcisGH3IIIkn" alt=""><figcaption><p>Appearance options</p></figcaption></figure>

**a) Color -** This option lets you define properties such as the bar color, axis color, data label color etc.

1. **Positive color** - Using this option you can customize the positive color of the bar/marker
2. **Negative color** - Using this option you can customize the negative color of the bar/marker
3. **Axis color** - This option lets you set the axis color of the chart

<figure><img src="/files/9mYTGQX9f0vwWDT0Wdnh" alt=""><figcaption><p>Color option</p></figcaption></figure>

**b) Series display** - This option lets you select the marker type and marker size.

1. **Marker type** - You can set the marker type for your pin chart(s) using this option. The marker type drop-down has the following options: **Square***,* **Diamond**, and **Circle**.
2. **Marker size** - This drop-down lets you configure the size of the marker in your pin charts. It has the following options: **Mini**, **Small***,* **Medium**, and **Large**.

<figure><img src="/files/hKbxpWk7tY19yI6IBMxd" alt=""><figcaption><p>Series Display option</p></figcaption></figure>

### 2.9. Measure Scaling

This option lets you select the measure scaling of the chart. By default, **Universal** **Scaling** is applied.

**a) Universal** - In this option the scaling of the chart is fixed based on the consolidated min and max values from all the measures.

For reference the consolidated min value is '13.05' and max value is '778.51' from all the measures, therefore the scaling of the chart is fixed based on these values.

<figure><img src="/files/keQXiMlBRRKcHIfqAbbi" alt=""><figcaption><p>Universal Measure scaling</p></figcaption></figure>

**b) Individual** - In this option the scaling of each individual measure is fixed based on their own Min and Max values.

<figure><img src="/files/cMB5D3iZkuv1Jbc9v7Zb" alt=""><figcaption><p>Individual Measure scaling</p></figcaption></figure>

In this section, we covered pin charts. Navigate to the next section to learn more about the [change/deviation charts](/working-with-inforiver/6.-working-with-charts/change-deviation-charts.md).


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