Overview

This feature is available in PhixFlow version 11.1+.

This page will show you how to add custom series to any PhixFlow chart such as quartile, trend, target and/or arbitrary lines. 

There are 4 types (modes) of custom series:

• Algorithm
• Percentile
• Trend Line
• Expression

Algorithm Lines

Algorithm lines involve applying mathematical formulas or algorithms to chart data. The lines can help identify trends, make predictions or highlight patterns in the data. The chosen algorithm will be calculated using values from each column of data.

Below is a line chart showing how the quantity of different objects changes year-on year from 2001 to 2014. The teal line represents the mean value for each horizontal axis attribute (year). The yellow line represents the cumulative percent. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Creating Algorithm Lines

Creating Algorithm Lines

Percentile Lines

Percentile lines are a type of quantile showing how a value compares to other values within the same set of data. They indicate the value below which a given percentage of values in a set of data falls, e.g. the 50th percentile is represented below the point at which 50% of the data falls.

Below is a line chart showing how the quantity of different objects change for each quarter of the year 2015 to 2016. The dashed yellow line represents the 30th percentile, while the dashed purple line represents the 60th percentile. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Creating Percentile Lines

1. Create a line or bar chart, see Creating a Line Chart or Creating a Bar Chart
2. Right-click the chart and click 

   Insert excerpt
   _view_show_config _view_show_config nopanel true

3. In the 

   Insert excerpt
   _property_settings _property_settings nopanel true

   , expand the Custom Series section
4. Click the 

   Insert excerpt
   _add_icon _add_icon nopanel true

    icon to create a new Custom Series
   1. Name: Enter a name 
   2. Right Axis: Enable this to display the custom series for the data on the right axis
   3. Mode: Choose Percentile
   4. Percentile: Enter a number between 1 and 100
   5. Colour: Choose a colour for the chart line from the colour picker
   6. Style: Select a line style from dashed, dotted or solid

Trend Lines

Linear - represent the relationship between variables as a straight line.This is useful where data increases or decreases along a straight line, at a constant rate.Quadratic - represent the relationship between variables as one curve in a line.This is useful where data fluctuates up then down, or vice versa.Cubic - represent the relationship between variables as two curves in a line.This is useful where data fluctuates up and down.Gaussian - represent the relationship between variables as a bell-shaped distribution.This trend line is also known as normal distribution and is characterised by its symmetric shape around the mean.This is useful for showing a symmetrical plot of data around its mean value, where the width of the curve is defined by the standard deviation.

Creating Trend Lines

1. Create a line or bar chart, see Creating a Line Chart or Creating a Bar Chart
2. Right-click the chart and click 

   Insert excerpt
   _view_show_config _view_show_config nopanel true

3. In the 

   Insert excerpt
   _property_settings _property_settings nopanel true

   , expand the Custom Series section
4. Click the 

   Insert excerpt
   _add_icon _add_icon nopanel true

    icon to create a new Custom Series
   1. Name: Enter a name 
   2. Right Axis: Enable this to display the custom series for the data on the right axis
   3. Mode: Choose Trend Line
   4. Trend Line: Choose from:

      1. Linear - represent the relationship between variables as a straight line.

         This is useful where data increases or decreases along a straight line, at a constant rate.

         

         Quadratic - represent the relationship between variables as one curve in a line.

         This is useful where data fluctuates up then down, or vice versa.

         

         Cubic - represent the relationship between variables as two curves in a line.

         This is useful where data fluctuates up and down.

         

         Gaussian - represent the relationship between variables as a bell-shaped distribution.

         This trend line is also known as normal distribution and is characterised by its symmetric shape around the mean.

         This is useful for showing a symmetrical plot of data around its mean value, where the width of the curve is defined by the standard deviation.

         Image Modified

1. 1. Colour: Choose a colour for the chart line from the colour picker
   2. Style: Select a line style from dashed, dotted or solid

Expression

Create bespoke chart lines using the Expression editor, which has access to the data in each recordset as a data array. Expressions can be used for simple expressions, e.g. 10, or more complex expressions, such as rescaling and rolling averages. The expression should return either:

• a single value (fixed horizontal line)
• an array of 2 values (first and last)
• or, an array of values matching the number of x values/categories

Below is a line chart showing how the value of different objects changes year-on-year. The expression, represented by the dotted blue line, converts negative values for the attribute, Object B, to 0 and doubles the positive values. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Creating Expression Lines

1. Create a line or bar chart, see Creating a Line Chart or Creating a Bar Chart
2. Right-click the chart and click 

   Insert excerpt
   _view_show_config _view_show_config nopanel true

3. In the 

   Insert excerpt
   _property_settings _property_settings nopanel true

   , expand the Custom Series section
4. Click the 

   Insert excerpt
   _add_icon _add_icon nopanel true

    icon to create a new Custom Series
   1. Name: Enter a name 
   2. Right Axis: Enable this to display the custom series for the data on the right axis
   3. Mode: Choose Expression
   4. Expression: Enter an expression using Functions and/or Internal Variables
      

      Insert excerpt
      Custom Series Custom Series name Expression nopanel true

1. 1. Colour: Choose a colour for the chart line from the colour picker
   2. Style: Select a line style from dashed, dotted or solid

More Information

• Filtering and Sorting Grids and Charts
• Formatting and Styling Grids and Charts
• Using Relational Views
• Actions on Grids and Charts
• For a complete list of view properties and their functions, see View.