Concept: Visualization Types

Visualizations enable you to display data from a data source either graphically or textually. The viz type determines the drop zones in the Builder panel and how the data is visually displayed in the viz.

Workday provides several viz types that enable you to decide how to explore and display the data. Some viz types are compatible with custom reports, enabling you to create a report from the viz using the data and configurations in the viz. Other viz types are optimized for use in discovery boards and can't be exported to custom reports.

Viz Type	Description
Chart (Matrix report-compatible)	A Chart is a viz type that displays data graphically, representing each point of data as a mark on the chart. Chart vizzes support several mark types, enabling you to create different types of charts, such as bars, lines, points, and more. A chart display summarized (aggregated) data grouped and filtered by the selected attribute fields. You can think of a chart in a discovery board as a recipe with these components: Attribute and summarization fields Axis placement (X-Axis and Y-Axis) Appearance encodings (such as Color and Size) Mark type (such as Point, Line, and Bar) When you create a report from this viz type, Workday creates a Matrix report.
Donut Chart (Matrix report-compatible)	A Donut Chart is a viz type that displays a circle divided into segments with a hole in the center that displays the total value of all segments. Each segment represents a percentage of the total. Donut chart vizzes show relative sizes at a glance. The human eye can't easily distinguish between segments that have similar sizes, especially if there are many very small segments (marks). Workday recommends using a donut chart viz under these circumstances: You only have 1 summarization field to display in the viz. All values to display in the viz are positive (no zero or negative values). The attribute values to display represent part of a whole. The number of attribute values to display is low, such as less than 10. You can sort and filter an attribute field to reduce the values displayed. Donut chart vizzes can't display negative or zero values in the Angle drop zone. When a summarization field contains those values, Workday displays a warning icon in the upper right corner of the viz. Click the warning icon to learn how many values do and don't display in the viz. When you create a report from this viz type, Workday creates a Matrix report.
Pivot Table (Matrix report-compatible)	A Pivot Table is a viz type that displays attribute and summarized data in a tabular format. Pivot tables have complex headers that are ideal for comparing multiple fields against one another. Pivot tables are similar to tables, but with the added feature of adding grouping to rows and columns. Due to their detailed headers, pivot tables are useful for comparing data that contains subcategories, so you can access several levels of detail in 1 place. You can choose to hide or show row totals and column totals to control how much data is displayed You might want to create a pivot table if you want to see the raw data comprising the points on a chart viz, instead of a graphical representation of it. When you create a report from this viz type, Workday creates a Matrix report.
Table (Advanced report-compatible)	A Table is a viz type that displays the data in a tabular, spreadsheet format. A table is a viz with attribute fields only in the Columns drop zone. Its format is closest to what you might see in a CSV file. Tables are optimal for when you'd like a granular, simple display of data that has several attribute fields in it. When you create a report from this viz type, Workday creates an Advanced report.
Area Chart	An Area Chart is a viz type that displays metrics connected by line segments as a continuum, filling in the space between the lines with color. Similar to Line Charts, Area Charts typically display trends over time. Area Charts provide more options for grouping the categories than Chart vizzes. You can't create a report from this viz type.
Bar Chart	A Bar Chart is a viz type that displays metrics for categories of data as either vertical or horizontal bars. Bar Charts provide more options for grouping and orienting the categories than Chart vizzes. You can't create a report from this viz type.
Heatmap	A Heatmap is a viz type that compares 2 attributes by a common metric (a summarization field). Heatmaps enable you to use color to see variations in the data. You can't create a report from this viz type.
KPI Chart	A KPI Chart is a viz type that displays a measure and its progress toward a specified target. Use a KPI viz on aggregated numeric or currency data. When you create or edit a KPI, you can display: The base measure. An optional comparison measure. The variance (difference) between the base measure and the comparison measure. A visual cue that indicates the progress toward the target. You can't create a report from this viz type.
Line Chart	A Line Chart is a viz type that displays metrics connected by line segments as a continuum, typically as a trend over time. You can't create a report from this viz type.
Scatterplot	A Scatterplot is a viz type that compares 2 metrics (summarization fields), grouped by a set of common attributes (color and size). Scatterplots show how a metric correlates to another metric. Example: You can use a Scatterplot to show the relationship between population size and income. You can't create a report from this viz type.
Waterfall	A Waterfall is a viz type that displays the incremental transitions of quantitative values that increase or decrease. Use a Waterfall viz to visualize and understand the progression of a specific value and how it's influenced by positive and negative factors. Example: Use a Waterfall to display how headcount is influenced by hiring and terminations. You can use either Numeric or Currency metrics in a Waterfall viz. By default, Waterfalls display the Total (the end value), which summarizes all values and calculates how all the increments affect the starting value. Optionally, you can hide the Total. You can create a Waterfall viz using either of these methods: One field each in the Measures and Dimensions drop zones. Workday displays how the values of a dimension field incrementally increase or decrease the value of a measure field. Example: You can perform expense analysis by the categories defined in a single dimension field. Multiple fields in the Measures drop zone. Workday displays each field in order on the x-axis, using the top field as the starting value. You can't create a report from this viz type.