This article provides additional details about configuration options for charts.
For best results when building or editing charts:
- Be familiar with the datasets available in your environment (including custom attributes)
- Know your goal and/or which insights your chart is intended to provide
- Determine which chart type is best suited to visualize your data
- Confirm whether any existing charts address your need or can be cloned/customized
Choosing a Dataset
If you are creating a new chart from scratch, you must select a dataset. For descriptions and other information about datasets available for Enhanced Reporting, click here.
Column Panel
The panel to the far left of the page lists column names pulled from the chart's selected dataset. Use the search field at the top of panel to quickly find specific datapoints.
You will use these column names to configure time-based elements and queries for your chart, such as metrics, grouping, sorting, and display options.
Data Tab
The Data tab in the middle pane shows the following sections:
Chart Type
The selected chart type is displayed under the Visualization Type field. Click on the currently selected chart type to browse other options in the library.
Which chart to use depends on the selected dataset and how many datapoints need to be represented or compared. Scroll through the Category section on the left side of the modal to browse chart types and/or see examples and brief descriptions of each.
Changing the chart type after adding metrics or adjusting other configurations will impact the chart's results. For more information about chart types, click here.
Time
This section is for configuring which time-based elements will be used to load and filter the chart's data, such as a time range. Sections marked with asterisks (*) below are required.
Time Column*
The Time Column drives which time-based element is used to include or exclude data. A default Time Column is set when creating or editing a chart based on the selected dataset.
To change the default, select and drag a date column from the left side of the page and drop it under the Time Column field (e.g., Invoice Approved Date, Matter Created On, etc.).
This defaults to Invoice Received Date for spend-related datasets. For example, the Vendor Spend bar chart below adds up fees/expenses by vendor for invoices received in the last year (i.e., past 365 days). If viewing the report on June 1, 2022, for example, invoices received prior to June 1, 2021 would not be counted even if they were approved on June 2, 2021. Data may also be excluded based on other factors and chart configurations, such as metrics, filters, and sorting.
Time Range*
The Time Range field limits the chart to show data that meets time/query configurations within the selected date range. This typically defaults to No filter for new charts and defaults to Last year for any charts in out-of-the-box reports provided by SimpleLegal.
To make sure the chart loads sufficient data, we recommend making the time range broad enough for further filtering.
Click under the Time Range field and click on the Range Type drop-down to see which options are available. For new charts, you may want to consider last > last year or previous > previous calendar year. Additional options are described below:
- Last: last day, last week, last month, last quarter, or last year
- Previous: previous calendar week, previous calendar month, or previous calendar year
- Custom: select "start" and "end" date options (e.g., specific date or X days before)
- Advanced: hover over the info icon for information on syntax to use
- No Filter: load data for all time based on the selected time column
Time Grain (Optional)
The Time Grain option controls how datapoints are visualized on a chart. This defaults to Days for most new charts and existing out-of-the-box reports. In most cases, this can be left as-is unless the volume of data results would make the chart hard to understand or would take up too much space.
NOTE: Time Grain only appears as a configuration option for some chart types. If creating a Filter Box chart, you must manually enable Time Grain under Filter Configurations if you want to give users the option to filter report data by time grain.
Query
Queries can be set up using standard system fields and/or custom attributes. Use the Query section to specify which data to include, how it should be organized and calculated, and whether it should be further limited based on default filters or other thresholds. Most chart types have the following two minimum query configurations:
- Metrics
- Filters
Additional required/optional configuration fields appear depending on the chart type. For an overview of configuration options and which chart types they are commonly used for, click here.
Metrics
Use metrics to define how to calculate one or more datapoints to measure activity, volume, or performance. You can add one or multiple metrics depending on the chart type. For example, pie charts and big number charts can only have one metric, whereas pivot tables and bar charts can have more than one metric because they are designed to compare multiple datapoints.
Adding metrics does not apply to the following chart types: Table (Raw Records), Filter Box, Histogram, Scatterplot, Hexagon, Arc, Grid, Screen Grid, Multiple Line Charts, MapBox, Geojson, Multiple Layers, Event Flow, and Path.
There are two ways to add metrics:
- Build a simple metric by selecting a column name and aggregator
- Build a custom metric using SQL (recommended for advanced SQL users only)
Read the sections below for instructions on each method.
Building Simple Metrics
1. Select and drag a column name from the left side of the page and drop it under the Metric field. This opens a modal so that you can select an aggregate (i.e., how to calculate the metric).
You can change the selected column if needed from the drop-down. Column options depend on standard system fields and custom attributes pulled from your environment for the selected dataset. For additional information about custom attributes in Enhanced Reporting, click here.
2. Select an option from the Aggregate drop-down (e.g., SUM, COUNT, AVG, etc.) based on how the data from the selected column should be calculated in the chart.
The aggregate options are briefly defined below:
| AVG | Total sum of values pulled from the column name in the dataset divided by number of values. For example, Average Rate is calculated by taking the sum of all hourly rates and dividing by the number of hourly rates (e.g., hourly rates = 400+ 300 + 200 = 900 / 3 = 300). |
| COUNT | Count of individual items that fall within other specified metrics or filters. For example, the number of line items classified under Expense Codes across all invoices within the past 12 months. |
|
COUNT_DISTINCT |
Count of unique individual items that fall within other specified metrics or filters. This differs from COUNT if multiple instances of identical values should only be counted as one item. |
| MAX | Returns the largest value from a set of numbers. For example, the highest hourly rate submitted for invoice line items in a certain time range. |
| MIN | Returns the smallest value from a set of numbers. For example, the lowest billed line item amount for invoices submitted in a certain time range. |
| SUM | Sum of individual values that fall within other specific metrics or filters to return a total number. For example, the sum of billed values across all invoice line items categorized as type "F" (i.e., Fee). |
3. Click on the pencil icon at the top of the modal to change the display label for the metric. Make sure that the label is easy to understand and recognize.
4. Click Save in the bottom-right corner.
5. Repeat Steps 1-4 to create additional simple metrics, if applicable, for the selected chart type.
Using Custom SQL
Adding a custom SQL query is only recommended for users with SQL knowledge and/or users who need more advanced configuration options for charts.
1. Select and drag a column name from the left side of the page and drop it under the Metric field. This opens the metrics modal.
2. Switch to the Custom SQL tab in the modal and enter your query into the text field.
3. Click on the pencil icon at the top of the modal to change the display label for the metric. Make sure that the label is easy to understand and recognize.
4. Click Save in the bottom-right corner.
5. Repeat Steps 1-4 to create additional custom SQL metrics, if applicable, for the selected chart type.
Filters
Applying a filter at the chart level is optional but helpful if the data that loads need to be further narrowed or limited by default. Filters in Enhanced Reporting can be created for both standard system fields and custom attributes.
Chart-level filters are not the same as Filter Box charts that can be added at the dashboard level for viewers to narrow data. Adding a chart-level filter means that the data that loads will be limited regardless of other configurations or filters at the dashboard level. Confirm that chart-level filters apply in most use cases to avoid blank results or loading errors.
Examples of charts that have a filter option include Big Number Charts, Line Charts, Area Charts, Bar Charts, and Pie Charts.
To apply a chart-level filter:
1. Select and drag a column name from the left side of the page and drop it under the Filters field.
2. Choose between Simple or Custom SQL. See below for more information.
3. Click Save in the bottom-right corner.
4. Repeat Steps 1-3 above to add other filters to the chart.
Simple Filters
Quickly create a filter by selecting a column name, selecting an operator (e.g., equals, not equal to, etc.) and entering a filter value.
In the example below. the pie chart is showing Pending Matters by Practice Area but will exclude any matters categorized under "Investigations" by default.
See below for brief descriptions of available operators:
| equals / not equal to | Only show data that matches a specific value (i.e., equals) or exclude data that matches a specific value (i.e., not equal to). |
| < | > | <= | >= | Include or exclude data that is greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to a certain value. For example, only load matters where Final Hours >= 100. |
| IN / NOT IN | Only show data that matches one of multiple values (i.e., IN) or exclude data that matches any of the specified values (i.e., NOT IN). |
| LIKE (case sensitive) | Only show data that matches a string or keyword(s). Selecting this option means that the values must be an exact match, including capitalization. |
| LIKE | Only show data that matches a string or keyword(s). This will check for character matches only and will disregard capitalization. |
| IS NOT NULL / IS NULL | Include data only if a value is present (i.e., IS NOT NULL) or only if the value is blank (i.e., IS NULL). |
Custom SQL Filters
This is only recommended for users with SQL knowledge.
Select WHERE or HAVING from the drop-down and then enter the SQL query into the text field.
Additional Query Configurations
See the table below for descriptions of query options that appear for certain chart types and tips/suggestions on how to handle configurations.
| Configuration | Description | Chart Type(s) |
| Query Mode |
For tables, this defaults to Aggregate (i.e., data is grouped or otherwise condensed). Choose Raw Records to set up a standard table (i.e., individual items collected from the data source). Selecting Raw Records adjusts the fields under the query section. Select options for Columns, Ordering, etc. to customize the table view. |
|
| Percentage Metrics |
Display the percentage the value in a row contributes towards the total. For example, if each row represents spend by vendor, this would display the percentage contribution of each vendor towards the total spend. If a Row Limit is set, the percentages make up the total for the displayed rows only. For example, if there are 100 rows of results and the chart has a 50-row limit, the percentage metric will count towards the total of the first 50 rows only. |
|
| Group By |
Group data by one or more column names. For example, grouping spend totals by Vendor Name and/or Matter Group in a table. Selecting too many "group by" options may overcomplicate visualization. Only use more than one when relevant and if there is enough space. |
|
| Sort By | Sort the results by adding a simple metric. For example, sorting the results in a table by Final Spend. Refer to the Metrics section above for more details on creating simple metrics. |
|
| Series Limit |
Limit the number of time series that are displayed. For example, this would make a line chart with multiple Group By options easier to read. |
|
| Row Limit |
Limit how many rows of results are loaded. Defaults are populated for chart types (see below), but the limit can be increased or decreased as needed:
For example, if you want to highlight the Top 10 vendors by spend total, you can change the row limit to '10' and use the Sort By option to display them in descending order. |
|
| Columns |
Choose which columns to display on a table or which columns to use for grouping in pivot tables. |
|
| Rows | Choose which columns to use for grouping by row. |
|
Customize Tab
The Customize tab displays formatting and layout options depending on the selected chart type. Tables and pivot tables, for example, include options for column ordering and text alignment, whereas charts with graphics (e.g., pie charts) have options for legends and color scheme.
| Tables/Pivot Tables | Charts with Graphics |
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