Data Visualization Types

Purpose:  To provide an overview of various data visualization types that enable you to present your data meaningfully and effectively to gain insights from your HR data, ultimately supporting informed decision-making.

Table of Contents

To find data visualization types, navigate to a workbook and click Chart. All types appear under "Chart selector" within the Chart Options section. Each chart icon offers a shortcut to its pre-configured chart type, saving you time in configuring the data between different layouts. The configuration of your chart will be based on the values you assign to the x-axis and y-axis (or dual axes), along with additional chart-specific settings.

Chart options

Reports
Visualization Types Options
Bar
  • Basic Bar: Simple comparison of values
  • Grouped Bar: Compares multiple series (fields) side by side
  • Stacked Bar: Shows parts of a whole
  • Stacked % Bar: Displays percentage contributions
  • Stacked Measures: Combines multiple measures in a stack
  • Grouped, Stacked Measures: Compares multiple series (fields) side by side while showing the composition of each series
Line
  • Basic Line: Tracks changes over time
  • Stack 100: Compares percentage changes
  • Monotone: Smoothes line transitions
  • Dashed: Highlights trends with dashed lines
  • Dual Axes: Compares two different measures
Scatterplots & Bubble 
  • Basic Scatter: Shows relationships between variables
  • Color Scatter: Adds a color dimension
  • Bubble: Sizes bubbles to represent data magnitude
Area 
  • Basic Area: Emphasizes volume changes over time
  • Stacked Area: Shows cumulative totals
  • Stack 100 Area: Displays percentage area contributions
Mixed 
  • Bar & Line: Displays a combination of bars and lines that compare different data series or highlight trends alongside categorical data
Pie & Donut
  • Pie: Shows proportions of a whole
  • Donut: Similar to pie, with a central hole for additional data
Map Visualizations
  • Point Maps: Visualizes data points geographically
  • Region Maps: Displays data by regions (e.g., countries, states, etc.)
KPI
  • Highlights key performance indicators with customizable tiles
Markdown 
  • Displays a combination of markdown elements and query variables that create a visualization including text, images, links, data, iframes, and more
Single Record Tables
  • Shows a single row of data, pivoted to display the full row in a single column
Table 
  • Customizable tables with features like column management, pivot sorting, conditional formatting, etc.
Heatmap 
  • Visualizes data density or intensity using color gradients to highlight patterns, trends, and variations 
Boxplot
  • Summarizes data distributions by displaying the median, quartiles, and potential outliers
AI Summary*
  • Shows a summary of the specific data passed in query results

*Want to learn more about BambooHR AI? Click here!

Configuration

Depending on the chart type you select, such as bar or line charts, the following settings will typically appear under "X/Y Chart":

  1. X-Axis: The x-axis represents the horizontal component of the chart, displaying categories or time intervals that reflect the distribution of data points across different segments or periods.
  2. Left-Axis: The left-axis is the vertical component on the left side of the chart, usually the primary y-axis that displays quantitative values or metrics being measured.
  3. Right-Axis: The right-axis is the vertical component on the right side of the chart, usually the secondary y-axis that provides insight into multiple data series.
  4. Color: This section groups or stacks data based on the selected field. For example, if I select the Divison field, it will bring up different divisions with a color representing each division in the chart. You can configure color settings by clicking on the settings icon to the right.
  5. Tooltip: Fields included in this section will show up when you hover your cursor over a specific section of the chart. This provides you with greater insight into the data represented.
  6. Available fields: This section shows the fields you have added to the chart, which you can drag or drop into different sections as you configure your chart. Additional settings for each field (label, sort, aggregate, etc.) are available when you click on the dropdown arrow that appears upon hover for that specific field.