Visualizing your data helps you see and understand trends, and communicate insights effectively. Doowii provides flexible options for creating charts and graphs based on your questions.
1. Accessing the Chart Builder
You can access the Chart Builder in two locations:
From a Question Thread: From the thread view, above the data results, select the Chart Builder icon.
From a Pinboard: Open any pinboard where you have edit access, select the pin you’d like to update, and select the Chart Builder icon.
2. Using the Chart Builder
Once opened, the Chart Builder appears as a pop-up editing window. You’ll see:
Data Tab: Review the Dataset for your Chart
Select the fields that should be used for your chart.
Apply filters at the top of each column:
For text fields, choose from a dropdown list.
For numeric fields, use a slider.
Adjust aggregations: Sum, Average, Min, Max, etc.
Customize Tab: Change The Design of your Chart
General: Title, subtitle, legend visibility
Axes: Axis titles, show/hide gridlines
Tooltip: Enable or disable on-hover tooltips
Series: Toggle data labels on or off
AI Assistant Tab: Use Natural Language Requests to Edit your Chart
Use plain English to request:
Column or chart type changes
Axis label updates
Specific color themes or highlights
Legend positioning
Tooltip visibility
Live Chart Preview: Review Edits to your Charts
On the right, you’ll see your changes applied in real-time.
Additional options are available:
Chart types available: Select the icon for the chart type you need (Bar, Line, Pie, Scatterplot, KPI (Scorecard), etc.)
Dropdown options: Update the chart category, breakdown, and numerical series to be plotted
Confirm your Changes: Save the Chart View
Save Chart: Your changes will be saved to the current chart or pinboard item.
Cancel: Discards all edits from this session.
3. Build the Right Chart for Your Data
Visualizations aren’t just about making your data look good—they’re about helping you see patterns, compare outcomes, and communicate insights clearly. The right chart type can turn a good question into a powerful decision-making tool.
In this section, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for creating the chart you need.
Doowii will often suggest a chart automatically based on your question and the available data. If you prefer to view the data as a table instead, simply click the table icon at the top of the result panel.
Each chart type has its own strengths, and Doowii’s Chart Builder gives you full control over what you show and how you show it. Expand a chart type below to get started.
Bar Chart
What is it and when to use it?
A bar chart displays data using rectangular bars to compare values across categories. Bar charts are best used for comparing discrete categories or groups, showing rankings, illustrating frequency distributions, or otherwise visualizing non-continuous data. Use a bar chart to compare groups, such as the count of students by department or the average score by term.
How to build it?
Once you have your data results, open the Chart Builder (click the gear icon).
On the data tab, select the data you want to visualize:
Category = the grouping dimension (e.g., Department, Grade Level)
Breakdown (optional) = a second grouping (e.g., Gender)
Series = the numeric value (e.g., Average Score, Count of Students)
On the right, choose the Bar Chart icon from the chart type options.
Additional optional steps to refine your chart:
Use the Data tab to apply filters to the chart or apply a category order
Use the Data tab to adjust the aggregation of the series (Sum, Min, Max, Mean, etc.).
Use the Customize tab to change the chart title, axis labels, legend, and tooltips
Click Save Chart to apply your changes.
Best Practices
Limit the number of bars to increase readability–stick to 10 or fewer categories.
Sort bars logically (ascending or descending order) to make comparisons easier.
Pie Chart
What is it and when to use it?
A pie chart shows the parts of a whole, divided into slices. Pie charts are best used to visualize data where you want to show the proportions or percentages of parts within a whole, especially when the whole is divided into a small number of categories, and are helpful for highlighting which parts contribute the most to the total. Use a pie chart to show proportions, like how enrollment is distributed across programs.
How to build it?
Once you have your data results, open the Chart Builder (click the gear icon).
On the data tab, select the data you want to visualize:
Category = the grouping dimension (e.g., Department, Grade Level)
Series = the numeric value to summarize (e.g., Count of Students)
Pie Charts do not use a breakdown or multiple series — they’re best for single-category summaries
Note, Pie Charts represent data as percentages of the whole
On the right, choose the Pie Chart icon from the chart type options.
Additional optional steps to refine your chart:
Use the Data tab to apply filters to the chart
Use the Data tab to adjust the aggregation of the series (Sum, Min, Max, Mean, etc.)
Use the Customize tab to change the chart title, axis labels, legend, tooltips, and Pie Chart specific configurations including the inner size (for donut chart), the start angle, and the end angle
Click Save Chart to apply your changes.
Best Practices
Use pie charts when showing parts of a whole—avoid if your values don’t (or shouldn't) add up to 100%.
Limit the number of slices to 3-5 to maintain clarity and readability.
Line Graph
What is it and when to use it?
A line graph connects points to show changes over time or continuous data. A line graph is best used to visualize data that changes over time, or with another continuous variable, and is effective for showing trends, comparing multiple data series, and highlighting changes in values over time. Use a line graph to visualize trends in your institution, such as student FTE growth or average student performance over time.
How to build it?
Once you have your data results, open the Chart Builder (click the gear icon).
On the data tab, select the data you want to visualize:
Category = the time-based dimension (e.g., months, terms, start dates, weeks, other date fields)
Breakdown (optional) = subgroups to be compared (e.g., schools, programs, etc.)
Series = the numeric value to visualize over time (e.g., Count of Students)
On the right, choose the Line Graph icon from the chart type options.
Additional optional steps to refine your chart:
Use the Data tab to apply filters to the chart
Use the Data tab to adjust the aggregation of the series (Sum, Min, Max, Mean, etc.)
Use the Customize tab to change the chart title, axis labels, legend, and tooltips
Click Save Chart to apply your changes.
Best Practices
Use a time-based field for the x-axis to preserve and accurately represent the flow of data.
Limit the number of breakdowns to 2-4 groups to keep trends clear.
Scatter Plot
What is it and when to use it?
A scatter plot shows the relationship between two numeric variables. Scatter Plots help identify correlations (positive, negative, or none) and patterns in data between two variables. It's a good choice when you want to see how changes in one variable might relate to changes in another. Use a scatter plot to explore correlations in your data, like time spent vs. assessment score, or student FTE vs. faculty FTE by program.
How to build it?
Once you have your data results, open the Chart Builder (click the gear icon).
On the data tab, select the data you want to visualize:
X-axis = one numeric field (e.g., Time in LMS)
Y-axis = another numeric field (e.g., Assessment Score)
(Optional) Breakdown = group by (e.g., Cohort), which will change the shape of the scatter plot points
On the right, choose the Scatter Plot Graph icon from the chart type options.
Additional optional steps to refine your chart:
Use the Data tab to apply filters to the chart
Use the Data tab to adjust the aggregation of the series (Sum, Min, Max, Mean, etc.)
Use the Customize tab to change the chart title, axis labels, legend, and tooltips
Click Save Chart to apply your changes.
Best Practices
Filter your data to reduce clutter if too many points overlap (for instance, filter on your breakdown field).
Choose data that is formatted correctly and which may have a relation
When interpreting results for correlation, remember that correlation does not imply causation.
KPI Chart
What is it and when to use it?
A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) or Scorecard Chart displays a single metric as a bold value. The KPI Chart should be used when you need a clear, concise visual representation of a specific data point, and is helpful for monitoring primary goals and indicators. Use it to highlight a key number, like total enrollments, average GPA, or percent completion.
How to build it?
Once you have your data results, open the Chart Builder (click the gear icon).
On the data tab, select the data you want to visualize:
Series = the numeric value to visualize over time (e.g., Count of Students)
KPI Charts support only 1 column selection
On the right, choose the Scatter Plot Graph icon from the chart type options.
Click Save Chart to apply your changes.
Best Practices
Pair with contextual charts on a pinboard to provide supporting detail if needed.
Provide additional context with a Pinboard Text Widget to clarify any unclear details about the KPI.
4. Troubleshooting Tips
Can’t access Chart Builder? Make sure you have edit permissions for the pinboard or the query result.
Chart doesn’t look right? Use the Data tab filters to simplify the dataset or adjust the aggregation method, or consider explaining your required change with the AI Assistant.
AI Assistant not working as expected? Try rephrasing your request with more specific instructions (e.g., “change y-axis title to...”). Some elements on the chart may not be editable, even by the AI Assistant.
Access the Chart Builder from Threads and Pinboards
