Create a Chart with the Advanced Chart Builder
Creating a Chart: Selecting and Filtering Columns
Before you choose a chart type or customize its appearance, you need to select the data it will visualize. Ensure the question you've asked returned the expected data, and that the data can be visualized to help you tell the story you want to tell.
Once you've opened the Advanced Chart Builder, the left panel is where you can select the data to visualize.
Open the Advanced Chart Builder
Launch the builder by Advanced Chart Builder button from your question thread or pin (edit access required). A modal window will open with your data on the left and chart preview on the right.
Select the columns to visualize
Use the left panel to review the available data columns. Use the Set Up tab in the right panel to choose which columns appear in your dataset. Choose your Category to define how the data is grouped (e.g., by department, term, program, etc.). Then add one or more Series to visualize numeric values.
You can reorder, hide, or group columns, and summarize values like totals or averages to shape what your chart will use.
Customize the chart
Fine-tune your chart in the Customize tab from the right panel: adjust axes, format series, toggle tooltips and legends, and update titles. Use the preview to make sure your chart is clear and presentation-ready.
Make additional adjustments to the grouping and data series in the Set Up tab.
Reorder, select, or hide columns
Reorder columns by dragging them left or right in the table.
Select or hide columns using the Columns tab in the upper-left. Hidden columns are excluded from both the table and the chart.
To reset a column, click the column menu (three-dot icon) and choose Reset Column.
Group and summarize your data
Use row groups to organize your data in the table view, which helps you explore patterns or compare values before deciding what to visualize.
In the Columns tab, you can drag a field into the Row Groups section to group your dataset by that column (e.g., group students by grade level or program). The table will collapse into grouped sections, with expandable rows.
You’ll also see summary values at the bottom of each group (e.g., total students, average GPA). These summaries are especially helpful for spotting trends in large datasets.
When to use Row Groups
Row Groups are effective at organizing, summarizing, and analyzing large datasets more effectively by creating hierarchical views of their data.
Understanding Hierarchical Data: When data naturally has a parent-child or categorical relationship, row grouping allows users to visualize this hierarchy.
For example, a course designer reviewing their LMS data could group learning activities by Module, then by Lesson, then by Activity Type to visualize the course structure and progression.
Summarization and Aggregation: A primary reason to use row grouping is to see summary information for each group, especially in the table view. Doowii can automatically calculate aggregates (like sum, average, min, max, count) for numeric columns within each group.
For example, grouping attendance records by Month, then by Student, to see the total number of absences for each student per month
Data Exploration and Drill-Down: Users can collapse and expand groups, allowing them to start with a high-level overview and then drill down into specific details as needed.
For example, an educator might see a low average score for a particular Assignment Type within a Subject when grouped. They can then expand that group to see individual student scores and identify which students struggled.
Understanding what’s included in the chart
Not all columns in the table are automatically included in your chart. In the Set Up tab on the right side of the builder, you explicitly choose:
A Category: This is your grouping dimension (e.g., by term, by school, by program).
One or more Series: These are the numeric values you want to visualize (e.g., total enrollments, average score).
The chart preview reflects only these selected fields.
Use the left panel to explore, filter, and shape the dataset, but use the Set Up tab to define what’s actually visualized. Fields that aren’t assigned to category or series will not appear in the chart, even if they’re visible in the table.
How to apply filters
Filters narrow your dataset to show only what’s relevant for your chart.
There two ways to filter your data in the Advanced Chart Editor.
From the Left Panel
Identify the column you want to filter.
Add text to the text input field.
Or, you can add or remove specific data points by clicking the filter icon where you can include or exclude specific data points.
Filters are applied automatically to the chart preview, but must be saved to be applied once the Advanced Chart Builder is closed.
From the Filters tab
Click the Filters tab, found at the center on the left side to view all active filters.
Identify the column(s) you want to filter.
For the text input field, select the filter type needed (Equals, Greater than, Less than, etc.).
Add text to the text input field.
Or, you can use the Search input field to find specific data points to include or exclude. where you can include or exclude specific data points
Filters are applied automatically to the chart preview, but must be saved to be applied once the Advanced Chart Builder is closed.
Best practices for combining filters
Start broad, then refine: Begin with general filters, then layer in specifics like program or performance thresholds.
Watch for over-filtering: Applying too many filters can limit your dataset and make it difficult to build a chart with enough data points.
Monitor changes live: Use the real-time table and chart preview to see how filters impact your results. If key groups disappear, adjust your criteria.
Use filters to declutter: If your chart has too many categories or overlapping points, apply filters to focus the message and make comparisons easier.
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