Troubleshooting Charting Errors

If your visualization isn’t rendering correctly or the result doesn’t look right, this guide will help you troubleshoot and improve it.

Charts & visualizations should make your data easier to understand and help tell a story. Below are a few common issues and how to fix them.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Chart not rendering at all?

• Make sure the dataset isn’t too large or empty. Large quantities of data can take a few extra moments to load.

• Try switching to a different chart type (some types require specific data formats), by closing the Advanced Chart Editor and selecting a different Quick Chart option.

If those steps don't help, try the following:

• Refresh the web page.

• Check your internet connection.

Chart feels cluttered or unreadable?

• Filter your chart data columns to reduce the number of rows or groups.

• Limit breakdowns to just a few key categories, between 2 and 10, depending on the data.

• Ask Doowii to regenerate the results with a new aggregation to combine smaller values into meaningful summaries.

Can’t access the Advanced Chart Builder?

Access to the Advanced Chart Builder should be available for every user on their own data results (where 1 or more data rows are returned).

For shared pinboards, edit access may not have been shared.

• Make sure you have edit permissions for the pinboard or query result.

• If viewing a shared pinboard, request access from the owner to make chart edits.

Can't find the table view?

For some results, if zero data rows are returned you will not be able to create a table view or chart.

If data was returned, you can switch to the data table view by clicking the table icon, located above the data results next to the other Quick Chart icons.

Tip: If you’re not sure why a chart looks the way it does, open the Advanced Chart Builder and check the Setup tab to see which fields and aggregations are being used.

Charting Best Practices

When to use a specific chart type

• Bar Chart: Compare counts, scores, or other metrics across categories, such as enrollment by department.

• Line Chart: Track trends over time, such as student enrollment totals.

• Pie & Donut Chart: Show percentage breakdowns, such as student enrollment by demographic.

• Scatterplot: Explore relationships between two variables, such as class engagement and student performance.

• Bubble Chart: Add a third dimension to your scatterplot, such as cohort size.

• Box Plot or Histogram: Understand distributions and variance in performance data.

• Tree Map or Sunburst: Visualize hierarchical structures, such as programs within colleges or schools within a district.

Avoid misleading visuals

A good chart tells a clear story. Keep these fundamentals in mind to ensure your visuals are accurate and helpful:

1. Keep it simple: Too much data in one chart can overwhelm or obscure the message for audience. Focus on the most important values or categories, and use filters to narrow down your dataset.

2. Limit the number of categories: Whether you’re using bars, slices, lines, or points, more than 8–10 categories is often too many. Prioritize key segments or group smaller ones into an “Other” category if needed.

3. Use consistent, clear labeling: Always label your axes and legends. Avoid abbreviations unless they’re well-known to your audience. Add a title and subtitle to help explain the context at a glance.

4. Start axes at zero when appropriate: Starting an axis at a value other than zero can exaggerate differences and distort trends. Use caution, especially with bar and line charts, and make intentional choices based on what you’re trying to convey.

5. Match chart type to your data: Some data isn’t meant to be visualized as a pie or scatterplot. Choose a format that supports your story.

Make charts actionable for stakeholders

1. Start with a question: Build your chart around a specific question or goal. This keeps the chart focused and relevant.

2. Highlight what matters: Use filters to focus on key groups. Hide noise so the insight stands out.

3. Pin for ongoing visibility: Save important charts to a pinboard so stakeholders can refer to them later.

4. Add explanatory text or context: For charts save to pinboards, use subtitles to clarify what’s being shown and why it matters. Pair with text widgets on the pinboard if additional explanation is needed.