Creating a Chart

Creating a Chart

This procedure takes you through the basic steps of creating a bar chart using the FIMS Chart It tool. Keep in mind that the specific steps you take will vary depending on the data that you want to chart, and the formatting options you want to apply to the chart.

NOTE: Any chart that you create pulls its data directly from the FIMS Data Grids. If you want to filter your data, you must do so from within the appropriate Data Grid. Refer to Data Grids in the Introduction for more information about configuring your Data Grid views to include specific data.

1. Open the appropriate FIMS data grid and configure the view to contain the data you want to chart.

2. (Optional) If you want to base the chart on a subset of the records in the Data Grid, tag the desired records. Refer to Selecting and Tagging Records in the Introduction for more information.

3. Click the FIMS Chart It button on the Data Grid toolbar. The FIMS Chart It window opens with the Data tab selected.

Example: Data Tab

4. In the Select Records to Include section, select either All Records or Tagged Records (if you tagged the records you want to chart).

5. Select at least one data field from the Select the Data to Chart pane and click the Add button to add it to the Selected Data pane. The selected field will appear along the Y-axis of the chart.

NOTE: If you are going to use the Compare feature, only select one data field.

6. Click the arrow in the Calculation drop-down box and select the desired calculation type for each data field you are including in the chart.

7. Click the arrow in the Group By drop-down box and select the value that you want to use to group your data. The system will sort your data by this field, and each distinct value will appear along the X-axis of the chart.

8. Click the arrow in the Display (Group) drop-down box and select the value that you want to use to display your data.

NOTE: The Display field is the same as the Group By field by default, but you can change it, if necessary.

9. (Optional) If you want to use the comparison feature for the chart, select the Enable Compare checkbox and select the desired Compare By and Display (Compare) data fields.

10. (Optional) Configure additional chart options via the Group By, Group Display, Compare By, and Compare Display tabs.

11. When you have finished configuring the chart, click the Chart button to generate it.

Example: Grants by Program Area Chart

12. Use the Chart Window Options to configure the display of the chart data. Refer to Configuring Chart Options for more information.

NOTE: This example uses an advanced option of grouping by the year of the Gift Date. It also includes an advanced formatting option – the year displays two digits with a leading apostrophe. Refer to Configuring Chart Options for more information.