What is the Waterfall chart?

A Waterfall chart is a graphical representation that shows the running total of a given value over a period, revealing variance. The chart is useful for understanding the impact of positive and negative changes on an initial value, such as net income. Each value is shown in comparison to the value immediately preceding it, with negative values represented in a different color from positive values. This helps to clearly track important values and understand the overall impact of the changes being depicted.

How to use it?

To build a Waterfall chart enter the Web portal of Datarails and follow these steps:

1. Access the Dashboard tab via the top or left pane 
2. Select the desired dashboard you wish to view
3. To add a new widget click on the New button and then the Add Widget option
4. Select the Breakdown chart
   • The breakdown widget analyzes what’s contributing to the financial increase of decrease. For example, it analyzes what’s contributing most to the difference in total revenue between last year and this year.
5. To start building your Breakdown chart, drag the relevant fields into the Category and Value sections.
   • The Category (usually an independent variable) is shown on the x-axis and should be between 2 to 5 total columns.
     • Dragging a date field into the category section will by default display the last 2 months (MOM). To modify the default selection, click the Filter by Date
     • By default the previous period will be presented according to your chosen Dashboard Reference Date.
     • According to these choices the data will automatically be aggregated.
   • The Value is shown on the y-axis and is usually set as the amount
6. The Category selections will be presented on the chart as well as the variance between them.
7. For further analysis of what’s contributing to the variance (increase or decrease) drag the relevant field to the Breakdown section which will subdivide the chart by a category field.
   • The system identifies and displays the top 12 values that contribute to the breakdown, with the rest grouped as "Other”. To modify the displayed values, click the Filter by Value
   • If less than 12 values are contributing to the breakdown, all values will be displayed. To modify the displayed values, click the field filter.
8. To customize the chart’s colors and/or the sorting of the items, click on Waterfall options.

Benefits of using the Waterfall chart in Datarails

The Waterfall chart in Datarails is a powerful visualization tool that allows you to easily understand and analyze your data. One of the biggest benefits of using this chart is that all calculations are automatically done within the system, saving you time and effort. With just a few clicks, you can quickly and easily dive deeper into your numbers and discover the underlying reasons for any differences or variances. Additionally, the chart allows you to break down your data by any field you desire, giving you the flexibility to investigate specific areas of your data in more detail. Overall, the Waterfall chart in Datarails is an efficient and effective way to gain valuable insights from your data.

Troubleshooting

Common Error Messages

• Data conflict
  • If the quantity of data imported doesn’t match the chart’s 2-5 value limit a data conflict may occur. This error can arise for a variety of reasons: Conflict between different system filters such as the Global Filter, Dashboard Reference Date, Filter by Value, and the Widget Filter.

Updated September 12, 2023 19:25