Overview
Visualizations turn your table data into charts and KPI cards so you can spot trends at a glance. You can build bar, line, combo, and donut charts, summarize key metrics in KPI cards, and customize how each visual looks. This article covers how to create and refine visualizations from an existing table. Smart Insights is a paid add-on, separate from the reports included with your SmartMoving subscription..
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Before You Start
Smart Insights is a paid add-on for your SmartMoving subscription. To enable it for your account, contact your Account Manager.
Start from a table that holds the data you want to visualize. Open the table and click Edit.
How to Create a Chart
Click the chart icon to create a child chart tied to your table.
Choose a chart type, such as bar, line, combo, or donut.
Drag a field to the x-axis, such as Salesperson or Week of Job Date, and a value to the y-axis, such as Lead Count or Billed Labor.
Drag a field into the color or grouping area to break the data down, for example by Salesperson.
Rename the chart title to describe what it shows, such as Count of Jobs by Service Date.
How to Create a KPI Card
Create a child chart and select KPI.
Drag a KPI column into the Value field.
Set the aggregate to Average, especially for percentages.
Set a date range, such as the last two months, to keep the card responsive.
Drag a date field such as Week of Job Date to the x-axis to show the trend over time.
Use the duplicate button to copy a card, then swap in the next KPI column.
How to Customize a Chart
Adjust the legend position (top, left, or right) and font.
Change colors, label orientation, and axis positions to fit your needs.
Add a trend line or reference mark. Smart Insights prompts you if it needs an adjustment.
Turn on tooltips to show detail on hover, and add data labels or totals for readability.
How to Filter and Focus
Use the filter tool to narrow the data, for example to the last six months.
To simplify a busy date axis, right-click the date field, select Truncate Date, then select Week.
Use a table or chart filter to drill into a single value, such as one crew member. The report updates to show that person's metrics.
How to Move a Visualization
Select the chart.
Click Move to New Page to give the chart its own tab for a cleaner layout.
Best Practices
Match the chart type to the question. Use bar charts to compare, line charts to show change over time, and donut charts for proportions.
Group time-based data by week or month to keep trends readable.
Duplicate a finished KPI card to build the rest quickly and keep formatting consistent.
Give every chart a descriptive title so its meaning is clear without explanation.
Best Practices for Controls and Filters
Target the base data model when you build a control or filter, rather than the table itself. This keeps the filter working as the table's columns or layout change.
Avoid setting a filter directly on an individual column unless a specific column requires it. Column-level filters are harder to maintain.