Reference line examples

Recommended settings

Compare values to a fixed, user-defined threshold: Over time in time-series:

Calculation Type - Static Value

Series Type - Line for a single value, or Area for a range between two values

Measure - Select the measure/format where you want to place the reference line.

Axis -

Y Value or From/To - Enter a static value. For a shaded area, enter the start value and the end value.

Placement - Place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label for the line.

Display value after label - Check the box if you want to include a label showing the value of the line.

Compare values to a fixed, user-defined threshold: Across members in comparative:

Calculation Type - Static Value

Series Type - Line for a single line, Area for a range between two values, or Column for a separate column at the end of the graph

Measure - Select the measure/format where you want to place the reference line.

Y Value or From/To - Enter a static value. For a shaded area, enter the start value and the end value.

Placement - Place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label for the line.

Display value after label - Check the box if you want to include a label showing the value of the line.

Important dates on a time-series

Calculation Type - Static Value

Series Type - Select Line for a single date or Area for a range of dates.

Measure - This setting is ignored.

Axis -

X Value - Click the date control(s) and select a single date (for Line) or the beginning and ending dates (for Area).

Placement - Select to place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label for the line.

Display value after label - Check the box if you want to include a label showing the value of the line.

Calculated average or total over multiple members (e.g., average volume per sales rep)

Calculation Type - Aggregated Value

Aggregation Type - Grand Total of all members, or Average of all members

Series Type - Line for a line indicating the average/total, Area for a solid area starting at zero and going to the average/total, or Column for a separate column at the end of the graph.

Measure - Select the measure/format for which to calculate averages or totals.

Placement - Select to place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label for the line.

Display value after label - Check the box if you want to include a label showing the value of the line.

Calculated average across dates (e.g., average volume per month)

Calculation Type - Aggregated Value

Aggregation Type - Average

Series Type - Line for a single line indicating the average, or Area for a solid area starting at zero and going to the average.

Measure - Select the measure/format for which to calculate averages or totals.

Placement - Select to place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label for the line.

Display value after label - Check the box if you want to include a label showing the value of the line.

Cumulative average or total over date range (e.g., cumulative volume over time); see cumulative examples

Calculation Type - Aggregated Value

Aggregation Type - Cumulative Average or Cumulative Total

Series Type - Line, Area, or Columns

Measure - Select the measure/format for which to calculate averages or totals.

Label - Optionally, enter a label.

Moving averages or totals for a set number of prior dates; smooths data fluctuations; see moving examples

Calculation Type - Aggregated Value

Aggregation Type - Moving Average or Moving Total

Series Type - Line, Area, or Columns

Measure - Select the measure/format for which to calculate averages or totals.

Duration - Select the number of prior dates to include in the calculation.

Label - Optionally, enter a label.

Calculated trends with future projections

Calculation Type - Linear Regression

Series Type - Select Line or Area.

Measure - Select the measure/format for which to calculate projections.

Projection Duration - Select the number of future dates for which to project data based on a linear regression. The resulting graph will show the selected date range plus the selected number of projected dates.

Placement - Select to place the reference line in front or behind the data.

Label - Optionally, enter a label.