Dashboard visualizations

This article explains how to use and customize visualization widgets on AI/BI dashboards.

Configure a chart

After adding a visualization widget to the canvas, the Visualization Configuration panel appears on the right side of the screen. By default, the first dataset listed on the Data tab is selected, and the default visualization type is a Bar chart.

To create a chart, use the following steps:

1. Select a dataset: Use the Dataset drop-down to choose the dataset for your visualization.
2. Add filters (optional): Click Show filters to apply a static filter or parameter to your visualization. You can filter on any field. If your dataset includes a parameter, an option to apply it will also appear.
3. Choose a visualization type: Select a visualization type from the Visualization drop-down menu. For details about available visualization types and their configurations, see Dashboard visualizations types.
4. Define x-axis and y-axis fields: After selecting a dataset, choose the fields to display on the x-axis and y-axis.

Note

If you use the Databricks Assistant to generate a chart, the dataset and visualization selections automatically adjust based on your request. For step-by-step guidance on creating AI-assisted visualizations, see Create visualizations with Databricks Assistant.

Apply chart formatting

Charts include customizable formatting options for axes, colors, labels, and tooltips. Formatting options vary by chart type and dataset values.

The following screenshot highlights the kebab menus used for formatting the x and y axes.

Format axis settings

To format the x-axis or y-axis, use the kebab menu in the respective X Axis or Y Axis section of the visualization editing panel.

Configure the following settings:

• Show axis title: Enabled by default. Enter a custom title or clear the checkbox to hide the axis title.
• Show axis values: Enabled by default. Clear the checkbox to hide axis values.

Depending on the type of data represented, additional controls appear.

For continuous data:

• Custom minimum and maximum values: Type in values to set limits on the displayed data.
• Reverse axis: Select Reverse Axis to show the axis values in descending order.
• Scale function: Choose Linear or Log (Symmetric).
• Click Format to view additional formatting options. Auto automatically formats your chart and is selected by default. Click Custom to see additional formatting options. See Format numeric values.

For categorical data:

• Label Angle: Choose the angle at which to apply the labels. Auto is selected be default.
• Sort: Sort alphabetically or by y-axis value (ascending or descending), or click Custom to arrange values in a different order. For custom sorting, hover over the value and use the grab-handle to drag the list into the correct order.

Note

If any of the listed options are unavailable, they cannot be applied to the selected chart type.

Format numeric values

You can format numbers for axis tick labels, data labels, and tooltips. To access formatting options:

1. Click the kebab menu next to X Axis or Y Axis in the chart configuration panel.
2. Click Format and choose from the following options:

• Type: None, Currency ($), Percentage (%)
• Abbreviation: None, Compact, Scientific
• Decimal places: Max, Exact, All, or a custom number of places
• Group separator: Optionally, include a comma or other separator.

Note

Different currency formats are available. After selecting Currency, choose your preferred option from the drop-down menu.

Customize chart elements

You can format chart legends, colors, tooltips, and value labels.

Chart colors

To change chart colors:

1. Click a color in the chart to open the color picker.
2. Enter a HEX or RGB value for an exact color.
3. Click the kebab menu in the Color/Group by section to adjust the opacity of all colors.

Legend

Click the kebab menu in the Color/Group by section to show options for changing the visibility, title, or position of the chart legend. The following options are available:

• Show legend: Use the checkbox to show or hide the legend.
• Show legend title: Use the checkbox to show or hide the legend title. When the title is visible, you can type to override the default value, which is the column name.
• Legend position: Use the drop-down to adjust the legend’s placement in the visualization widget.

Tooltips

Tooltips display precise measures of the data under the pointer. By default, they show values from the x-axis, y-axis, and any color/grouping fields. To add more fields to a tooltip:

1. Click the + button in the Tooltip section of the visualization editor.
2. Use the drop-down to select additional fields, or use the text entry box to search by name.

Note

If the Tooltip section is not present in the visualization editor, that chart type does not support tooltip customization.

Value labels

Use the toggle to turn data labels on or off.