Updated on
Apr 16, 2026
Chart widgets let you visualize time-series and category data with flexible bar, line, and area charts. Add a chart to any dashboard, connect metrics and dimensions, and customize every visual detail — chart type, stacking, legend, axis labels, and period grouping — from the Properties Panel on the right.
This guide covers all chart configuration options from basic setup to advanced formatting.
Follow these steps to place your first chart on the dashboard.
Note: The chart is created with the default title Performance Over Time. Rename it by clicking the title on the widget or via the Basics section in the Properties Panel.
Metrics are the numeric columns you want to visualize. Each selected metric becomes a separate series on the chart.
Note: Calculated metrics like ROAS or CTR operate on a different scale than raw values like Spend. When mixed on one chart, the chart may add a second Y-axis automatically.
Each metric can independently use Bar, Line, or Area visualization. You can mix types on the same chart — for example, Spend as bars and CTR as a line.
| Type | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bar | Comparing values across time periods or categories | Default. Supports Grouped and Stacked modes. |
| Line | Trend analysis over time | Shows data point dots. No stacking. |
| Area | Volume or cumulative trends | Filled area under the line. |
A dimension breakdown splits one metric into multiple series by a category column. For example, adding channel as a dimension shows separate series for Paid Search, Paid Social, Display, and Email.
Warning: High-cardinality dimensions like campaign_name can produce dozens of series, making the chart unreadable. Use the Series Limit setting in the Filters section to cap the number of series and group the rest into an Others bucket.
When you have multiple bar series, you can choose how they are arranged.
To change the mode: in the Data section, click the expand arrow on any metric row. The Bar Mode sub-section appears with Grouped and Stacked buttons. This control only appears when the metric type is set to Bar.
View Mode controls whether all metrics share a single chart or are shown one at a time.
Find the View Mode selector in the Basics section of the Properties Panel. It requires at least two metrics to be meaningful.
Data labels display the numeric value of each data point directly on the chart, so readers don't need to hover or consult the Y-axis.
The legend identifies each series by color and name. You can control its position.
| Position | When to use |
|---|---|
| Top | Default. Works well for most charts. |
| Bottom | Useful when the chart is tall and the top area is crowded. |
| Left | Good for charts with long series names. |
| Right | Leaves the chart area unobstructed on wide layouts. |
| Hidden | Use when series colors are self-explanatory or the chart is small. |
Find the Legend setting in the Layout section of the Properties Panel.
Period grouping controls the time granularity of the X-axis. Choosing a coarser granularity aggregates data and reduces the number of bars or points.
| Granularity | Result | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Day | One bar or point per day | Short date ranges (7–30 days) |
| Week | One bar or point per week | Monthly or quarterly views |
| Month | One bar or point per month | Year-over-year comparisons |
| Quarter | One bar or point per quarter | Long-range trend analysis |
Find the Period setting in the Data or Basics section of the Properties Panel.
Both the X-axis and Y-axis can be customized.
Find axis settings in the Layout section of the Properties Panel.
Chart widgets have the following constraints.
| Setting | Default | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Metrics per chart | — | 10 |
| Series per dimension | — | 20 (rest grouped into Others) |
| Data points per series | — | 500 |
If your chart hits a limit, reduce the date range, use Period Grouping to aggregate data, or apply a Series Limit filter.
Improvado team is always happy to help with any other questions you might have! Send us an email.
Contact your Customer Success Manager or raise a request in Improvado Service Desk.