Using Additional graphics

The Additional Graphics dialog has two tabs. On the Global Trend tab you define how the trend for the data series is displayed. On the Line Chart tab you define how to display specific values of the data series, and the differences between them.

Global Trend
A global trend indicates whether the overall trend of the data values is increasing, decreasing or constant. In contrast, a line chart represents the trend of an individual data series. Unlike trend lines, a global trend does not follow specific data points on a chart.
Add
To add a trend to a data series, open Design Mode and double-click the chart. Right-click the data series and select Additional Graphics. The Additional Graphics dialog is displayed. On the Global Trend tab, click the Arrow check box and specify the representation of the global trend.
See Creating charts.
Remove
To remove the trend, open the Additional Graphics dialog and clear the Arrow check box on the Global Trend tab.
Options for representing the global trend
Option Description
Arrow check box Select this to insert the global trend and to edit its settings.
Bring to Front Shows the global trend in the foreground of the graphic.
Positive trend Specify the color of a positive global trend.
Constant trend Specify the color of the constant global trend.
Negative trend Specify the color of the negative global trend.
Use gradient Select this to blend the colors of the three trends into one. The effects of the setting are shown when you move the slide bar.
Style Select an arrow style for the trend.
Width Specify the width of the global trend arrow.
Line Charts
You can insert additional lines on a chart to display, for example, the average of the values in the chart or the difference between two values.
Add
To add a line, open the Additional Graphics dialog and click New Line on the Line Charts tab.
Each line is given an Id. The Id is used to display differences between the values.
Remove
To remove a line, select it, and click Delete.
Formatting
To open the Format Line Graphics double-click the line.
Line types
You can create different types of line in a chart.
Option Description
User-defined This places a horizontal line across the chart, corresponding to a chart value on the Y axis that you specify.
Average The line represents the average of the values in the chart.
Category Each data series is a category. Categories are numbered from left to right. Enter a number in the Definition field to place a line level with the top of the data series at the left of the chart.
First category Categories are numbered from left to right. This places a line level with the top of the data series at the left of the chart. It is the same as Category 1.
Last category Categories are numbered from left to right. This places a line level with the top of the data series at the right of the chart.
Maximum The line represents the maximum of the values in the chart.
Minimum The line represents the minimum of the values in the chart.
Variable The line is displayed at the level specified by a selected variable.
Displaying differences
You can display the difference between two values on a chart.

Example

To display the difference between the maximum and the minimum values in a chart:

  1. Create a line and select Maximum as the type. The line is given the Id 1.
  2. Create a line and select Minimum as the type. The line is given the Id 2.
  3. Click in the Between column of the Maximum line and select ’2’ from the drop-down list.
  4. Double-click the Definition field for the Maximum line to open the Format Line Graphics dialog.
  5. Select the Label check box.
  6. In the User-defined text field, select (value) and click OK.
  7. Click Apply in the Additional Graphics dialog.

In the View Mode the difference between the maximum and minimum values is labeled.