How to Use the Waterfall Chart


  1. On the toolbar, click the Waterfall Chart button, waterfall_new_waterfall_button.png.

  2. Comment: You can also select Insert > Visualization > Waterfall Chart from the menu.

    Response:  A first attempt to set up a suitable waterfall chart is made by the application.

  3. Adjust the waterfall chart to display the categories and measures of your choice.

  4. Comment: Because the waterfall in its nature adds up values, make sure the measures are meaningful. Typically, "(Sum)" is selected as the aggregation type.

    Comment: You can specify another order of the values on the category axis. For more information, see custom sort order.  

This is an example of how to use more than one column on the Value axis.

  1. Click the arrow next to the plus sign on the Value axis.

  2. Select a new column from the menu.

  3. Comment: A column can also be dragged from the Data panel to the column selector.

    Response: (Column Names) is automatically added to the Category axis. For more information on (Column Names), see the Non-Column Selections page.

  4. To use more columns on the Value axis, repeat the steps above.

  5. Comment: When the number of columns used on the Value axis exceeds three, the name of each column is no longer displayed, only how many columns are selected.

You can display bars representing intermediate calculated totals in waterfall charts where a categorical coloring is used, or in waterfall charts with a hierarchy on the category axis.

  1. Right-click the visualization to display the pop-up menu.

  2. Select Total bars.

  3. Select the column containing the values after which you want to display totals.

In a waterfall chart where a categorical coloring is applied, you can show separate waterfalls per color.

  1. Right-click the waterfall chart to display the pop-up menu.

  2. Select Properties.

  3. Go to the Appearance page.

  4. Beneath Show one waterfall, select Per categorical color.

In a waterfall chart where a categorical coloring is applied, you can show separate waterfalls per category on the category axis.

  1. Right-click the waterfall chart to display the pop-up menu.

  2. Select Properties.

  3. Go to the Appearance page.

  4. Beneath Show one waterfall, select Per value on category axis.

In a trellised waterfall chart, the waterfall can continue over multiple trellis panels instead of starting from zero in each trellis panel.

  1. Right-click the trellised waterfall chart to display the pop-up menu.

  2. Select Properties.

  3. Go to the Appearance page.

  4. Select the Continue over trellis check box.

  5. Click the arrow next to the check box to select over which individual trellis panels the waterfall should continue; Pages, Panels, Rows, and Columns.

  6. Response: The first value in a following trellis panel starts where the last value ended in the previous panel.

See also:

What is a Waterfall Chart?

Waterfall Chart Properties