Line chart with multiple date-numbers traces

Jakub Gill

Hello everyone!

 

I can't find a way to accomplish certain kind of chart using chart widget in dashboard. Chart is supposed to show multiple lines, one for each team member connecting dates when a certain task was completed. Tasks are represented by increasing numbers 1,2,3,etc. and can be completed on different dates. I attached two images showing sheet with data (date completed, protocol number and team member) and chart I would like to create in dashboard. The attached chart was generated by grouping data by third column 'Sheet name'.

 

Any ideas?

Sasan

Jakub,

The current chart widget only supports a standard source data range/table at this time with labels as first column (your dates), numeric data in columns to the right (aggregated by date) with column labels (Dorothy/Toto, Robert Samantha).  See examples below.  We will add your request for this type of data structure support in our product backlog.  Thank you for your feedback.

Sasan

Jakub Gill

Thank you for your prompt answer!

Sasan

Pleasure

Jenn Pestalozzi

Hi Sasan,

Has there been any updates on this functionality yet? I'd like a matrix style table for graphing, with source data like this:

Where we trend each Peron's data (each person as a separate line) over time.

Jenn Pestalozzi

Hi Sasan,

Following up on this thread since I have not received a reply. Thanks!

Jenn

Paul Newcome

@Jenn Pestalozzi This is actually possible. The exact setup is going to depend on your needs, but the general idea based off of your screenshot above would be...

5 Columns. One date type column with your dates listed down then 5 text/number type columns (one for each individual). You would enter your numbers into the matrix (manually/formula/however) and then use the matrix for your chart data.

I do this quite regularly.

Jenn Pestalozzi

Thanks Paul, but what if each person enters their own info via form? I have to have 5 separate forms, one for each person right? Since they will each have their own column? Seems like a lot of work/cumbersome for such a simple graph request. Any insight?

Paul Newcome

No. If people are inputting their data via form, just have one form where they select their name and then enter their data.

Then you can use formulas with cross sheet references to pull the data into the matrix layout required for your graph.

Andrée Starå

@Jenn Pestalozzi

To add to Pauls excellent advice.

You could change the form so they need to be logged in to Smartsheet and use the System column, Created by to collect who the submitter was.

Make sense? Would that help?

Jenn Pestalozzi

That is so tedious. I will give it a try but honestly it seems like a gap in the chart functionality. I shouldn't have to have advanced knowledge of formulas to make a simple chart.

Paul Newcome

The formulas themselves aren't exactly for the chart. The layout of the data is for the chart. The formulas are for automating the counts and whatnot to keep you from having to update manually.

The chart and setup of the chart aren't the "advanced" part. The "advanced" part is the automation. There is a premium add-on (Pivot App) that should make the data collection a lot easier, but I don't have any experience with it. We don't have it, so I have had to use the formulas.

Jorell Laube

I agree with Jenn. having a date/task completion per person chart is incredibly easy to do in excel and multiple other data driven charts. It should be similarly easy to do on smartsheet

Cory Bush

I am having this issue as well. I have multiple people entering information into forms. I would like a way to have a chart with two lines, one for V-CNC #1 and one for V-CNC #1.

Paul Newcome

@Cory Bush I'm not sure I follow. Do you mean a line chart with a single line for each on using the dates along the horizontal axis?

Cory Bush

One line chart with two lines. The dates are on the horizontal bottom. Each line representing a different CNC operator.

I used a work around, but it will take daily manual updating.

Thanks for the fast reply