14. Visuals and Their Formatting
14.8 Waterfall Chart
Explains how a start value turns into an end value through increases and decreases.
- Field wells: Category, Breakdown, Y-axis, Tooltips.
- Example 1 (bridge): Category = a Sales Component column (Gross Sales, Discounts, Delivery Fees, Net) with a measure that returns positive/negative values.
- Example 2 (change between periods): Category = Month Name (Sep, Oct), Breakdown = City, Y-axis = Total Orders. This shows which cities drove the October (Diwali) increase.
- Avoid when there is no meaningful start/end.
- Formatting: Sentiment colours (Increase, Decrease, Total), Breakdown › Max breakdowns (the rest become "Other"), data labels, Total column label.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
A common mistake with waterfalls is using a category field without a sensible order, so the steps jump around. Sort the categories in a logical order (for example Gross Sales → Discounts → Delivery Fee → Net), or use the Breakdown well to show month-over-month drivers. Never forget this.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
Waterfall मधली एक common चूक म्हणजे योग्य क्रम नसलेलं category field वापरणं, त्यामुळे steps इकडे-तिकडे उड्या मारतात. Categories तर्कशुद्ध क्रमाने sort करा (उदाहरणार्थ Gross Sales → Discounts → Delivery Fee → Net), किंवा month-over-month बदलाची कारणं दाखवण्यासाठी Breakdown well वापरा. हे अजिबात विसरू नका.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
Waterfall की एक common गलती है ऐसा category field इस्तेमाल करना जिसका कोई सही क्रम न हो, जिससे steps इधर-उधर उछलते हैं. Categories को तर्कसंगत क्रम में sort करो (जैसे Gross Sales → Discounts → Delivery Fee → Net), या month-over-month बदलाव के कारण दिखाने के लिए Breakdown well इस्तेमाल करो. यह बिल्कुल मत भूलना.