A sparkline chart is characterized by its small size and data density. Typically displayed without axes or coordinates, sparklines present trends and variations associated with some measurement, in a simple and condensed way. Whereas the typical chart is designed to show as much data as possible, sparklines are intended to be succinct.
Create a sparkline view
The example uses the Superstore sample to create a sparkline that shows profit for various product categories over a 12-month period.
Step 1
Open a new workbook and connect to the Superstore sample.
Step 2
Add the following fields to the view:
- From the Dimensions pane, drag Order Date to the Columns shelf, and then drag Category to the Rows shelf.
- From the Measures pane, drag Profit to the Rows shelf.
Step 3
On the Columns shelf, right-click Order Date and select the first instance of Month.
Alternatively, if you want to view the profits over four years on a continuous axis, select the second instance of Month.
Step 4
Complete these steps to hide the row and column headers:
- On the Columns shelf, right-click Month and cancel the selection for Show Header.
- On the Rows shelf, do the same for Profit.
Step 5
Adjust the width of the view by selecting Format > Cell Size > Narrower. You can repeat this step as necessary.
