Range Column Chart

Overview

Range column charts are a visualization used to display quantitative values that vary between a minimum and a maximum range. Instead of plotting a single value per category, range column charts illustrate intervals—such as low/high temperatures, minimum/maximum inventory levels, or performance thresholds—allowing you to immediately see the spread, variability, and distribution of your data. You can use range column charts to compare ranges across categories, identify patterns in value fluctuations, and highlight differences between groups. You can also build grouped and trellised range column charts to analyze and compare multiple series or dimensions side by side. This article explains what the requirements are for creating a range column chart as well as covers the key properties and customization options available in the inspector panel.

Example

This is an example of the range column chart that displays the unit price by category, using the AdventureWorks data model,

The UnitPrice attribute has been bound to the Upper Values data binding slot as well as to the Lower Values data binding slot. The Aggregation Method for the upper values has been set to Max and the lower values has been set to Min. The Category attribute has been bound to the Axis (Category) slot. The Show Data Label property in the Inspector Panel has been enabled. And the Location property has been set to On Slice. The Title has been set to Unit Price by Category.

Data Binding

The Data Binding tab lets you map your dataset fields to the chart’s visual elements. The available data binding slots determine what data is displayed and how it appears in the chart.

• Values – Bind the numeric field or measure that determines the size/length/value of each bar, slice, point, or shape. Larger values produce proportionally larger bars/slices/points.

• Axis (Category) – Bind the field whose distinct values define each bar/slice/point category. These values appear along the X-axis, Y-axis, or around the circledepending on the chart type.

• Legend (Series) – Bind the field that determines the grouping shown in the chart legend. Use this to categorize and color bars/slices/lines by an additional dimension.

• Trellis Columns – Bind a field to create multiple charts arranged in columns, each filtered by a unique value in that field.

• Trellis Rows – Bind a field to create multiple charts arranged in rows, each filtered by a unique value in that field.

• Tooltip – Bind additional fields to display as contextual information when users hover over a bar, slice, point, or shape.

• Drill Down – Configure interactive navigation into more detailed data. You can set Drill Down Mode to:

  • Pre-set Targets – Specify fields or charts to drill into when an element is clicked.

  • Pre-set Paths – Define a hierarchical path so users can explore data through multiple levels.

Customize Range Column Chart

Simple Range Column Chart

A standard range column chart displays a range of values across a categorical axis, allowing users to compare value distributions or variability across discrete categories. After adding the visualization to the designer and binding your dataset, configure the following fields in the Data Binding tab:

• Upper Value – The numeric measure that defines the upper bound of the range for each category.

• Lower Value – The numeric measure that defines the lower bound of the range for each category. Typically, the same measure is bound to both the Upper Value and Lower Value slots, with the Max aggregation applied to the Upper Value and the Min aggregation applied to the Lower Value.

• Axis (Category) – The category field displayed on the horizontal axis. This slot typically contains categorical data, such as time periods, product groups, or locations.

For example, a simple range column chart may plot Unit Price in the Upper Value and Lower Value slots (using Maxand Min aggregation, respectively) and Product Category in the Axis (Category) slot, producing a straightforward visualization of price variation across product categories.

Create a Grouped Range Column Chart

A grouped range column chart expands on the standard range column layout by comparing multiple groups within each category. Rather than displaying a single column per category, the chart splits each category into series groups, enabling side-by-side comparisons.

To configure a grouped range column chart, assign the following fields in the Data Binding tab:

• Upper Value – The numeric measure to which you apply the Max aggregation method.

• Lower Value – The numeric measure to which you apply the Min aggregation method.

• Axis (Category) – The primary categorical field displayed along the horizontal axis.

• Legend (Series) – A secondary categorical field used to define groups within each category. Each unique series value creates a separate range column within the same category, allowing for direct comparison between groups.

For example, you might bind Unit Price to Upper Value and Lower Value, Product Category to Axis (Category), and Sales Order Channel to Legend (Series).

Customize the Chart Style

The Chart Style section contains the visual and formatting settings that define the appearance of your column chart. These options are managed in the Inspector Panel and include layout, spacing, color, and stylistic adjustments that help you tailor the chart to your dashboard’s design requirements.

Scenario Name

The Scenario Name is the label shown in Wyn’s Explorer.

• Choose a name that reflects the purpose of the visualization.

• For more details, see Explorer documentation.

Palette

Controls whether the chart uses theme colors or custom colors.

• Off (default): chart uses the dashboard theme.

• On: unlocks manual color selection for each column.

Color Assignments

Defines custom colors when Maintain Color Assignments is enabled.

• Assign colors to individual categories or series.

• Use when theme colors do not meet your design needs.

Graph Opacity

Adjusts the transparency of the columns.

• Default is 100% (fully opaque).

• Lower values create translucent columns for layered or subtle visual styles.

Auto Gap Width

Automatically manages spacing between columns.

• On: Wyn determines optimal spacing.

• Off: manually set Category Gap and Series Gap.

• Category Gap controls spacing between categories; Series Gap controls spacing within grouped columns.

Corner Radius

Rounds the edges of the columns.

• Apply a uniform radius or expand to set values per corner.

• Use for softer, more modern visual styling.

Auto Gradient

Applies a gradient fill to column colors.

• On: Wyn auto-generates gradient effects.

• Off: columns use flat colors.

Padding

Adds spacing between the chart and the scenario’s boundaries.

• Increase padding for a more open layout.

• Reduce padding to maximize plot area.

See Also

• Animation

• Data Visualization

• Interaction

• Title

• Data Labels

• Tooltip

• Axis (Category)

• Value Axis

• Legend

• Series

• Trellis

• Drill Down

• Special Data

• No Data Content

• Layout

• Appearance

Property Reference

Chart Style

Maintain Color Assignments: Toggle this to True if you want to manually assign specific colors to individual data values instead of using automatic color mapping.

Palette: Lets you customize the color scheme applied to the chart. Use the dropdown to choose from available color palettes based on the current Theme.

Graph Opacity: Controls the transparency of the chart. Set to 0% for fully transparent or 100% for fully opaque.

Auto Gap Width: Enabled by default. This controls the spacing between columns. To manually define the gap width, switch this setting to False.

Corner Radius: Adjusts the roundness of the corners on columns or bars. Use the arrow controls to set the radius for each edge.

Auto Gradient: When enabled, applies a gradient effect to the chart colors for a more dynamic visual appearance.

Padding: Adds space around the chart to separate it from the edges of the scenario or dashboard layout.

Data Visualization

• Include All Dimensions – When enabled, ensures that all available dimension values are included in the visualization, even if they have no corresponding measure values. This can help maintain consistent category representation across views. Default: Off.

Data Labels

• Show Data Label: Toggle this on to enable data labels on the chart.

• Display Pattern: Choose a label structure from:

  • Category

  • Series (Value)

  • Category Series Value

  Note: This controls the format, but not which elements are shown.

• Toggle Visibility for Each Element:

  • Value – must be set to true to display values.

  • Series Name – toggle on to display the series name.

  • Category Name – toggle on to display the category.

• Display Mode: Set to All to show all enabled elements together.

• Label Location: Choose between On Slice or Around.

• Same Color as Legend: Toggle on to match the label color with the legend entry.

• Font Settings (same as title):

  • Font family, size (pt), color, weight, and italic styling.

• Show Shape: Toggle on to add a background shape to the label.

  • Upload a Shape Image.

  • Adjust placement and size with:

    • Shape X Center

    • Shape Y Center

    • Shape X Scale

    • Shape Y Scale

Tooltip

Tooltip Mode – Determines how tooltips are displayed when hovering over the chart:

• None – Disables tooltips.

• Data Point (default) – Shows a tooltip for the specific data point under the pointer.

• Category – Shows a tooltip for all data points that share the same category value.

Show Category Tracking Area – Highlights the entire area of the chart that corresponds to the hovered category, helping visually connect related data points.

Show Category Tracking Line – Draws a vertical or horizontal line (depending on chart orientation) across the chart at the hovered category to make it easier to see alignment across series.

Show Point Cross Value Axis – Draws a line from the hovered point to the value axis, making it easy to identify the exact value.

Show Point Cross Category Axis – Draws a line from the hovered point to the category axis, making it easy to identify the exact category.

Axis (Category)

The Category (Y) Axis settings give you full control over the vertical axis of the chart.

• Show Axis: Enabled by default. Toggle off to hide the Y-axis entirely.

• Axis Position: Set the axis placement using the dropdown options: Zero, Bottom, or Top.

Axis Line and Grid

• Show Axis Line: Enabled by default. Controls the visibility of the axis line. You can customize its line type(Solid or Dashed), color, and width.

• Show Grid Lines: Disabled by default. Enable to add horizontal grid lines across the chart, and customize their type, color, and width.

• Show Split Area: Disabled by default. Toggle on to highlight alternating background bands, and define Odd Area Color and Even Area Color.

Labels and Tick Marks

• Show Tick Labels: Enabled by default. Use this toggle to show or hide the axis labels.

• Label Direction: Choose how labels are displayed: Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal.

• Label Overflow: Define how long labels behave when space is limited: Hide, Ellipsis, or Wrap.

• Show Tick Marks: Enable this toggle to display tick marks along the axis.

Title and Font Styling

• Show Title: Disabled by default. Turn this on to add a title to the Y-axis. Once enabled, the axis automatically takes the name of the data attribute it is bound to. To change that, you can enter a title in Custom Title.

• Axis Font Settings: Customize the appearance of axis labels and title by adjusting the font family, size, color, weight, and style.

Value Axis

The Value (X) Axis settings let you configure the numerical axis of your chart, typically displayed horizontally.

• Show Axis: Enabled by default. Toggle this off to hide the entire axis.

• Min Value / Max Value: Define a fixed range for the axis.

• Interval: Set custom spacing between tick marks.

• Reversed: Flip the axis direction (e.g., highest values on the left). Disabled by default.

• Axis Position: Choose whether the axis appears at the Top or Bottom of the chart.

Axis Line and Grid

• Show Axis Line: Enabled by default. Controls the visibility of the axis line. Customize the line’s type (Solid or Dashed), color, and width.

• Show Grid Lines: Disabled by default. Enable to display horizontal lines across the chart. You can customize their line type, color, and width.

• Show Split Area: Highlight alternating vertical bands by setting Odd Area Color and Even Area Color.

Labels and Tick Marks

• Show Tick Labels: Enabled by default. Toggle this to show or hide labels along the axis.

• Format: Choose how labels are displayed (General, Number, Currency, Percentage, or Custom).

• Display Unit: Scale values using Auto, None, Thousands, Millions, etc.

• Label Direction: Set label orientation to Horizontal, Vertical, or Diagonal.

• Show Tick Marks: Toggle to display or hide the tick marks themselves.

Title and Units

• Show Title: Disabled by default. Enable this to add a title to the axis. Once enabled, the axis automatically takes the name of the data attribute it is bound to. To change that, you can enter a title in Custom Title.

• Show Unit's Label: Enable this option to display a unit label (e.g., USD, %).

Font Customization

• Axis Font Settings: Customize the axis text by choosing the font family, size, color, weight, and style.

Legend

By default, the Show Legend toggle is set to True, which displays the legend on the chart. To include a title for the legend, enable the Title toggle as well. Once enabled, the legend automatically takes the name of the data attribute it is bound to. To change that, you can enter a title in Custom Title. You can customize the title by setting the Font Family (e.g., Arial), Font Size, Text Color, Font Weight (such as bold), and applying Italic styling if desired.

The Title Alignment property allows you to position the legend title to the left, center, or right of the chart area.

The legend is set to Auto Size by default. To manually define the legend size, disable this setting by setting Auto Size to False. You can also control the Horizontal and Vertical Alignment, which are both set to Auto by default but can be changed using dropdown options. To allow legend labels to wrap across lines, set the Wrap Legend option to True.

Trellis

Use the Trellis properties when you create a Trellis Chart. This can be done in the Data Binding Tab. Drag and drop the attribute to Trellis. You can read the Trellis Column Chart article for more information.

You can set the Padding around the Trellis Chart to control the spacing between the chart content and its edges. You can also define a Trellis Border Colorto outline each panel of the trellis. Additionally, the Trellis Font Settings allow you to customize the font family, size, color, weight, and style of the text used in the trellis layout.

Drill Down Setting

• Position – Determines where the drill-down navigation bar is displayed on the chart. Options include:

  • Top left (default)

  • Top center

  • Top right

  • Bottom left

  • Bottom center

  • Bottom right

• Home Name – Specifies the text label for the top-level view in the drill-down hierarchy. The default label is Home, but you can change it to something more descriptive, such as All Regions or Main Category.

• Font – Configures the font family, size, color, weight (e.g., bold), and style (e.g., italic) for all drill-down navigation text.

• Current Level Font Color – Sets the color for the label of the currently active drill-down level, helping it stand out from other levels.

• Other Levels Font Color – Sets the color for labels representing all non-active drill-down levels, allowing users to visually distinguish between the active and inactive levels in the navigation path.