Interactive Figures | Guide

An in-depth guide for how to create Interactive figures. Currently, there are two types of Interactive Figures offered by Graphic Data. Currently, there are two types: Bar Charts and Time Series.

Hierarchy: Instance Type → Instances → Scenes → Modals → Figures (We are Here).

When Finished Making Field Selections: Press “SAVE” in the top right of the page.

 

 

Fields Covered:

 

 

Workflow Checklist

  1. Save the post first.
  2. Upload your CSV/JSON file.
  3. Configure axes (titles, bounds).
  4. Choose number of bars or lines.
  5. Adjust style (markers, error bars, colors).
  6. Preview before publishing.

⚠️ Important: You must save the post before uploading a file.

 

 

File Upload

New Upload

Upload New

Screenshot: Uploading a new CSV/JSON file.

Existing Upload

Upload Existing

Screenshot: Selecting an already uploaded CSV/JSON file.

Steps:

  1. Save your post.
  2. Use the upload field to select or add a CSV/JSON file.
  3. Once uploaded, additional chart configuration fields appear.

💡 Tip: CSVs should have clear headers (e.g., date, value). Dates should be in YYYY-MM-DD format.

 

 

Graph Type

Graph Type

Screenshot: Select the type of graph you would like to create.

Bar Charts or Time Series.

 

 

Bar Charts

Bar Chart Settings

Screenshot: Bar chart configuration panel.

Bar Chart Options Per Bar

Screenshot: Bar chart configuration panel.

What it does: Creates a bar chart from uploaded data.

When to use: For categorical comparisons (e.g., values per category).

Required: Data file, X axis column, Y axis column.

Steps:

  1. Choose Graph Type → Bar Chart.
  2. Map your CSV columns: one for X axis (categories), one for Y axis (values).
  3. Set X and Y axis titles.
  4. Adjust bounds if needed (e.g., set Y axis minimum to 0).
  5. Enter the number of bars to display.

Options:

  • Axis bounds (low/high).
  • Bar grouping/stacking options.

💡 Tips:

  • Keep category names short.
  • If bars overlap, reduce the number of bars or adjust group spacing.

 

 

Time Series

Time Series Settings

Screenshot: Time series configuration panel.

Line Options

Screenshot: Line and marker options for time series.

What it does: Plots data values over time.

When to use: For continuous measurements (e.g., monthly temperature).

Required: Data file with a date/time column for X axis and one or more numeric columns for Y axis.

Steps:

  1. Choose Graph Type → Time Series.
  2. Map X axis to the date column.
  3. Map Y axis to one or more numeric columns.
  4. Set axis titles and bounds.
  5. Choose number of lines to plot.
  6. Configure line/marker style: shape, size, and color.
  7. Add overlays if needed: mean line, ±1 standard deviation, error bars, percentile bands.
  8. Set evaluation period shading if required.

Options:

  • Number of lines.
  • Marker customization.
  • Error bars.
  • Evaluation period (start/end).

💡 Tips:

  • Use consistent date formats (YYYY-MM-DD).
  • Always preview to check for gaps in data.
  • Keep legends clear by naming your columns well.

 

 

Best Practices

  • Keep files small (<2 MB) though you can upload up to (300 MB).
  • Use descriptive column names (date, value, series).
  • Always preview before publishing to confirm layout and data correctness.