A sunburst chart is useful for visualizing hierarchical data structures. A sunburst chart
consists of an inner circle that is surrounded by rings of deeper hierarchy levels. The angle of
each segment proportional to either a value or divided equally under its inner segment. The chart
segments are colored based on the category or hierarchical level to which they belong.
Creating a simple sunburst chart
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In the Chart Type section, click the Sunburst
icon.
The canvas updates to display a sunburst chart template.
Select a categorical (nominal or ordinal) variable from the Columns list.
The categories in this variable determine the number of segments in the chart.
Click Add another column and select another
categorical (nominal or ordinal) variable from the Columns list. The
categories in this variable determine the number of segments in the chart's second ring and
represent a hierarchical level.
Select a statistical summary function for the graphic element (count-based statistic or a sum).
The result of the statistic determines the size of each segment. When Sum is
selected, choose a scale variable from the Value list to represent the value
in the data set to summarize.
Select a Sunburst layout option (either
Traditional or Divergent).
Click the Save visualization in the
project control. Select Create a new asset or Append
to existing asset. Provide a Visualization asset name, an optional description, and a
chart name.
Click Apply to save the visualization to
the project. The new visualization asset is now available on the Assets
tab.
Options
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Columns
Select a categorical (nominal or ordinal) variable that determines the number of segments in the
chart.
Summary
Select a statistical summary function for the graphic element (count-based statistic or a sum).
The result of the statistic determines the size of each slice.
Two types of statistical summary
functions are available. The distinction is important because it determines whether you need to
specify a Value variable.
Functions that do not require a value variable
All count and percentage statistics are in this category. These statistics are available when
there is no defined Value variable.
Functions that do require a value variable
For example, the Sum function requires a variable on which the summary is
calculated.
Value
This field displays when a Summary function that requires a scale
variable, is selected. Select a variable to serve as the scale variable.
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