Area and line charts

Use line and area charts to track value trends over time. You can also use a line or area chart x-axis to represent a field value other than time.

Data formatting

Line charts can represent one or more data series. Area charts depict multiple data series.

If a search generates multiple series, each line or area in the chart appears in a different color.

To make sure that a search generates data series correctly, check the Statistics tab in Search & Reporting. The Statistics table should have at least two columns for a single series, and three or more columns for multiple series.

Statistics table order and chart axes

Line and area charts receive x-axis values from the first column in the statistics table. The remaining table columns become y-axis values.

For example, any search using the timechart reporting command generates a table where _time is the first column. A line or area chart generated with this search has a _time x-axis.

Search results not structured as a table with valid x-axis or y-axis values cannot generate line or area charts. For example, using the eval or fields commands might change the search result structure.

Generate a line or area chart

1. Select the Add chart button ( ) in the editing toolbar and browse through the available charts. Choose a line or area chart.
2. Select the chart on your dashboard to highlight it with the blue editing outline.
3. Set up a new data source by selecting + Create search and adding a search to the SPL query window. Or, you can select an existing data source under the Search, Saved search, or Chain search sections.
4. (Optional) You can also write a new ID that describes the search better than the default by changing the ID in Data source name.
5. Select Apply and close.

Configuration Panel options for line and area charts

You can use the Configuration panel to configure the following line chart components.

Title

Give your visualization a name. The title name is also helpful when searching for individual visualizations in the dashboard definitions and is not the same as the automatically assigned unique ID.

Description

Give your visualization a description to explain what the user is viewing.

Data Sources

Choose an existing search or create a new one.

Position & Size
You can use your mouse or the Position & Size section of the Configuration panel to change the size or location of the visualization for pixel-perfect sizing and placement.

General

Use Null Values to do one of the following:
• Show markers for any disconnected data points a gap.
• Connect null data points to zero data points.
• Connect them to the next positive data point.

Use the following Stack Mode (area charts only) options:

Stack option	Column or bar appearance	Use case
Unstacked	Areas for different series share the same space on the chart.	An unstacked chart is useful for a lower number of series. As the number of series increases, the chart can become more difficult to understand.
Stacked	Each series area is shown separately.	Use a stacked area chart to highlight the relative volume, frequency, or importance of a series. See the stacked chart example LINK HERE in the Line and area chart introduction.
Stacked 100%	The chart shows distribution percentage for each series over the whole data set.	Use stacked 100% to focus on data distributions.

Use Show Data Values to show no data values, all data values, or only the minimum and maximum data values.

Axes

• Use X Axis title to name your x-axis.

• Use Y Axis title to name your y-axis.

Legend

• Use Position to choose the position of the legend.

• Use Truncation to choose how legend labels are truncated when they overflow the layout boundaries by choosing where to place ellipses (...)

Drilldown
Drilldown for a line or area chart lets users click on a part of the chart to open an internal or external URL.

Code
Select your visualization or its search to view and edit the source code in real-time. You can also change the Visualization ID to a more readable ID to help identify this visualization in the source code.

Source options for line and area charts

You can customize your dashboard with the Dashboard Studio UI or set options in the source editor for splunk.line and splunk.area. The UI and source options both produce the same design results.

Additionally, you can write advanced configurations in the source editor using selector and formatting functions and dynamic options syntax. For more details, see Modify and write dynamic options syntax.

Add source options to the options field of the visualization stanza. The following example shows the addition of solid or dashed line styles, as well as using hexadecimal code colors for specific fields.

"viz_25NNIqLF": {
    "type": "splunk.line",
    "dataSources": {
       "primary": "ds_search2"
    },
    "options": {
       "seriesColorsByField": {
          "This Year": "#35B9A0",
          "Last Year": "#14846C"
       },
       "lineDashStylesByField": {
          "This Year": "solid",
          "Last Year": "shortDash"
       }
    },
} 

Line chart options

The following settings are available to use in the options section of the visualization stanza:

Property	Type	Default	Description
x	(string | number)	> primary | seriesByIndex(0)	Specify the dataSource applied to the x-axis.
y	(string | number)	> primary | frameBySeriesIndexRange(1)	Specify the dataSource applied to the y-axis.
y2	(string | number)	n/a	Specify the dataSource applied to the y2-axis
xField	string	> x | getField()	Specify the field that should be mapped to the x-axis.
yFields	string	> y | getField()	Specify the field that should be mapped to the y-axis.
annotationColor	string	n/a	Specify the annotation colors. You may use a dataSource to apply the color. For example, ["#FF0000", "#0000FF", "#008000"].
annotationLabel	string	n/a	Specify a list of labels used for the annotations. You may use a dataSource to apply the labels. For example, ["houston, we have a problem", "just close the jira", "looking good now"].
annotationX	(string | number)	n/a	Specify the dataSource field applied to the event annotation on the x-axis.
backgroundColor	string	> themes.defaultBackgroundColor	Specify the color for the background. You may use a dataSource to apply the color. The default for enterprise light is "#ffffff". The default for enterprise dark is "#000000". The default for prisma dark is "#0b0c0e".
dataValuesDisplay	("off" | "all" | "minmax")	off	Specify whether chart should display no labels, all labels, or only the min and max labels.
legendDisplay	("right" | "left" | "top" | "bottom" | "off")	right	Specify the location of the legend on the panel.
legendLabels	string	n/a	Specify a list of labels to pre-populate the legend. For example, ["percent", "count"].
legendMode	("standard" | "seriesCompare")	standard	Specify visual and behavioral settings for the tooltip and legend. "seriesCompare" is useful when comparing series.
legendTruncation	("ellipsisEnd" | "ellipsisMiddle" | "ellipsisStart" | "ellipsisOff")	ellipsisEnd	Specify how to display legend labels when they overflow the layout boundaries by replacing overflow text with an ellipsis.
lineDashStyle	("solid" | "shortDash" | "shortDot" | "shortDashDot" | "shortDashDotDot" | "dot" | "dash" | "longDash" | "dashDot" | "longDashDot" | "longDashDotDot")	solid	Specify a dash style for all line series in the chart.
lineDashStylesByField	object	n/a	Specify a dash style to use for each field. For example, {"count": "longDashDot", "percent": "longDashDotDot"}. Valid values: "solid", "shortDash", "shortDot", "shortDashDot", "shortDashDotDot", "dot", "dash", "longDash", "dashDot", "longDashDot", "longDashDotDot".
lineWidth	number	2	Specify the line width, in pixels, for all line series.
markerDisplay	("off" | "filled" | "outlined")	off	Specify the marker display style for data points.
nullValueDisplay	("gaps" | "zero" | "connect")	gaps	Specify how area and line charts handle null values.
resultLimit	number	50000	Specify the number of data points rendered in a chart.
seriesColors	string	#7B56DB, #009CEB, #00CDAF, #DD9900, #FF677B, #CB2196, #813193, #0051B5, #008C80, #99B100, #FFA476, #FF6ACE, #AE8CFF, #00689D, #00490A, #465D00, #9D6300, #F6540B, #FF969E, #E47BFE	Specify the colors used for a series. For example, ["#FF0000", "#0000FF", "#008000"].
seriesColorsByField	object	n/a	Specify the colors used for specific fields in a series. For example, {"count": "#008000", "percent": "#FFA500"}.
showIndependentYRanges	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether split series charts have independent y-ranges.
showSplitSeries	boolean	FALSE	Set to "true" to split a multi-series chart into separate charts that are stacked from top to bottom; one for each series.
showXMajorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the x-axis.
showYMajorGridLines	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the y-axis.
showY2MajorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the y2-axis.
showYMinorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether minor grid lines are visible on the y-axis.
showY2MinorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether minor grid lines are visible on y2-axis.
showYAxisExtendedRange	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether the y-axis should be extended to include whole major tick marks.
showYAxisWithZero	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether the y-axis range includes zero.
showY2AxisWithZero	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether the y2-axis range includes zero.
xAxisLabelRotation	(-90 | -45 | 0 | 45 | 90)	0	Specify the rotation of the x-axis label in degrees.
xAxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the x-axis.
yAxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the y-axis.
y2AxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the y2-axis.
xAxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the x-axis line.
yAxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the y-axis line.
y2AxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the y2-axis line.
xAxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the x-axis.
yAxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the y2-axis.
yAxisMinorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of minor tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMinorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of minor tick marks on the y2-axis.
xAxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the x-axis.
yAxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the y2-axis.
yAxisMinorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide minor tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMinorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide minor tick marks on the y2-axis.
xAxisMaxLabelParts	number	3	Specify the maximum number of time-parts that a tick label will have (the 3 possible parts are year, month, time).
xAxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the x-axis.
yAxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the y-axis.
y2AxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the y2-axis.
xAxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the x-axis.
yAxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the y-axis.
y2AxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the y2-axis.
yAxisAbbreviation	("off" | "auto")	auto	Specify whether to abbreviate large y-axis values with the closest SI prefix.
y2AxisAbbreviation	("off" | "auto")	auto	Specify whether to abbreviate large y2-axis values with the closest SI prefix.
yAxisMajorTickInterval	(string | number)	auto	Specify the spacing unit between major tick marks along the numeric y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickInterval	(string | number)	auto	Specify the spacing unit between major tick marks along the numeric y2-axis.
yAxisMax	(string | number)	auto	Specify the maximum number for the visible y-axis range.
y2AxisMax	(string | number)	auto	Specify the maximum number for the visible y2-axis range.
yAxisMin	(string | number)	auto	Specify the minimum number for the visible y-axis range.
y2AxisMin	(string | number)	auto	Specify the minimum number for the visible y2-axis range.
yAxisScale	("linear" | "log")	linear	Specify the type of scale that applies to a numerical y-axis.
y2AxisScale	("linear" | "log")	linear	Specify the type of scale that applies to a numerical y2-axis.
overlayFields	(array | string)	n/a	Specify field(s) that should be differentiated on the chart and displayed as chart overlays.
showOverlayY2Axis	boolean	FALSE	Enable a y2-axis for chart overlays. All overlay fields will be mapped to a second y-axis.
showRoundedY2AxisLabels	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether to round y2-axis values to the nearest integer.
y2Fields	(array | string)	> y2 | getField()	Specify field(s) that should be mapped to a second y-axis.

Area chart options

The following options are available for editing area charts in the source editor:

Property	Type	Default	Description
x	(string | number)	> primary | seriesByIndex(0)	Specify the dataSource applied to the x-axis.
y	(string | number)	> primary | frameBySeriesIndexRange(1)	Specify the dataSource applied to the y-axis.
y2	(string | number)	n/a	Specify the dataSource applied to the y2-axis
xField	string	> x | getField()	Specify the field that should be mapped to the x-axis.
yFields	string	> y | getField()	Specify the field that should be mapped to the y-axis.
annotationColor	string	n/a	Specify the annotation colors. You may use a dataSource to apply the color. For example, ["#FF0000", "#0000FF", "#008000"].
annotationLabel	string	n/a	Specify a list of labels used for the annotations. You may use a dataSource to apply the labels. For example, ["houston, we have a problem", "just close the jira", "looking good now"].
annotationX	(string | number)	n/a	Specify the dataSource field applied to the event annotation on the x-axis.
areaOpacity	number	0.75	Specify the opacity of the area chart. Values can range from 0 (transparent) to 1 (opaque).
backgroundColor	string	> themes.defaultBackgroundColor	Specify the color for the background. You may use a dataSource to apply the color. The default for enterprise light is "#ffffff". The default for enterprise dark is "#000000". The default for prisma dark is "#0b0c0e".
dataValuesDisplay	("off" | "all" | "minmax")	off	Specify whether chart should display no labels, all labels, or only the min and max labels.
legendDisplay	("right" | "left" | "top" | "bottom" | "off")	right	Specify the location of the legend on the panel.
legendLabels	string	n/a	Specify a list of labels to pre-populate the legend. For example, ["percent", "count"].
legendMode	("standard" | "seriesCompare")	standard	Specify visual and behavioral settings for the tooltip and legend. "seriesCompare" is useful when comparing series.
legendTruncation	("ellipsisEnd" | "ellipsisMiddle" | "ellipsisStart" | "ellipsisOff")	ellipsisEnd	Specify how to display legend labels when they overflow the layout boundaries by replacing overflow text with an ellipsis.
lineWidth	number	2	Specify the line width, in pixels, for all line series.
nullValueDisplay	("gaps" | "zero" | "connect")	gaps	Specify how area and line charts handle null values.
resultLimit	number	50000	Specify the number of data points rendered in a chart.
seriesColors	string	#7B56DB, #009CEB, #00CDAF, #DD9900, #FF677B, #CB2196, #813193, #0051B5, #008C80, #99B100, #FFA476, #FF6ACE, #AE8CFF, #00689D, #00490A, #465D00, #9D6300, #F6540B, #FF969E, #E47BFE	Specify the colors used for a series. For example, ["#FF0000", "#0000FF", "#008000"].
seriesColorsByField	object	n/a	Specify the colors used for specific fields in a series. For example, {"count": "#008000", "percent": "#FFA500"}
stackMode	("auto" | "stacked" | "stacked100")	auto	Specify stack mode.
showIndependentYRanges	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether split series charts have independent y-ranges.
showSplitSeries	boolean	FALSE	Set to "true" to split a multi-series chart into separate charts that are stacked from top to bottom; one for each series.
showLines	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether lines should be shown in area charts.
showXMajorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the x-axis.
showYMajorGridLines	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the y-axis.
showY2MajorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether major grid lines are visible on the y2-axis.
showYMinorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether minor grid lines are visible on the y-axis.
showY2MinorGridLines	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether minor grid lines are visible on y2-axis.
showYAxisExtendedRange	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether the y-axis should be extended to include whole major tick marks.
showYAxisWithZero	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether the y-axis range includes zero.
showY2AxisWithZero	boolean	FALSE	Specify whether the y2-axis range includes zero.
xAxisLabelRotation	(-90 | -45 | 0 | 45 | 90)	0	Specify the rotation of the x-axis label in degrees.
xAxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the x-axis.
yAxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the y-axis.
y2AxisLabelVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide labels on the y2-axis.
xAxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the x-axis line.
yAxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the y-axis line.
y2AxisLineVisibility	("show" | "hide")	hide	Specify whether to show or hide the y2-axis line.
xAxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the x-axis.
yAxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of major tick marks on the y2-axis.
yAxisMinorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of minor tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMinorTickSize	number	6	Specify the size, in pixels, of minor tick marks on the y2-axis.
xAxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the x-axis.
yAxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide major tick marks on the y2-axis.
yAxisMinorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide minor tick marks on the y-axis.
y2AxisMinorTickVisibility	("auto" | "show" | "hide")	auto	Specify whether to show or hide minor tick marks on the y2-axis.
xAxisMaxLabelParts	number	3	Specify the maximum number of time-parts that a tick label will have (the 3 possible parts are year, month, time).
yAxisScale	("linear" | "log")	linear	Specify the type of scale that applies to a numerical y-axis.
y2AxisScale	("linear" | "log")	linear	Specify the type of scale that applies to a numerical y2-axis.
xAxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the x-axis.
yAxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the y-axis.
y2AxisTitleText	string	n/a	Specify the title of the y2-axis.
xAxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the x-axis.
yAxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the y-axis.
y2AxisTitleVisibility	("show" | "hide")	show	Specify whether to show or hide the title of the y2-axis.
yAxisAbbreviation	("off" | "auto")	auto	Specify whether to abbreviate large y-axis values with the closest SI prefix.
y2AxisAbbreviation	("off" | "auto")	auto	Specify whether to abbreviate large y2-axis values with the closest SI prefix.
yAxisMajorTickInterval	(string | number)	auto	Specify the spacing unit between major tick marks along the numeric y-axis.
y2AxisMajorTickInterval	(string | number)	auto	Specify the spacing unit between major tick marks along the numeric y2-axis.
yAxisMax	(string | number)	auto	Specify the maximum number for the visible y-axis range.
y2AxisMax	(string | number)	auto	Specify the maximum number for the visible y2-axis range.
yAxisMin	(string | number)	auto	Specify the minimum number for the visible y-axis range.
y2AxisMin	(string | number)	auto	Specify the minimum number for the visible y2-axis range.
overlayFields	(array | string)	n/a	Specify field(s) that should be differentiated on the chart and displayed as chart overlays.
showOverlayY2Axis	boolean	FALSE	Enable a y2-axis for chart overlays. All overlay fields will be mapped to a second y-axis.
showRoundedY2AxisLabels	boolean	TRUE	Specify whether to round y2-axis values to the nearest integer.
y2Fields	(array | string)	> y2 | getField()	Specify field(s) that should be mapped to a second y-axis.