Sankey Charts

Now you can depict the flow of data or networks through a hierarchy, a process, or time with a Sankey chart, the latest addition to charting types in the One Model visualization suite. 

With the use of varying line widths and colors, the Sankey chart can convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.

To get started using the Sankey chart, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Enable the permissions to allow users to access and use the feature.
2. Start creating your Sankey charts!

1. Permissions

The permissions of CanExploreData and CanCreateDashboard are required to create or edit the Sankey chart.  

These permissions are accessed from Admin > Application Access Roles > Permission page.  The user will also need Storyboard edit permission to make any modifications to that Storyboard.  This permission is accessed from Admin > Data Access Role > Storyboard > Edit or via Storyboard Settings > Sharing > Can View & Edit.

Your Data Access Role permissions govern the actual data users are able to view based on their selected roles.

2. Creating a Sankey chart

A Sankey chart connects data through dimension nodes.  The connections between the nodes are called links.  The nodes that links flow ‘from’ are called source nodes and the nodes that links flow ‘to’ are called target nodes.  The weight or width of the links represent the flow rate.

Therefore to create a basic Sankey chart you will need to select:

• 1 metric (flow value or link).  
• 2 dimensions (the source node and the target node). 
• 1 pivoted dimension (a time period)  

Follow these steps to create your Sankey chart.

Step 1. 

To create a Sankey chart from within a Storyboard, click on the Edit [pencil] icon to enter Storyboard Modify Mode.

Step 2. 

Click the Add [+] icon, then select the Sankey Chart.

Step 3.

A modal window will display and the user can Define the query for the chart.  

So in this example below, you will see the following selections:

• Metrics - Headcount (EOP)
• Dimensions - Previous Performance Rating - Level 1
  Performance Rating - Level 1
• Pivoted Dimensions - Time Periods - Year - 2022

Please note, as per the image below: when selecting your metrics, dimensions and pivoted dimensions, the eye icon indicates whether it has been selected, and the check/cross icons are your filters. To drilldown, you would click on > arrow to follow the breadcrumbs to the next level.

To create more advanced Sankey charts will depend on how the data is structured in your One Model instance. For example, data can be analyzed over multiple time periods using consistent dimensions (previous Org Unit, current Org Unit), or additional nodes can be included if metrics / dimensions represent stages (applicants applied > interviewed > offered > hired)

Step 4. 

Click Run to run the query to preview your Sankey chart.

Step 5. 

Click the Table tab to switch to a table view of the data.  Click Sankey to view the diagram. 

Step 6. 

Click Insert to add your Sankey chart to your Storyboard. You can also edit the query definition and re-run the query before inserting the Sankey chart to your Storyboard. 

Step 7. 

Enter a name for the Tile Title, then click Save at the top right of the page, and Exit Modify Mode.

Your Sankey chart has now been created and saved to your Storyboard. 

3. Editing a Sankey chart

To edit a Sankey chart from within a Storyboard, click on the Edit [pencil] icon to enter Storyboard Modify Mode.  

Step 2. 

From the Tile Configuration Panel,  click the new icon Define to return to the query definition modal window. 

Step 3. 

Update or edit the query definition and click Run to run the new query.

Step 4. 

Click Update to update the Storyboard Tile - the modal window will close.  Alternatively you can Cancel to return to the Storyboard with no updates applied.

Note:  If you click the Explore icon from the Tile Configuration Panel in Storyboard Modify Mode, the query list will open in Explore, however the diagram will not be supported.   

The visualization Type “List for Sankey” is the option, similar to List for GeoMap, where the data is returned in Explore but the chart is only rendered when pinned to a Storyboard. 

4. Customizing a Sankey chart

To customize the appearance of the Sankey chart, click on the Edit [pencil] icon to enter Storyboard Modify Mode. 

Step 2. 

From the Tile Configuration Panel, click the icon Tile Settings to open the panel. 

Step 3. 

Make your selections. Properties of the Sankey chart include the following: 

• Normalize Colors
• Hide Unchanged Datapoints
• Inverted
• Show X Axis Labels
• Show X Axis Line
• Custom Node Width

Any updates to Tile Settings configurations apply immediately to the Sankey chart so simply  close the modal window by clicking on X. Save and Exit Modity Mode.

You can filter top or bottom results in Sankey charts, providing users with greater control over their data visualization. You can select a metric and choose to filter top or bottom results and specify the number of rows to include.