The Heatmap is similar to a table with value based cell coloring and it is perfect for visualizing differences in results and to highlight if results meet targets or not. Here we see an example of a Heatmap, the cells have been colored in a gradient (red-yellow-green)based on the values in the cells.



To setup a Heatmap add a chart object to your StoryTeller and select the desired questions, filters and time settings. Then select the Heatmap in the chart selection list as shown in the image below. When Heatmap is selected the Axis and Legend nomenclature will change to Rows and Columns to reflect how they are displayed. After selecting the Heatmap, define the coloring logic to be applied to it, this explained later. 


Here we see that Heatmap is the selected chart type and we also see the controls for defining the coloring logic in it.


Before defining the colors and the stops you have to select what coloring logic to use; Fixed or a Dynamic scale. The Fixed scale option colors the cells by defined threshold values while a Dynamic scale colors the cells based on the minimum and maximum result in the Heatmap. 

In the example image below are two identical Heatmaps, the only difference is that the top chart uses a Dynamic scale and the bottom chart a Fixed scale. In the bottom chart a value will, for example, be yellow if the value is in-between 7-20 but in the top chart a value will be yellow if it is within the range of 7%-20% of all the values based on the minimum and maximum result in the chart. Here we see two examples of Heatmaps, the top chart is using a Dynamic scale while the bottom chart is colored by a Fixed scale.


The Fixed scale is great to indicate if values for example meet targets while the dynamic scale is good for highlighting differences in values when, for instance, comparing different target groups or time periods. The number of defined colors is unlimited and if you do not want to use gradients like in the examples above you can add the same color twice like in the example below. Here we see an example of “ranges” in the setup to use a set of predefined colors.


The position of the Heatmap legend can be changed in the same way as any other chart type, the legend can be displayed top, bottom, left, right or be hidden completely. Here we see two examples of different legend positions (bottom and right).



Note 1: The “Show values” are always on in the Heatmaps but you can define the number of decimals to be displayed.

Note 2: A Heatmap can only consist of one series so multiple series cannot be used when Heatmap is the selected chart type.

Note 3: Settings that cannot be applied to the Heatmap due to the nature of the layout like for exampleShow as Polar, Target values, Threshold values etc. become hidden when Heatmap is selected.