---
title: "Define a Chart"
slug: "define-a-chart"
updated: 2026-01-22T15:30:26Z
published: 2026-02-13T08:16:09Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.lakesidesoftware.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Define a Chart

A chart displays data from a [Query Data block](/documentation/docs/define-a-query-data-block) in standard visualization formats such as line, column, bar, area, pie, scatter, or spline.

Creating a chart involves three steps:

1. Add a Chart block and configure its general settings.
2. Add and configure series.
3. Configure axis labels and limits.

## Add a Chart to a Dashboard

1. In Dashboard Builder, drag a [Query Data block](/documentation/docs/define-a-query-data-block) to the workspace and configure the block as needed.
2. Drag a Chart block from the Toolbox onto the workspace.
3. Connect the output port of the Query Data block to the input port of the Chart block.
4. Enter a name and description for the chart. The name appears in the chart pane title when the dashboard is viewed.
5. Enter an **Order** value to define where the chart appears on the dashboard.
6. Enter the **Chart title**.
7. From **Default series type**, select the default chart series type. See [Available Chart Series Types](/documentation/docs/available-chart-series-types) for details.
8. From **Category column**, select the data column that the chart will use. The available columns come from the SQL query defined in the Query Data block.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/87d11426-6b1f-4b19-b593-b71e55a81af3/Images/Documentation/image(75).png)

## Configure Chart Series

> [!NOTE]
> **NOTE**: If you do not manually add series, the system creates one series for every numeric column.

For each series you want to display:

1. In **Column**, select the data source for the series.
2. In **Type**, select a series type if different from the default.
3. Select a **Color**if needed. If you do not select a color, the system assigns one automatically.
4. In **YAxis**, select **Primary**or **Secondary**. Use two Y-axes if your series values differ significantly in scale.
5. To create additional series, click **Add Series** and repeat the steps above.

![](https://cdn.document360.io/87d11426-6b1f-4b19-b593-b71e55a81af3/Images/Documentation/image(76).png)

## Configure Axis Labels and Limits

1. Enter a label for the category axis.
2. Configure the primary Y-Axis:
  1. In **YAxis**, select **Primary**.
  2. Enter a **Y-axis** label.
  3. Enter maximum and minimum values. If you leave these fields empty, the axis auto-scales based on the data. Auto-scaling starts at 0 unless the data includes negative values.
  4. To let the chart automatically determine the best minimum value based on your data range, select **Dynamic Minimum Y**. The manual minimum value you entered will be ignored.
3. Configure the secondary Y-Axis: In **YAxis**, select **Secondary**and configure it using the same steps as the primary axis.
4. Click **Apply**to save your changes.

For instructions on adding drill-down actions for chart series, see [Defining Drill-downs](/documentation/docs/define-drilldowns).

![](https://cdn.document360.io/87d11426-6b1f-4b19-b593-b71e55a81af3/Images/Documentation/image(77).png)