Chart colors assign a consistent color to a grouping or stacking value in reports. The color stays the same across reports regardless of the order of the values.

How chart colors work

When a data category appears for the first time in a report that uses chart colors, a record is added automatically to the Chart Colors [sys_report_chart_color] table. The following fields define the data category on the Chart Colors record:

  • Data source
  • Stacking or grouping element
  • Element value
  • Application scope

The Chart Colors record also specifies a color. When a Chart Colors record is created automatically, the color is assigned from the UI 14 Color Definition [sys_report_color] records. You can edit the chart color to use a different color definition or a hexadecimal color code. For more information about editing chart colors, see the section "Define colors for data categories".

Note:
  • The base system includes several predefined chart colors. Platform Analytics Solutions can provide more chart colors.
  • The UI 14 color definitions use the Datavis - Qualitative themeable colors from the UX Theme Properties [sys_ux_theme_property] table. Next Experience must be activated for these colors to be used. Otherwise, the fallback colors from the color definitions are used.

Any other report that uses chart colors and that shows the same data category references the same Chart Colors record. Because the reports reference the same record, they show the same data category in the same color. For example, you create the first report that uses chart colors and shows priority 1 incidents in the Global scope. A Chart Colors record is created automatically to associate such incidents with a color. All other reports that use chart colors and show priority 1 incidents in the Global scope show them in the same color.

Example: Chart colors

In the following example, you see two reports on incidents that are grouped by the same field, Priority. Both reports use the chart colors. The same values of Priority have the same color despite being in a different order.

Two reports grouped by the same field and using chart colors.

Define colors for data categories

You can define a chart color for a data category in reports, such as critical priority incidents. You can select a predefined color or specify a hexadecimal code.

Before you begin

Role required: report_admin.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to All > Reports > Administration > Chart Colors.
  2. Click New.
    Figure 1. New Chart Colors form
    New chart colors form
  3. Fill in the fields, as appropriate.
    Table 1. New Chart Colors form
    NameDescription
    Name Table used for the report.
    Note: The list shows only tables and database views that are in the same scope as the chart colors record.
    Element Column name specific to the selected table.
    Value The value of the element for which the specified color applies. The value is case-sensitive.

    For elements that are reference type fields, Value is the sys_id of the value for which the specified color applies.

    The following example shows how the values of the state element on Choice [sys_choice] records match the values of the state element on Chart Color [sys_report_chart_color] records.

    Chart color choice type example - part 2

    Chart color choice type example - part 1

    To understand the various ways to get a record's sys_id, see The unique record identifier (sys_id).
    Color name Color selected from the Color Definitions [sys_report_color] table. If you select a color definition, it overrides the color specified in the Color field. For more information about color definitions, see Define system colors for analytics.
    Color
    Hexadecimal value used to specify a color that is not defined in the Color Definition table.
    Note: If the Color name field contains a value, the Color field is ignored.
  4. Click Submit.

Result

The value selected in the Element field for the table in the Name field is displayed with the specified color.