Pine BI Elements

Pine BI - Elements

Pine BI Elements are a unique feature of Pine BI, enabling you to add annotations and highlight errors in your chart to enhance communication. Whether it's emphasizing key events in a timeline, showcasing variance between periods, or displaying a CAGR, Pine BI Elements help make your visualizations more impactful.

Unlike other visualizations, Pine BI Elements can be added as templates or directly embedded into existing charts, enriching their narrative.

When creating a Pine BI Element, you must specify where the underlying data will be placed. Various properties of the element can then be modified and controlled through the data, tailored to specific needs. For example, users can define which series and periods the level difference arrow will use to calculate variance.

All elements are dynamic, updating automatically as the underlying data changes. Additionally, they can be seamlessly integrated into PowerPoint for compelling presentations.

Creating a Total Difference Arrow (TDA)

To create a TDA, select the first icon from the Elements menu. A user form will appear with the following options:

Chart Options

Create - Choose whether to add a TDA as a template or within an existing chart.
- As Template - Sample data will be added along with the necessary TDA calculations. Users can select the chart type and define value colors (available for non-stacked charts).
- In Existing Chart - Specify which chart the TDA should be added to.
  - Arrow Type - Choose between a sloped or horizontal TDA.
  - Chart Type - Select the chart type when creating a TDA as a template.

Select Data

1. Template

Select Cell - Choose a single cell from the template data; required calculations will be automatically included.

2. In Existing Chart

Select Chart - Specify the chart where the TDA should be added. The list will display the names of all charts in the active worksheet. A chart name can be found to the left of the formula bar when selected. If a chart is already active when selecting the TDA from the Elements menu, it will be pre-selected in the Select Chart menu.
Additional Calculations Location - Select a single cell where the required TDA calculations will be added.
Arrow Calculation Series - Choose the data range for the TDA.

Customize Arrow

Calculation Type - Define the calculation displayed by the TDA. The formula will be available in a single cell for easy editing and updates.
By default, users can choose from Absolute Variance, Percentage Variance, or Absolute & Percentage Variance.
If no calculation is selected, a simple text label "Label 1" will be displayed.
Label Marker Type - Choose the marker style supporting the data label.
Line Type - Select the type of TDA line.

Adjusting the TDA
Once the TDA is created, its chart element can be modified based on the underlying calculations. To facilitate navigation:

Cells containing structural formulas essential for the element are highlighted in gray and should not be edited.
The element itself can be adjusted via cells without background color.

Editable Cells for TDA Adjustments
Using the example above, the following cells can be adjusted:

Category Start (F3) - Defines the starting data point of the arrow.
Category End (G3) - Defines the ending data point of the arrow.
- Note: Changing these indexes will modify both the visual element and the calculation.
Vertical Lines Height Start/End (F4, G4) - Adjusts the vertical line depth for horizontal TDAs.
Arrow Height Adjustment (G6) - Alters the arrow height; increasing the value will enlarge the arrow - especially useful for charts with significant data differences.
Label Calculation (H8) - Houses the data label calculation. Edits and additional calculations can be applied here.

Additional Notes

Multiple TDAs can be added to a single chart.
TDAs can be used with PowerPoint charts.
TDAs are not supported for Pivot Charts.
TDAs are not supported for bar (horizontal) charts.
To change the data label format, simply modify the formatting of the underlying cell (e.g., H8).

Creating a Level Difference Arrow (LDA)

To create an LDA, select the second icon from the Elements menu. A user form will appear with the following options:

Chart Options

Create - Choose whether to add an LDA as a template or within an existing chart.
- As Template – Sample data will be added along with the necessary LDA calculations. Users can select the chart type and define value colors (available for non-stacked charts).
- In Existing Chart - Specify the chart where the LDA will be added and indicate whether it is a stacked chart.
Arrow Position From Category - Choose whether the data label appears on the left or right side of the comparison value. This can be adjusted after the LDA is created.
Chart Is Stacked - If adding an LDA to an existing chart, confirm whether the selected chart is stacked.
Chart Type - When creating an LDA template, specify the chart type.

Select Data
1. Template

Select Cell - Choose a single cell from the template data; required calculations will be automatically included.

2. In Existing Chart

Select Chart - Specify the chart where the LDA will be added. The list will display the names of all charts in the active worksheet. A chart name can be found to the left of the formula bar when selected. If a chart is already active when selecting the LDA from the Elements menu, it will be pre-selected in the Select Chart menu.
Additional Calculations Location - Select a single cell where the required LDA calculations will be added.

Customize Arrow

Calculation Type - Define the calculation displayed by the LDA. The formula will be available in a single cell for easy editing and updates.
- By default, users can choose from Absolute Variance, Percentage Variance, or Absolute & Percentage Variance.
- If no calculation is selected, a simple text label "Label 1" will be displayed.
Label Marker Type - Choose the marker style supporting the data label.
Line Type - Select the type of LDA line.

Adjusting the LDA
Like the TDA, once the LDA is created, its chart element can be modified based on the underlying calculations. To facilitate navigation:

Cells containing structural formulas essential for the element are highlighted in gray and should not be edited.
The element itself can be adjusted via cells without background color.

Editable Cells for LDA Adjustments
Using the example above, the following cells can be adjusted:

Category Start (H3) - Defines the starting data point of the arrow.
Category End (I3) - Defines the ending data point of the arrow.
Note: Changing these indexes will modify both the visual element and the calculation.
Horizontal Lines Length Start/End (H4, I4) - Adjusts the horizontal line length relative to the data point’s center. Useful when adjusting column width in a column chart to prevent overlapping arrows. Values should range between -0.5 and +0.5.
Series Number Start/End (H6, I6) - Controls which series the LDA applies to in stacked charts. The default value is 1 and should remain unchanged for non-stacked charts.
Important: For LDAs to work correctly in stacked charts, the data series must be organized horizontally, while categories and values are structured vertically. If the series order is modified after chart creation, the LDA will not function properly. To review the required data structure, consider adding a template first.
Arrow Position (H7) - Defines whether the data label and vertical line appear to the left or right of the comparison value.
Label Calculation (H8) - Houses the data label calculation. Edits and additional calculations can be applied here.

Additional Notes

Multiple LDAs can be added to a single chart.
LDAs can be used with PowerPoint charts.
LDAs are not supported for Pivot Charts.
LDAs are not supported for bar (horizontal) charts.
To change the data label format, simply modify the formatting of the underlying cell (e.g., H8).