Smooth Line Charts – TrackVia

Similar to standard Line Charts, a Smooth Line Chart displays data points connected by lines, but the lines are curved rather than straight to create a smoother visual representation of trends over time. By smoothing out fluctuations they highlight the general trend of the data, making it useful for identifying patterns and overall direction.

When to Use a Smooth Line Chart

Use a smooth line chart instead of standard line chart when you want to emphasize the overall trend of the data, particularly when there are many data points with significant noise, and you want to visually "smooth out" the irregularities to see the underlying pattern more easily.
When you want the focus to be on the general trend of the data and you don't need to see exact data points.
When you have a large dataset

When to Avoid Using a Smooth Line Chart

If there are significant fluctuations in your data (such as outliers that deviate significantly from the general trend), using a Smooth Line Chart can distort the data and lead to misinterpretation as they will smooth out those outliers.
Avoid using a Smooth Line Chart when precise representation of data points is crucial

Example Use Cases for a Smooth Line Chart

Sales forecasting: Plot monthly sales figures to identify seasonal trends and predict future sales projections with a smooth line indicating the overall growth trajectory.
Customer churn analysis: Visualize the churn rate over time to understand if there are periods of significant customer loss and identify potential areas for intervention.

Set-up Instructions

Below are the chart settings used to create the example Bubble chart shown above.

1. Select which fields to include in the chart:

2. Under the "Format" tab, select the fields to plot on the x and y axes. In this example, we have the Month on the x-axis and the "Group by this field" checkbox is checked to group the records by the Month the deal was won. On the y-axis is the count of the new deals that were won that month.

3. Under the "Customize" tab, you can enter a title for your chart and edit the labels of your x and y axes:

4. If you want to change the colors of your chart, you can do so by navigating to the chart view, then clicking on the View Menu and selecting "Change Colors":

Related articles:
Charts Overview
Line Charts