When working in Virtuous Analytics, understanding key features and best practices is central to efficiently and confidently moving through Virtuous Analytics. Let’s walk through the fundamentals of Virtuous Analytics including navigation, the Element Bar, Top and Bottom Bar buttons, and more.
To access Virtuous Analytics, select Reports > Virtuous Analytics from the left-hand menu.
Here, you’ll find a list of the Virtuous Platform Reports and any previously created reports. Whether you’re building a Custom Report or viewing or customizing a Platform Report, all Reports are comprised of Workbooks, Pages, and Datasets.
Workbooks, Pages, and Datasets
An easy way to understand Workbooks, Pages, and Datasets is to think of them like parts of an actual book. Consider the Workbook a book you can read. The title of the Workbook is the title of the book. Each Page of the book is a chapter and the words are all part of a Dataset.
Workbook: When you create a new Virtuous Analytics Report, this will create a new Workbook, sometimes referred to as a Dashboard. This Workbook will be blank by default.
Page: You will also have one Page created by default. Along the bottom border, you can see Page 1 and the option to create additional Pages.
Dataset: With a Workbook and Page ready for data, you can now select the Datasets to be included.
Once you have created a Workbook with at least one Page, you will have a blank canvas to begin working on. Before jumping into the build process, there are a few more important buttons and functionalities to familiarize yourself with. These are broken down into three sections:
Element Bar
The Element Bar across the bottom of your workbook allows you to insert charts, tables, and other elements at any point on a Page.
Data Elements
Select the Data icon to insert a Table or a Pivot Table. Tables represent the raw data selected to be included in the report. Combining Tables with a Join or a Union will allow you to zero in on the exact selection of data desired. Learn more about working with Tables here, or learn how to use Joins and Unions here.
A Pivot Table allows you to reorganize and analyze a dataset by grouping information in different ways. Learn more about Pivot Tables here.
Charts Elements
A Chart is a visualization of data that provides visual context to your analysis. This can help you uncover patterns, trends, outliers, and correlations essential for crafting a compelling data story.
To learn more about creating and working with Charts, check out this support article.
Controls Elements
Controls are interactive elements (like a dropdown, checkbox, date picker, etc.) that allow you to dynamically change the data displayed in a Workbook or Dashboard without editing the underlying Filters.
UI Elements
UI elements are stylistic features (like titles, descriptions, or button triggers) that allow you to customize the overall look and flow of your Dashboard or Workbook.
Layout Elements
Lastly, Layouts help you organize the content in your Workbook into groups like Containers and Modals.
Learn more about the all Element options here.
Element Properties, Format, and Actions
Selecting any of the Elements from the bar will then display a new menu along the right side with tab for:
- Properties: select and/or rearrange columns, create groupings, and more with your data to configure your Element. Depending on what type of Element you’ve chosen, the Properties available will vary.
- Format: configure the style of that Element
- Actions: create custom interactions that can be triggered within the Element. Depending on what type of dataset and details you've selected, the Actions available will vary.
Top Bar Navigation
The top bar navigation focused on the details of a dataset within a specific Page of a Workbook. When you do NOT have a dataset selected, you will see very few options in the top bar.
Once you have selected a dataset within your Page, the options will expand with functions to further format the data selected.
Undo - Redo
As in many other applications, the left and right arrows represent "undo" and "redo", respectively. This will apply to changes done within a specific Page.
Currency
NOTE: At this time, adding a currency symbol will add the same symbol to ALL amounts in a Gift context. In addition, all amounts are in "base currency amount". This means that if someone donates $500 in CAD and the main currency for your organization's database is USD, this function will turn that "500" value into "$500" representing USD 500.
Percentage
Using the "%" symbol will format the selected column of data into a percentage. In the example below, the data in the column titled "Percentage of Gift Designated" is initially represented as a whole number. After formatting, this is now displayed as "100%" rather than "1", better communicating that the full amount of this Gift is designated to a Project.
Before Formatting
After Formatting
Decimal Places
Using the ".0" or ".00" option will decrease or increase the number of decimal places displayed for the column of data selected. In the example below, selecting the "decrease decimal places" option would reduce the display to "100%". Selecting the "increase decimal places" option would add a character to display as "100.00%".
Format
Selecting the Format drop-down will display all the various formatting options. Depending on the type of data you have currently selected, some of the options may be greyed out.
Wrap Text
While you are fine-tuning the appearance of your data, "Wrap Text" will allow you to display the full selection of characters in any given column. In the example below, the name "Stephanie and Christopher..." is cut off and hidden. When "Wrap Text" formatting is applied, the full name of Stephanie and Christopher Doran is displayed.
Before Formatting
After Formatting
Text Color and Fill Color
These two formatting options go hand in hand. After selecting a column or a few columns of data, you can modify both the Text Color and the Fill Color (background color). In the example below, the Contact Name column now has a yellow Fill Color.
Bottom Bar
There are just a few options to configure your Workbooks and Pages in the bottom left corner.
Workbook Options
Select the 3 blue lines icon to manage the Name, the Folder location, and Exports from the Workbook. Or, you have the option to Save as a copy or Delete the Workbook entirely.
Learn more about Exporting data from Virtuous Analytics here.
Page Overview
Selecting the icon with three stacked lines will display your Page Overview. This is a summary of all the datasets included. From here, you can select a specific dataset to locate it on your Page.
Add a Page
Select the + icon to add a new Page to your Workbook, or select the caret icon to add a modal.
Need More Help?
Need help making sense of your data or building Reports in Virtuous Analytics? Virtuous Professional Services can create custom Virtuous Analytics Reports for your organization. Whether you have a Report or visualization in mind, or need something completely new, our team can scope your needs and build Reports to give you the insights you need. Click here to learn more about our Professional Services offerings, or contact your Customer Success Manager to get started!