Advanced Data Visualization in Amazon QuickSight with Highcharts Visual

Introduction

Amazon QuickSight has leaped forward in data visualization by introducing the Highcharts visual, a powerful tool that enables authors to craft custom visualizations with remarkable precision and flexibility. This new feature empowers users to design various chart types, including niche and specialized visualizations, using the Highcharts JSON schema. It is available at no additional cost, making it accessible for users seeking to elevate their data storytelling capabilities. In this blog, we will delve into the Highcharts visual, its features, applications, and how it enhances the Amazon QuickSight experience.

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Revolutionizing Data Visuals with Highcharts

The Highcharts visual is an exciting addition to Amazon QuickSight, catering to the growing need for highly customizable and impactful data representations. It offers:

Advanced Visualization Options: Create specialized charts like packed bubble charts and lollipop charts.
Customization: Achieve granular control over chart elements using the Highcharts JSON schema.
Brand Consistency: Design visuals that align with your organization’s branding.
Interactivity: Build dynamic dashboards with engaging visual elements.
Streamlined Dashboard Development: Create all your visualizations directly within Amazon QuickSight.

Leveraging the Highcharts Core library, this feature combines exceptional flexibility with the intuitive Amazon QuickSight interface. Authors can seamlessly reference Amazon QuickSight fields and formatting through expressions while benefiting from a user-friendly JSON code editor with real-time validation and autocomplete. To ensure security, the editor blocks the injection of external CSS, JavaScript, or HTML code.

Whether transitioning from other BI platforms or building complex dashboards, the Highcharts visual ensures you have the tools to create tailored, data-driven stories that drive better insights and decisions.

Getting Started with Highcharts Visual in Amazon QuickSight

Adding a Highcharts Visual

To begin using Highcharts visual:

Open an analysis in Amazon QuickSight.
Choose the Add visual icon or select Highcharts visual from the visual type selector.
Use the Highcharts JSON schema to configure your visualization.

The following steps demonstrate creating a lipstick column chart to compare measures with a clear visual hierarchy.

Building a Lipstick Column Chart

The lipstick column chart enables precise comparisons between two measures while emphasizing the primary metric. Its compact design is ideal for dashboards with limited space.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create a Base Column Chart

Add Industry and Current Year Sales fields to your analysis.
Configure display settings to set the chart title.
Expand the code editor and apply the following JSON code:

{
  "xAxis": { "categories": ["getColumn", 0] },
  "yAxis": { "min": 0, "title": { "text": "Amount ($)" } },
  "series": [
    {
      "type": "column",
      "name": "Current Year Sales",
      "color": "rgba(124,181,236,1)",
      "data": ["getColumn", 1],
      "pointPadding": 0.3,
      "pointPlacement": 0.0
    }
  ]
}

{

"xAxis": { "categories": ["getColumn", 0] },

"yAxis": { "min": 0, "title": { "text": "Amount ($)" } },

"series": [

{

"type": "column",

"name": "Current Year Sales",

"color": "rgba(124,181,236,1)",

"data": ["getColumn", 1],

"pointPadding": 0.3,

"pointPlacement": 0.0

}

]

}

This creates a base column chart with industries on the x-axis and sales data on the y-axis.

Step 2: Add Prior Year Sales

To add a second series for comparison:

Add Prior Year Sales to the Value field.
Modify the series array in the JSON code:

JSON

{
  "type": "column",
  "name": "Prior Year Sales",
  "color": "rgba(67,67,72,0.7)",
  "data": ["getColumn", 2],
  "pointPadding": 0.4,
  "pointPlacement": 0.0
}

{

"type": "column",

"name": "Prior Year Sales",

"color": "rgba(67,67,72,0.7)",

"data": ["getColumn", 2],

"pointPadding": 0.4,

"pointPlacement": 0.0

}

This step overlaps the columns for a direct comparison.

Step 3: Include Target Sales as a Marker

Add Target Sales as a third series.
Update the JSON code to include a marker for Target Sales:

JSON

{
  "type": "line",
  "name": "Target Sales",
  "color": "rgba(0,0,0,0)",
  "data": ["getColumn", 3],
  "marker": {
    "lineWidth": 5,
    "lineColor": "red",
    "fillColor": "white"
  }
}

{

"type": "line",

"name": "Target Sales",

"color": "rgba(0,0,0,0)",

"data": ["getColumn", 3],

"marker": {

"lineWidth": 5,

"lineColor": "red",

"fillColor": "white"

}

This renders a distinct marker for the target value.

Step 4: Customize the Marker

To change the marker to a triangle:

JSON

{
  "marker": {
    "lineWidth": 3,
    "symbol": "triangle",
    "lineColor": "red",
    "fillColor": "white"
  }
}

{

"marker": {

"lineWidth": 3,

"symbol": "triangle",

"lineColor": "red",

"fillColor": "white"

}

Step 5: Apply Conditional Formatting

Use the following JSON code to format the Current Year Sales column conditionally:

JSON

{
  "data": [
    "map",
    ["getColumn", 1, 2, 3],
    {
      "y": ["get", ["item"], 0],
      "color": [
        "case",
        [">=", ["get", ["item"], 0], ["get", ["item"], 2]], "rgba(168, 244, 179)",
        [">=", ["get", ["item"], 0], ["get", ["item"], 1]], "rgba(245,226,39,1)",
        "rgba(241,165,160,1)"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

{

"data": [

"map",

["getColumn", 1, 2, 3],

{

"y": ["get", ["item"], 0],

"color": [

"case",

[">=", ["get", ["item"], 0], ["get", ["item"], 2]], "rgba(168, 244, 179)",

[">=", ["get", ["item"], 0], ["get", ["item"], 1]], "rgba(245,226,39,1)",

"rgba(241,165,160,1)"

]

}

]

}

This highlights sales performance against targets and prior year values.

Additional Visualization Examples

Packed Bubble Charts

Packed bubble charts visualize data using the size and color of bubbles. Configure them using the following JSON:

JSON

{
  "chart": { "type": "packedbubble" },
  "series": [ /* Insert your data logic */ ]
}

{

"chart": { "type": "packedbubble" },

"series": [ /* Insert your data logic */ ]

}

Bullet Charts

Bullet charts are a space-efficient way to display KPIs alongside targets:

JSON

{
  "chart": { "type": "bullet", "inverted": true },
  "series": [ /* Insert your data logic */ ]
}

{

"chart": { "type": "bullet", "inverted": true },

"series": [ /* Insert your data logic */ ]

}

Advantages and Limitations

The Highcharts visual brings unprecedented customization and flexibility, but it does have limitations:

Interactivity: Filters and navigation actions are unavailable.
External Resources: Linking to external GeoJSON or images isn’t supported.
Ad-Hoc Filters: Not currently supported.

Conclusion

The Highcharts visual transforms Amazon QuickSight into a robust platform for creating tailored, impactful dashboards.

With features like advanced customization, dynamic elements, and seamless integration, it empowers organizations to craft visuals that resonate with their unique needs. Whether for enhancing decision-making or improving communication, this tool sets a new benchmark for BI visualizations.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding Amazon QuickSight and we will get back to you quickly.

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FAQs

1. How do Highcharts visually enhance decision-making?

ANS: – By enabling tailored and visually impactful dashboards, Highcharts makes data easier to interpret, leading to better insights and more informed decisions.

2. What kind of dashboards is the Highcharts visual best suited for?

ANS: – The Highcharts visual is ideal for dashboards requiring advanced customization, compact designs, or specialized visualizations that cater to specific business needs and branding requirements.