How to Add Error Bars to a Chart

What are the Error Bars

Error Bars are small lines with calculated up-and-down deviation intervals from a chart point. They may be added to single-series vertical Bar, Scatter, Line, or Area charts. You may hide the lower or upper bars.

Calculated formula for the Error Bars can be selected as:

1. Percentage (by default) – 10% of each value.
2. Standard Error – 1 of each value.
3. Standard Deviation – 1 of each value.

Steps to Add Error Bars to a Chart

Start Visual Xtractor or Data Xtractor. Connect to a database. Create or design a SQL query. Run the query and check the results.

1. Display and enable the Chart query builder.
2. Make a single-series vertical Bar, Scatter, Line or Area chart.
3. Append an empty column with a Helper Charts – Error Line selection.
4. Change the fixed calculated formula as Percentage, Standard Error or Deviation.
5. Show just the upper or lower error bar levels.

Chart Demo Query with Error Bars

Look for the ready-to-use Error Bar Chart generated query under the Queries > Demo Queries > Charts > Bar Charts folder. Click on the “add demo queries” command link, if not there.

The Error Bar setting can be appended to and empty column to any other single-series vertical Bar, Scatter, Line or Area chart. Once you do this, you’ll see those special rotated H images right where the markers are, or are supposed to be when visible. You may show just the upper, lower or (by default) both levels.

Customize your Error Bars

1. Select another calculated formula: Percent, Standard Error or Deviation.
2. Show just the top error bars.
3. Show or hide the markers. Change the default marker symbols.

Conclusion

• Adding Error Bars to a chart in Data Xtractor or Visual Xtractor is fast and intuitive: just append an empty column with Error Bars to a single-series Column or Cartesian chart
• Change the default Percentage calculated formula to Standard Deviation or Error.
• Hide the lower or upper bars.