Chart Library

Browsing Charts

The Chart Library displays all your saved charts in an organized folder structure. Each chart entry shows important information at a glance, including the chart type, connection, database, and last update time.

Chart Information

Each chart in the list displays the following information:

• Chart Icon - Visual indicator of the chart type (bar, line, pie, etc.)
• Chart Name - The name you gave the chart when you created it
• Chart Type Badge - Quick reference showing the visualization type
• Connection - Which database connection the chart uses
• Database - The database containing the chart's data
• Collection - The collection the chart queries
• Last Updated - When the chart was last modified (shown as relative time like "2h ago")

Sorting Options

You can sort your charts in two ways using the toggle buttons in the toolbar:

• Sort by Name - Alphabetical ordering from A to Z
• Sort by Date - Most recently updated charts appear first

Opening Charts

There are several ways to open a chart for viewing:

• Double-Click - The quickest way to open a chart is to double-click on it in the list. The chart will open in a new activity tab.
• Right-Click Menu - Right-click on a chart and select "Open" from the context menu to view the chart.
• Keyboard Navigation - Select a chart using arrow keys and press Enter to open it.

Finding Charts

The Chart Library offers powerful search capabilities to help you quickly find the chart you need, even when you have hundreds of saved visualizations.

Search Bar

Use the search bar at the top of the Chart Library to filter charts in real-time. The search looks through:

• Chart Names - The title of your chart
• Descriptions - Any description text you added
• Connection Names - Which database connection is used
• Database Names - The database containing the data
• Collection Names - The source collection for the chart

As you type, the chart list updates instantly to show only matching results. Click the X button in the search bar to clear your search and see all charts again.

Organizing with Folders

Keep your charts organized using folders. You can create a hierarchical structure with folders and subfolders to group related charts together, making them easier to find and manage.

Creating Folders

Create new folders to organize your charts:

• Right-click in the root area and select "Create Folder" to make a top-level folder
• Right-click on an existing folder and select "Create Subfolder" to nest folders
• Hover over the root area or folders to see the folder creation button
• Enter a name for your folder and click Create

Moving Charts Between Folders

Organize your charts by moving them into folders using simple drag and drop:

1. Click and hold on a chart you want to move
2. Drag the chart to the desired folder
3. Drop it on the folder to move the chart
4. The chart will instantly appear in its new location

You can also move multiple charts at once by selecting them (using Ctrl+click or Shift+click) and then dragging any of the selected charts to the target folder.

Expanding and Collapsing Folders

Click on a folder to expand or collapse it and show or hide its contents. The folder structure remembers which folders you have expanded, so they'll remain open the next time you visit the Chart Library.

Chart Actions

Each chart has several actions available through hover buttons or the right-click context menu:

• Duplicate Chart - Creates an exact copy of the chart with " (Copy)" appended to the name. Useful for creating variations of an existing chart or using a chart as a template. The duplicate chart appears in the same folder as the original.
• Delete Chart - Permanently removes the chart from your library. You'll be asked to confirm before deletion. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you really want to delete the chart.
• Open Chart - Opens the chart for viewing in a new activity tab. The chart will load with its saved configuration and display the latest data from your database.

Bulk Operations

You can perform actions on multiple charts at once:

• Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click charts to select multiple individual charts
• Hold Shift and click to select a range of charts
• Right-click on selected charts to delete or move them all at once
• The context menu shows the number of selected charts in the delete option

Managing Folders

In addition to organizing charts, you can manage the folders themselves:

Folder Actions

Right-click on a folder to access these options:

• Create Subfolder - Add a new folder inside this folder
• Expand/Collapse - Toggle the folder open or closed
• Delete Folder - Remove the folder and all its contents

Keyboard Shortcuts

Navigate the Chart Library efficiently using keyboard shortcuts:

Note: On macOS, use Cmd instead of Ctrl

Demo Charts

If you're new to VisualLeaf or want to explore the charting capabilities, you can create a set of demo charts with sample data.

Creating Demo Charts

1. Click the "Create Demo Charts" button in the toolbar
2. Choose a folder where you want to store the demo charts (or leave blank for root)
3. Select a connection and database where the sample data should be created
4. Wait while VisualLeaf creates sample collections and generates example charts

The demo charts showcase different chart types including bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and more. Each chart is pre-configured with sample data so you can immediately see how different visualizations work. This is a great way to learn the charting features before creating your own charts.

Creating New Charts

While the Chart Library is for viewing and managing existing charts, you create new charts from other activities in VisualLeaf. Click the help button (?) in the Chart Library toolbar to see detailed instructions on how to create charts.

Where to Create Charts

Charts can be created from query results in these activities:

• Collection Activity - Run a query on a collection, then click "Create Chart" in the results toolbar
• Aggregation Activity - Build an aggregation pipeline, execute it, then create a chart from the results
• SQL Query Activity - Run a SQL query using NoQL, then visualize the results as a chart

Once you create a chart from any of these activities, it will automatically appear in your Chart Library where you can organize it into folders and access it anytime.

Pro Tips

• Keep it organized - Create folders for different projects, teams, or types of analysis. A well-organized Chart Library makes it much easier to find the chart you need.
• Use descriptive names - Give your charts clear, descriptive names that explain what they show. This makes searching and browsing much more effective, especially when you have many charts.
• Duplicate for variations - If you want to create a similar chart with slight modifications, duplicate an existing chart and then modify it. This saves time compared to building from scratch.
• Sort by date to find recent work - When looking for a chart you recently worked on, switch to "Sort by Date" to see your most recently updated charts first.
• Multi-select for bulk moves - When reorganizing, select multiple charts at once using Ctrl+click, then drag them all to a new folder in one operation.
• Use search for quick access - Instead of browsing through folders, use the search bar to instantly find a chart by typing part of its name, database, or collection.

Related Features

• Collection Activity - Query collections and create charts from the results
• Aggregation Activity - Build aggregation pipelines and visualize the output as charts
• SQL Query Activity - Use SQL syntax to query MongoDB and generate charts from SQL results
• Chart Builder - The actual chart viewing and editing interface where you configure visualizations