This pattern illustrates how to create a column chart that compares the number of total orders and the number of orders that had at least one item purchased with a promo code. This pattern also provides a sample scenario to show how you can take common business requirements and quickly turn them into a report.

You'll notice that this pattern provides more than just an expression, it shows you the fastest way to build reports in Design Mode. To get the most out of this pattern, follow the steps in Create this pattern to learn how to build advanced reports using the latest low-code features.

Scenario

Account managers at the Appian Retail company want to know: of the total number of orders placed in 2021, how many orders had at least one item purchased with a promo code? Account managers will use this information to see if promo codes are having a positive effect on their total number of sales. Depending on the data, they may choose to send more promo codes during lower performing months to boost sales.

To allow account managers to analyze the relationship between promo codes and total orders, you'll use the pattern on this page to create a column chart that shows the count of total orders and the count of orders that contain at least one promo code.

The report will look like this:

Setup

This pattern uses data from the Appian Retail application, available for free in Appian Community Edition. To follow along with this pattern, log in to Appian Community to request the latest Appian Community Edition site.

If you do not see the Appian Retail application available in your existing Appian Community Edition, you can request a new Appian Community Edition to get the latest application contents available.

This pattern will use data from the following record types in the Appian Retail application:

• Order record type: Contains order information like the order number, date, status, and whether it was purchased online or in stores. For example, order number SO43659 was purchased in stores on 5/31/2019 and the order is closed.
• Order Detail record type: Contains specific order details like the number of order items, order totals, promo codes applied, and products. For example, the order above contained one product that cost $2,024.99.
• Promo Codes record type: Contains promo code details, like the name of the promo code, the discount percentage, type, and timeframe. For example, the Mountain Tire Sale promo code gave 50% off to customers who purchased tires from 5/14/2013 to 7/29/2013.

Create this pattern

To create this pattern, you will:

1. Create a column chart that shows the number of orders placed each month.
2. Add a second measure to show the number of orders that have at least one item purchased with a promo code.
3. (Optional) Format the column chart.

Step 1: Create a column chart that shows orders per month

To create the column chart for this pattern:

1. In the Appian Retail application, go to the Build view.
2. Click NEW > Interface.
3. Configure the interface properties and click CREATE.
4. From the PALETTE, drag a COLUMN CHART component into the interface.
5. From Data Source, select RECORD TYPE and search for the Order record type.
6. Click the pencil icon next to the Primary Grouping to configure the chart's grouping and formatting:
   • For Field, remove the existing field. Then, use the dropdown to select orderDate.
   • For Alias, enter orderDate.
   • For Time Interval, select Month.
   • For Format Value, use a pre-defined format to display the abbreviated month and year. For example, Sep 2021.
7. Return to the Column Chart component configuration.
8. Click the pencil icon next to the Measure to configure the chart's aggregation:
   • For Label, enter Total Orders.
   • For Aggregation Function, keep the default selection of Count of.
   • For Field, keep the default selection of orderId.
9. Return to the Column Chart component configuration.
10. Click FILTER RECORDS.
11. Click Add Filter and configure the following conditions:
    • For Field, select orderDate.
    • For Condition, select Date Range.
    • For Value, use the context menu () to select Expression.
    • Click null to edit the expression.

    • Replace the existing value with the following expression:

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      {
        todatetime("01/01/2021"),
        todatetime("12/31/2021")
      }
      

    Tip:  In your own applications, you can use Date Presets to dynamically filter data. This pattern uses a static date for testing purposes.

12. Click OK.

13. Click OK to close the dialog.

    

    

Step 2: Add a second measure with a filter

The chart currently displays the count of orders placed in 2021. Now, we're going to add a second measure with a filter on the measure so it displays the count of orders that have at least one item purchased with a promo code.

To add the second measure:

1. On the column chart, click ADD MEASURE.
2. Click the pencil icon next to the new Measure to configure the second aggregation:
   • For Label, enter Orders with Promo Codes.
   • For Aggregation Function, keep the default selection Count of.
   • For Field, select the orderId field.
3. Click + ADD FILTERS.
4. Click Add Filter and configure following:
   • For Field, use the dropdown to hover over orderDetail > promoCode and select the description field. The field will display as orderDetail.promoCode.description.
   • For Condition, select not equal to.
   • For Value, enter No Discount.

5. Click OK.

   

   

Optional chart formatting

In this last step, you'll add a chart label, change the color scheme, and hide the Y-Axis labels.

To format the chart:

1. Return to the Column Chart component configuration.
2. Under Label, enter Order Trends in 2021.
3. For Color Scheme, keep the default Choose pre-defined color scheme, and choose Sunset from the dropdown.

4. For Y-Axis Style, choose None.

   

   

Full expression

The resulting expression will look like this:

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{
  a!columnChartField(
    data: a!recordData(
      recordType: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order',
      filters: a!queryLogicalExpression(
        operator: "AND",
        filters: {
          a!queryFilter(
            field: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order.fields.{fbcc99f6-1ddf-4923-903b-18122a1737c6}orderDate',
            operator: "between",
            value: {
              todatetime("01/01/2021"),
              todatetime("12/31/2021")
            }
          )
        },
        ignoreFiltersWithEmptyValues: true
      )
    ),
    config: a!columnChartConfig(
      primaryGrouping: a!grouping(
        field: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order.fields.{fbcc99f6-1ddf-4923-903b-18122a1737c6}orderDate',
        alias: "orderDate_month_primaryGrouping",
        interval: "MONTH_SHORT_TEXT"
      ),
      measures: {
        a!measure(
          label: "Total Orders",
          function: "COUNT",
          field: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order.fields.{262bb249-cf34-4171-a573-54831d0958dd}orderId',
          alias: "orderId_count_measure1"
        ),
        a!measure(
          label: "Orders with Promo Codes",
          function: "COUNT",
          field: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order.fields.{262bb249-cf34-4171-a573-54831d0958dd}orderId',
          filters: a!queryLogicalExpression(
            operator: "AND",
            filters: {
              a!queryFilter(
                field: 'recordType!{ad898682-e651-4b2d-af67-47c1fcb1171f}Order.relationships.{0bde4028-fd7a-411f-97ad-7ad5b84e0d18}orderDetail.relationships.{2ca679d6-3800-419b-8310-c1e328897e60}promoCode.fields.{aad6d5cd-e48f-46b4-bb00-a8252d51b3ee}description',
                operator: "<>",
                value: "No Discount"
              )
            },
            ignoreFiltersWithEmptyValues: true
          ),
          alias: "orderId_count_measure2"
        )
      },
      dataLimit: 100,
      showIntervalsWithNoData: true
    ),
    label: "Order Trends in 2021",
    stacking: "NONE",
    showLegend: true,
    showTooltips: true,
    labelPosition: "ABOVE",
    colorScheme: "SUNSET",
    height: "MEDIUM",
    xAxisStyle: "STANDARD",
    yAxisStyle: "NONE",
    refreshAfter: "RECORD_ACTION"
  )
}