> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.markifact.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Create Chart > Create interactive charts and visualizations in Google Sheets The **Create Chart** node creates interactive charts and visualizations in Google Sheets workbooks. Perfect for automated reporting, data visualization, and dashboard creation. This is an **AI-powered node** that can understand natural language instructions. *** ## When to Use It * Automate chart creation for reports and dashboards * Visualize data trends and patterns * Create interactive business intelligence charts * Generate charts from dynamic data ranges * Build automated visualization workflows * Create professional presentations with data charts *** ## Inputs | Field | Type | Required | Description | | --------------- | -------- | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | **Spreadsheet** | Text | Yes | Google Sheets spreadsheet URL or ID | | **Sheet Name** | Text | Yes | Name of the sheet to create the chart in | | **Data Range** | Text | Yes | Cell range containing the data to chart | | **Chart Type** | Dropdown | Yes | Type of chart to create | | **Chart Title** | Text | No | Title to display on the chart | | **Alt Text** | Text | No | Alternative text for accessibility and identification | ### Spreadsheet Input Options **URL Format:** ``` https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit ``` **Spreadsheet ID Format:** ``` 1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms ``` ### Data Range Format **A1 Notation Examples:** ``` A1:C10 # Simple range Sales!A1:D50 # Specific sheet and range A:C # Entire columns A through C 1:5 # Entire rows 1 through 5 ``` ### Chart Type Options | Type | Best For | Description | | ---------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------- | | **COLUMN** | Comparisons | Vertical bar charts for comparing categories | | **LINE** | Trends | Line charts showing data over time | | **AREA** | Cumulative | Area charts showing volume and trends | | **BAR** | Rankings | Horizontal bar charts for rankings | | **PIE** | Proportions | Pie charts showing parts of a whole | *** ## Output Returns information about the created chart: ```json theme={"dark"} { "chart_id": 1234567890, "chart_title": "Monthly Sales Performance", "chart_type": "COLUMN", "spreadsheet_id": "1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms", "sheet_name": "Dashboard", "data_range": "A1:C12", "alt_text": "sales_chart_q4", "position": { "row": 15, "column": 5, "width": 600, "height": 400 }, "chart_url": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit#gid=0&range=A15:I32" } ``` ### Output Fields: | Field | Description | | ------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | **chart\_id** | Unique identifier for the created chart | | **chart\_title** | Title displayed on the chart | | **chart\_type** | Type of chart created | | **spreadsheet\_id** | Google Sheets spreadsheet ID | | **sheet\_name** | Sheet where chart was created | | **data\_range** | Cell range used for chart data | | **alt\_text** | Alternative text for identification | | **position** | Chart position and dimensions | | **chart\_url** | Direct link to view the chart | *** ## Credit Cost * **Cost per run**: 2 credits *** ## Common Workflows **Automated Dashboard Creation:** ``` [Read Sheet Data] → [Process/Clean Data] → [Create Chart] → [Position Charts] → [Share Dashboard] ``` **Reporting Automation:** ``` [Get Latest Data] → [Calculate Metrics] → [Create Multiple Charts] → [Generate Report] ``` **Trend Analysis:** ``` [Historical Data] → [Time Series Processing] → [Create Line Charts] → [Add Trend Lines] ``` **Comparative Analysis:** ``` [Multi-Source Data] → [Normalize Data] → [Create Column Charts] → [Add Comparisons] ``` *** ## Chart Type Guide ### Column Charts (COLUMN) **Best for:** Comparing categories, showing discrete data points ``` Use Case: Monthly sales by product Data Structure: Categories in column A, values in column B Example Range: A1:B12 (months and sales figures) ``` ### Line Charts (LINE) **Best for:** Showing trends over time, continuous data ``` Use Case: Website traffic over time Data Structure: Time periods in column A, metrics in column B Example Range: A1:B365 (daily traffic data) ``` ### Area Charts (AREA) **Best for:** Showing volume and cumulative trends ``` Use Case: Revenue growth by quarter Data Structure: Time periods in column A, cumulative values in column B Example Range: A1:B16 (quarterly cumulative revenue) ``` ### Bar Charts (BAR) **Best for:** Rankings, horizontal comparisons ``` Use Case: Top 10 products by sales Data Structure: Items in column A, values in column B Example Range: A1:B10 (product names and sales) ``` ### Pie Charts (PIE) **Best for:** Showing parts of a whole, percentages ``` Use Case: Market share by competitor Data Structure: Categories in column A, percentages in column B Example Range: A1:B6 (companies and market share) ``` *** ## Data Preparation Tips **Structure Your Data:** ``` Row 1: Headers (Category, Value) Row 2+: Data points Clean Data: No empty cells in range Consistent Types: Numbers as numbers, not text ``` **Example Data Layout:** ``` A B 1 Month Sales 2 Jan 15000 3 Feb 18000 4 Mar 22000 5 Apr 19000 ``` **Range Selection:** * **Include headers** for automatic labeling * **Ensure data continuity** (no gaps) * **Use absolute ranges** for consistent results * **Consider data growth** when selecting ranges *** ## Use Cases ### Sales Dashboard **Create monthly performance charts:** ``` - Data: Monthly sales figures - Chart Type: COLUMN - Title: "Monthly Sales Performance" - Alt Text: "monthly_sales_chart" ``` ### Trend Analysis **Track metrics over time:** ``` - Data: Daily/weekly metrics - Chart Type: LINE - Title: "Growth Trend Analysis" - Alt Text: "trend_chart" ``` ### Portfolio Breakdown **Show investment allocation:** ``` - Data: Asset categories and percentages - Chart Type: PIE - Title: "Portfolio Allocation" - Alt Text: "portfolio_pie_chart" ``` ### Performance Comparison **Compare team performance:** ``` - Data: Team names and scores - Chart Type: BAR - Title: "Team Performance Rankings" - Alt Text: "team_comparison" ``` *** ## Tips **Data Quality:** * **Clean your data** before creating charts * **Use consistent formatting** for dates and numbers * **Remove empty rows/columns** from data range * **Sort data** appropriately for the chart type **Chart Design:** * **Choose meaningful titles** that explain the chart * **Use alt text** for chart identification in workflows * **Consider your audience** when selecting chart types * **Keep data ranges focused** for clear visualizations **Workflow Integration:** * **Create charts after data processing** for best results * **Use chart\_id** to reference charts in subsequent operations * **Position charts strategically** for dashboard layouts * **Test with sample data** before automating large datasets **Performance:** * **Limit data range size** for faster chart creation * **Consider chart complexity** vs. performance needs * **Use appropriate chart types** for your data volume