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Interactive Charts Feature

All Catchlight dashboard charts include interactive features like hover details, click-through filtering, export options, and dynamic updates that help you explore your data more deeply and take action on insights.

Chris Ross avatar
Written by Chris Ross
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Overview of Interactive Features

Catchlight charts aren't just static images—they're interactive tools designed to help you explore your data and take action. Understanding these features helps you get the most value from your dashboard.

Core Interactive Features

Hover for Details

How It Works Move your cursor over any chart element (bar, pie slice, data point) to see detailed information.

What You'll See:

  • Exact values (not just visual approximation)

  • Percentages of total

  • Client counts

  • Additional context specific to that data point

Example: Hovering over the "Affluent" segment in a Wealth Distribution pie chart shows:

  • "Affluent: 142 clients (35.5%)"

  • "Investable Assets: $1M-$5M"

  • "Total Est. Revenue: $1,423,000"

Click to Filter

How It Works Click on any chart element to automatically filter your entire dashboard to show only those clients.

Common Uses:

  • Click a revenue tier to see which specific clients are in that range

  • Click a wealth segment to view only those clients

  • Click a life event to filter to affected clients

  • Click a geographic region to focus on that territory

What Happens:

  1. Chart element is clicked

  2. Filter is applied across all dashboard views

  3. Other charts update to reflect the filtered data

  4. Client list updates to show matching clients

  5. Active filter appears at top of dashboard

Removing Filters: Click the "X" on the active filter badge or click "Clear All Filters"

Drill-Down Capabilities

Progressive Exploration Some charts allow multiple levels of drill-down:

  1. First Level: Click a category (e.g., "Affluent")

  2. Second Level: Chart updates to show sub-categories (e.g., by acquisition channel)

  3. Third Level: Click again to see individual clients

  4. Return: Use breadcrumb navigation to return to previous view

Example Drill-Down Path:

  • Revenue Distribution → Click "$25K-$50K" tier

  • → See breakdown by wealth segment within that tier

  • → Click "Affluent" segment

  • → View individual client list

Chart Zooming and Panning

For Time-Series Charts:

  • Zoom In: Click and drag to select a date range

  • Zoom Out: Double-click or use reset button

  • Pan: Click and drag to move left/right through time

  • Reset: Return to default view with reset button

For Large Data Sets:

  • Scroll to see additional data points

  • Use pagination controls for long lists

  • Adjust display density (compact vs. detailed view)

Export and Download Options

Export Chart Image

  • Click the export icon (typically in top-right of chart)

  • Choose format: PNG, JPG, SVG, or PDF

  • Image downloads with current filters and view settings

  • Useful for presentations or reports

Export Underlying Data

  • Access "Export Data" option in chart menu

  • Download as CSV or Excel

  • Includes all data shown in current filtered view

  • Contains both summary and detail data

Scheduled Exports: Some dashboards support automated exports:

  • Weekly summary charts

  • Monthly reports

  • Custom schedules

Comparison Toggles

Compare Time Periods:

  • Toggle "Previous Period" to overlay comparison data

  • Switch between month-over-month, quarter-over-quarter, year-over-year

  • See growth trends and seasonal patterns

Compare Segments:

  • Enable multi-select to compare different groups

  • View side-by-side or overlaid comparisons

  • Benchmark different advisors, territories, or segments

Chart Type Switching

Multiple Visualizations: Switch between different chart types for the same data:

  • Bar Chart: Good for comparing categories

  • Line Chart: Best for trends over time

  • Pie Chart: Shows proportional distribution

  • Table View: Detailed numbers and rankings

When to Switch:

  • Use tables when you need exact values

  • Use line charts to spot trends

  • Use bar charts for comparisons

  • Use pie charts for composition

Advanced Interactions

Multi-Select Filtering

Building Complex Filters:

  1. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac)

  2. Click multiple chart elements

  3. Filter applies to all selected items (OR logic)

Example: Select both "Affluent" AND "Mass Affluent" wealth segments to see combined group.

Right-Click Context Menus

Right-click on chart elements for additional options:

  • Create segment from selection

  • Add to custom list

  • Schedule alert for this group

  • Export selected data

  • Create task or reminder

Chart Annotations

Add Notes to Charts:

  • Click annotation tool

  • Add comments or markers to specific data points

  • Useful for tracking significant events or decisions

  • Annotations save and persist across sessions

Example: Mark the date of a major marketing campaign launch to correlate with client acquisition spikes.

Dynamic Thresholds

Set Visual Alerts:

  • Define threshold lines (e.g., "Target: 100 clients in HNW segment")

  • Chart highlights when above/below threshold

  • Color coding for performance zones (red/yellow/green)

Responsive Layouts

Automatic Adjustments:

  • Charts resize based on screen size

  • Mobile-friendly views available

  • Print-optimized layouts

  • Tablet-compatible touch interactions

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your workflow with shortcuts:

  • Arrow Keys: Navigate between charts

  • Enter: Drill into selected chart element

  • Esc: Exit drill-down or clear selection

  • Ctrl/Cmd + E: Export current chart

  • Ctrl/Cmd + F: Focus on filter bar

  • Ctrl/Cmd + R: Refresh data

Real-Time Updates

Live Data:

  • Charts update automatically when data changes

  • Refresh indicator shows when update is in progress

  • Manual refresh button for on-demand updates

  • Timestamp shows last data refresh

Update Frequency:

  • Client data: Daily overnight

  • Life events: Weekly

  • Enrichment scores: Monthly

  • Manual imports: Immediate

Customization Options

Chart Configuration

Access settings menu to customize:

  • Color schemes

  • Label formats

  • Axis scales

  • Data point display

  • Legend position

Save Custom Views

  • Configure charts to your preferences

  • Save as custom dashboard layout

  • Share configurations with team members

  • Set as default view

Widget Arrangements

  • Drag and drop to reorder charts

  • Resize charts by dragging corners

  • Hide charts you don't use

  • Add favorite charts to top

Accessibility Features

For All Users:

  • High-contrast mode

  • Colorblind-friendly palettes

  • Screen reader compatibility

  • Keyboard navigation support

  • Adjustable text sizes

Mobile and Tablet Interactions

Touch Gestures:

  • Tap: Select chart element

  • Double-tap: Drill down

  • Pinch: Zoom in/out

  • Swipe: Navigate between charts

  • Long-press: Access context menu

Performance Tips

For Faster Interactions:

  • Apply filters before loading large charts

  • Use date range limits for time-series data

  • Export large data sets rather than viewing all on screen

  • Close unused browser tabs

  • Clear cache periodically

Troubleshooting Interactive Features

Chart Not Responding?

  1. Refresh the page

  2. Clear browser cache

  3. Check internet connection

  4. Try a different browser

  5. Contact support if issue persists

Filters Not Working?

  • Verify filter is actually applied (check filter badges)

  • Clear all filters and reapply

  • Check for conflicting filters (e.g., impossible combinations)

  • Ensure you have permission to view filtered data

Export Failing?

  • Check file size limits

  • Disable pop-up blockers

  • Try different export format

  • Reduce date range or filters to limit data size

Best Practices

  1. Start Broad, Then Narrow: Begin with full view, then click and filter down

  2. Use Hover First: Hover before clicking to confirm what you're selecting

  3. Save Useful Views: Don't recreate common filter combinations—save them

  4. Export for Sharing: Use exports for team discussions rather than sharing screenshots

  5. Refresh Regularly: Update data before important meetings or reviews

  6. Learn Shortcuts: Keyboard shortcuts save time for frequent users

  7. Mobile for Quick Checks: Use mobile for fast insights, desktop for deep analysis

Related Articles

  • 3.3: Using Filters to Refine Your View

  • 3.4: Exporting and Sharing Data

  • 7.2: Dashboard Performance Tips

  • 8.1: Common Dashboard Issues

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