How to Switch Chart Types Dynamically in Embedded Dashboards

TL;DR: Users don’t always interact with data the same way. Some prefer trends, others comparisons, and some want proportions. Instead of cluttering dashboards with multiple charts, you can enable dynamic chart switching in Bold BI® using parameters, inter-widget linking, and visibility rules, allowing users to toggle chart types instantly within a single dashboard.

Introduction

Data visualization requirements vary from one user to another, especially in embedded analytics. While one user focuses on trends over time, another may want category comparisons, and a third may prefer understanding proportions at a glance. Bold BI offers a simple way to solve this by enabling users to switch chart types in embedded dashboards. With a combination of dashboard parameters, inter-widget linking, and conditional visibility, you can choose the visualization that works best for you, without duplicating widgets or building multiple dashboards.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to implement dynamic chart type switching in embedded dashboards using Bold BI, so users can instantly switch between visualizations without duplicating data or redesigning dashboards.

What is dynamic chart switching?

Dynamic chart switching is a dashboard technique that lets users toggle between different chart types (bar, column, pie, or line,) using the same dataset, without duplicating dashboards or rebuilding the layout.

In Bold BI, you can implement it by combining:

• Dashboard parameter: Create a list parameter containing chart-type values like bar, column, pie, or doughnut.
• Combo box (master widget): Bind the combo box to that parameter so the user can select the chart type.
• Inter-widget linking + tab widget: Link the combo box to a tab widget that contains one chart per tab (all using the same data). When the selection changes, Bold BI switches to the matching tab (and chart) instantly.

Why dynamic chart switching matters in embedded dashboards

A single chart type rarely tells the whole story. Depending on the task, different visuals highlight different insights. Dynamic chart switching gives users the ability to change visualizations instantly and interactively. This gives you:

• Multiple perspectives from the same data: Switching chart types lets users instantly view the same data as trends, comparisons, or proportions without leaving the dashboard.
• Faster insight discovery: Users can change visualizations on the spot with no exports or extra navigation, making data analysis quicker and more seamless.
• A personalized dashboard experience: Chart switching allows each user to choose the visualization style that suits their needs, creating a more intuitive and customized experience.
• Reduced layout clutter: Instead of using multiple widgets for the same metric, dynamic switching keeps the dashboard clean by updating one visual area based on the user’s selection.

Try dynamic chart switching in your dashboard

Want to see how this works in a real scenario? Open your Bold BI dashboard and experiment with switching between chart types using parameters and tab widgets. It’s one of the simplest ways to make your dashboards more interactive without adding extra complexity.

Now, let’s walk through how to switch chart types in Bold BI embedded dashboards.

How to switch chart types in Bold BI embedded dashboards

Bold BI enables dynamic chart switching using a combination of parameters, tab widgets, and inter-widget linking. To configure dynamic chart switching in Bold BI embedded dashboards, follow these steps.

Step 1: Create a dashboard parameter with chart names

1. Log into the Bold BI dashboard designer home page and select the dashboard where you want to enable chart type switching.
2. Select Edit to open the dashboard in the designer page.
3. Select Data Sources then Edit in the top right corner of the designer page.
4. In the pop-up window, select the Relevant Dashboard Parameter from the menu.
5. In the Dashboard Parameter dialog, one default parameter will already be added. Under Mode, select List.
6. Next, add dashboard parameter values and then adjust the name of the dashboard parameter. Note that for this example, we’ll be using bar, column, pie, and doughnut values.

Step 2: Configure the dashboard with widgets

To configure the dashboard:

1. Drag and drop the combined widget onto the design canvas and add the configuration to the combined widget. Under Assign data, add the combo box widget and bind the dashboard parameter field to the Value section.
2. Next, add a Tab widget to the canvas and create one tab per chart type you want.
3. In each tab, add a chart widget configured with the same dataset. Then, set the chart type for that tab, whether bar, column, pie, doughnut, or otherwise. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1484"]
4. Disable the options for Hide Tab Header and Show Shadow in the tab widget. Likewise, disable the show shadow option for all chart widgets.

Step 3: Enabling inter-widget linking in the master widget

Select the option labeled inter-widget linking in the combo box widget.

Go to the properties panel for the combo box widget, check the box under inter-widget linking, and choose the tab widget from the list of items.

Step 4: Preview and publish

Once done, you can publish or preview the dashboard. The dashboard grants users the flexibility to dynamically switch the chart type by selecting a value from the combo box widget.

Best practices for designing interactive dashboards

To get the most out of dynamic chart switching:

• Limit options to three to five chart types.
• Keep the selector clearly visible.
• Use consistent color schemes across charts.
• Optimize queries to avoid performance issues.
• Test visibility rules thoroughly.

For more guidance on building intuitive, high‑quality dashboards, refer to our blog on the 10 best practices for designing powerful dashboards.

Real-world use cases of switching chart types

Switching chart types dynamically in Bold BI embedded dashboards lets users instantly shift between composition views to answer different real-world questions in the same dashboard without rebuilding visuals.

Sales performance dashboard

A sales manager can use the sales analysis dashboard to track revenue, top products, customer segments, and month-to-month sales. By switching chart types, they can view monthly trends, which helps them quickly spot seasonal peaks, understand category performance, and make faster inventory decisions.

Patient health monitoring dashboard

In healthcare, a care coordinator can use a patient health monitoring dashboard to track key vitals like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation for each patient. With chart switching, they can move from a line chart showing sleep trends over 15 days to a bar chart comparing steps walked with target steps. This helps them quickly spot changes in patient activity and overall health without switching dashboards.

School performance dashboard

A school administrator can use a school performance dashboard to monitor student scores, pass rates, and upcoming activities. With chart switching, they can change from a bar chart showing subject pass rates to a line chart that visualizes score trends, helping them quickly spot performance gaps.

Financial management dashboard

A finance manager can use a finance management dashboard to review revenue, working capital, and payment cycles. Switching chart types lets them view inventory trends as a line chart, compare AR and AP turnover with a bar chart, or see payable distribution in a pie chart for faster financial insights.

Build smarter, interactive dashboards today

Dynamic chart switching in dashboards is one of the most effective ways to make embedded dashboards more interactive and user-friendly. By combining dashboard parameters, inter-widget linking, and visibility rules, Bold BI® allows you to deliver personalized, flexible, and efficient embedded analytics experiences.

Ready to get started? Log in to Bold BI and try switching charts in your dashboard designer today. For more guidance, visit our documentation or request a personalized demo to make the most of this feature.

Frequently asked questions

1. 1.

   What is dynamic chart switching?

   Dynamic chart switching allows users to change visualization types, bar, line, pie charts, and more, within the same dashboard without reloading or duplicating widgets.

2. 2.

   Can I add custom chart types?

   All built-in chart widgets are supported. Fully custom visuals require custom embedding.'
3. 3.

   Can I customize the look of the master widget?

   All features work seamlessly in embedded environments.
4. 4.

   Does chart switching work in embedded mode?

   All dashboard runtime features behave the same in embedded dashboards.
5. 5.

   Is there a limit to how many chart types I can offer?

   You can add many, but three to five chart options generally provide the best experience.