Slope chart

Ideal for visualising change between time periods

Updated 4 years ago to v6.0.1 by Flourish team

How to use this template

Slope chart

A simple charting template to plot the differences between two values. Useful to compare the difference in population, income or wealth.

Data requirements

Each row after the header row is one slope. There should be a column for the name and two columns for the values. The values should be of the same data type (eg. votes, income, population).

Credits and feedback

Created by Flourish. Sample data is from the World Bank illustrating the change in urbanization. Want to see additional features? Let us know at support@flourish.studio.

This section documents API usage specific to this template, so for an introduction we suggest you refer to the generic API documentation instead.

template: @flourish/slope-chart

version: 6

Template data

There are three different formats in which you can supply data to this template. The most convenient for you to use likely depends on the source of your data, as described below.

1. Array of arrays, and a bindings object

You can supply arrays of arrays to opts.data, which might look like:

{
    data: {
        data: [
            [ "DataColumn1Value1", "DataColumn2Value1",
            [ "DataColumn1Value2", "DataColumn2Value2",
            [ "DataColumn1Value3", "DataColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

where each array of arrays represents the rows in a data sheet.

To tell the API how the values from each column should be associated with the keys that the template is expecting, you must also supply an object attached to opts.bindings. (The meanings of the keys in the bindings object are documented below.) The minimal bindings you can supply for this template are as shown in this example:

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    bindings: {
        data: {
            id: 0, // index of a column in your data
        }
    },
    data: {
        data: [
            [ "DataColumn1Value1", "DataColumn2Value1",
            [ "DataColumn1Value2", "DataColumn2Value2",
            [ "DataColumn1Value3", "DataColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    bindings: {
        data: {
            id: 0, // index of a column in your data
            values: [1, 2, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
            line_thickness: 3, // index of a column in your data
            filter: 4, // index of a column in your data
            category: 5, // index of a column in your data
            metadata: [6, 7, ...], // index(es) of column(s) in your data
        }
    },
    data: {
        data: [
            [ "DataColumn1Value1", "DataColumn2Value1",
            [ "DataColumn1Value2", "DataColumn2Value2",
            [ "DataColumn1Value3", "DataColumn2Value3",
            ...
        ]
    }
}

2. Array of objects with arbitrary keys, and a bindings object

This format is most likely useful when you have data from an external source, such as CSV data loaded from d3-dsv. You should supply this attached to the opts.data, which might look like:

{
        data: [
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }

... but with the keys being the column headers from your source data instead. You must also supply an object attached to opts.bindings. The minimal bindings you can supply for this template are as shown in this example:

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    bindings: {
        data: {
            id: "DataHeader1",
        }
    },
    data: {
        data: [
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }
}

All possible bindings that you can supply are shown in this example:

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    bindings: {
        data: {
            id: "DataHeader1",
            values: ["DataHeader2", "DataHeader3", ...],
            line_thickness: "DataHeader4",
            filter: "DataHeader5",
            category: "DataHeader6",
            metadata: ["DataHeader7", "DataHeader8", ...],
        }
    },
    data: {
        data: [
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            { "DataHeader1": ..., "DataHeader2": ..., ... },
            ...
        ]
    }
}

(As before, the keys containing "Header" would be replaced by column names from your data source.)

3. Array of objects with template-defined keys

There is an alternative format you can use, which is likely to be easier to use if your data is not from a spreadsheet source. With this alternative format you supply your data to the template as an array of objects, attached to opts.data, where the keys must be those used by the template, as documented below. In this case there is no need to supply a bindings object, since the key names are already those expected by the template. The required properties in the data object are as follows (scroll down for a description of what each property is):

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    data: {
    data: [
        {
            id: ...,
            values: [...],
            metadata: [...]
        },
        ...
    ]
},
    ...
}

And the full list of all possible properties is as follows:

{
    template: "@flourish/slope-chart",
    version: "6",
    data: {
    data: [
        {
            id: ...,
            values: [...],
            line_thickness: ...,
            filter: ...,
            category: ...,
            metadata: [...]
        },
        ...
    ]
},
    ...
}

Meanings of the template data keys:

  • data.id: The name of the data series (eg. voting district, data mode)
  • data.values: Values for that data series (eg. % of votes).
  • data.line_thickness: Values for the thickness of line
  • data.filter: filter
  • data.category: category
  • data.metadata: Makes additional columns (text, emoji, image URLs, etc) avaiable in custom popups

Template settings

Options for opts.state.

Slopes

circle_radius number

Circle radius.

slope_width number

Slope width.

slope_width_max number

Max slope width.

selected_slopes text

Highlight slopes. To highlight slopes, write the name of each slope on a line. You can also create a a story and highlight/unhighlight by clicking.

value_type string

Visualise.

Allowed values:

  • ranks (Ranks)
  • scores (Scores)
  • change (% change)

ties_mode string

Ties mode. What rank ranks should be given when there are ties? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranking for explanation of nomenclature

Allowed values:

  • dense (1 2 2 3)
  • competition (1 2 2 4)
  • fractional (1 2.5 2.5 4)
  • modified_competition (1 3 3 4)

sort_mode string

Sort mode.

Allowed values:

  • descending (Descending)
  • ascending (Ascending)

Colours

slope_color color

Single color.

slope_color_palette.scale_type string

Scale type.

Allowed values:

  • categorical (Categorical)
  • sequential (Sequential)
  • diverging (Diverging)

slope_color_palette.categorical_type string

Allowed values:

  • palette (Palette)
  • generated (Generated)

slope_color_palette.categorical_palette colors

Palette for categories.

slope_color_palette.categorical_extend boolean

Auto-extend. Automatically generate additional colours when needed to avoid the palette colours being used more than once.

slope_color_palette.categorical_seed_color color

Seed color. Initial color in generated sequence (avoid shades of grey).

slope_color_palette.categorical_rotation_angle number

Hue rotation angle. Angle, in degrees, between one generated colour and the next. The default value, ~360/(Golden ratio), ensures adjacent hues are not too similar.

Max: 360

slope_color_palette.categorical_color_space string

Allowed values:

  • hcl (HCL)
  • hsl (HSL)

slope_color_palette.categorical_custom_palette text

Custom overrides. Type the name of the entity whose colour you want to set, a colon and then a colour (using a name, hex-code or rgb declaration). Multiple colours can be set using multiple lines. For example:<br /><hr />Party 1: red<br />Party 2: #4455AA<br />Party 3: rgb(30,168,26)

slope_color_palette.sequential_palette string

Palette.

Allowed values:

  • Oranges
  • Reds
  • Blues
  • Greens
  • Greys
  • Purples
  • Viridis
  • Inferno
  • Magma
  • Plasma
  • Warm
  • Cool
  • CubehelixDefault (Cubehelix)
  • BuGn (Blue/Green)
  • BuPu (Blue/Purple)
  • GnBu (Green/Blue)
  • OrRd (Orange/Red)
  • PuBuGn (Purple/Blue/Green)
  • PuBu (Purple/Blue)
  • PuRd (Purple/Red)
  • RdPu (Red/Purple)
  • YlGnBu (Yellow/Blue/Green)
  • YlGn (Yellow/Green)
  • YlOrBr (Yellow/Orange/Brown)
  • YlOrRd (Yellow/Orange/Red)
  • Carrots
  • Custom

slope_color_palette.sequential_custom_min color

Minimum color.

slope_color_palette.sequential_custom_max color

Maximum color.

slope_color_palette.sequential_color_space string

Allowed values:

  • rgb (RGB)
  • lab (LAB)
  • hcl (HCL)
  • hsl (HSL)

slope_color_palette.sequential_reverse boolean

Reverse scale.

slope_color_palette.diverging_palette string

Palette.

Allowed values:

  • RdBu (Red/Blue)
  • RdYlGn (Red/Yellow/Green)
  • PiYG (Pink/Yellow/Green)
  • BrBG (Brown/Blue/Green)
  • PRGn (Purple/Red/Green)
  • PuOr (Purple/Orange)
  • RdGy (Red/Grey)
  • RdYlBu (Red/Yellow/Blue)
  • Spectral
  • Custom

slope_color_palette.diverging_custom_min color

Minimum color.

slope_color_palette.diverging_custom_mid color

Midpoint color.

slope_color_palette.diverging_custom_max color

Maximum color.

slope_color_palette.diverging_color_space string

Allowed values:

  • rgb (RGB)
  • lab (LAB)
  • hcl (HCL)
  • hsl (HSL)

slope_color_palette.diverging_reverse boolean

Reverse scale.

Labels

label_font_size number

Font size.

labels_position string

Labels position.

Allowed values:

  • left (Left)
  • right (Right)
  • both (Both)

use_label_highlight_color boolean

Use different label highlight color.

label_font_highlight_color color

only_show_highlights boolean

Only show highlighted labels.

label_max_width number

Max label width. as % of total width

Max: 10

popup.show_popups boolean

Popups.

Allowed values:

  • true (Enabled)
  • false (Disabled)

popup.is_custom boolean

Popup contents.

Allowed values:

  • false (Auto)
  • true (Custom content)

popup.custom_template text

Popup content. The text to appear in the popup. You can use {{column_name}} to add a value from your data. It must be in a selected column, but you can add columns to “Metadata” if you just want to include them for use in the popup. Advanced users can include HTML to apply layouts, formatting, images, etc.

popup.show_pointer boolean

Pointer.

popup.show_shadow boolean

Shadow.

popup.style_popups boolean

Custom styling.

popup.text_color color

Text colour.

popup.align string

Alignment.

Allowed values:

  • left (fa-align-left)
  • center (fa-align-center)
  • right (fa-align-right)

popup.font_size number

Font size.

Min: 1

popup.fill_color color

Fill colour.

popup.opacity number

Fill opacity.

Max: 1

popup.padding number

Padding.

popup.border_radius number

Radius. Corner radius of popup

Axis

axis_font_size number

Font size.

axis_text_color color

Font colour.

axis_color color

Axis colour.

axis_width number

Axis width.

axis_dashoffset string

Axis dash. eg. 2,2

axis_labels_position string

Position of axis labels.

Allowed values:

  • top (Top)
  • bottom (Bottom)
  • hidden (Hidden)

Controls

controls.type string

Data type.

Allowed values:

  • categorical (Categories)
  • temporal (Dates/times)
  • numeric (Numbers)

controls.temporal_format string

Date/time format in data. The date/time format in your data sheet. Used only to sort the data, if required. If your format isn’t in the list, you can enter a custom format using d3-time-format syntax. See npmjs.com/package/d3-time-format for details.

Predefined values:

  • %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%LZ (1986-01-28T11:39:13.000Z)
  • %Y-%m-%d (1986-01-28)
  • %m/%d/%Y (01/28/1986)
  • %d-%b-%y (28-Jan-86)
  • %m/%Y (01/1986)
  • %b %Y (Jan 1986)
  • %B %d (January 28)
  • %d %b (28 Jan)
  • %Y (1986)
  • %B (January)
  • %b (Jan)
  • %A (Tuesday)
  • %a (Tue)
  • %X (11:39:13)
  • %H:%M %p (11:39 AM)
  • %H:%M (11:39)

controls.sort boolean

Sort menu.

controls.control string

Control.

Allowed values:

  • auto (Auto)
  • dropdown (Dropdown menu)
  • slider (Slider)
  • grouped-buttons (Button group)
  • floating-buttons (Buttons)

controls.width number

Menu width.

Min: 150

controls.play_button boolean

Include play button.

controls.step_time number

Time between steps when playing. Measured in seconds, positive values move the slider left to right, negative values move the slider right to left.

controls.loop boolean

Loop on play.

controls.restart_pause number

Pause before loop restarts. Measured in seconds and in addition to the regular step time displayed above.

controls.dropdown_icon_color color

Icon color.

controls.slider_handle_color color

Handle and button color.

controls.slider_track_color color

Track and label color.

Animations

animation_duration number

Animation duration. The duration of the animation (in milliseconds) when changing data or mode – for example between slides in a story

Legend

hide_legend boolean

Legend.

Allowed values:

  • false (On)
  • true (Off)

Number formatting

localization.input_decimal_separator string

Decimal separator in data sheet. Used for interpreting your data. Only change if data is not displaying on the chart as expected.

Allowed values:

  • . (.)
  • , (,)

localization.output_separators string

Number format to display. How the numbers should appear on chart labels

Allowed values:

  • ,. (12,235.67)
  • ., (12.345,67)
  • . (12235.67)
  • , (12345,67)
  • . (12 235.67)
  • , (12 345,67)

formatting.prefix string

Prefix. Text to place in front of number

formatting.suffix string

Suffix. Text to place after number

formatting.n_dec number

Decimal places. Use negative integers to round to positive powers of ten (eg -2 rounds to the nearest 100)

Min: -10

Max: 10

formatting.strip_zeros boolean

Remove trailing zeros.

formatting.strip_separator boolean

Hide thousands separator below 10,000. Turn off if you want four-digit numbers to include a separator, e.g. “1,234” rather than “1234”.

formatting.transform_labels boolean

Multiply/divide values.

formatting.transform string

Allowed values:

  • multiply (Multiply by)
  • divide (Divide by)
  • exponentiate (×10 to the power of)

formatting.multiply_divide_constant number

formatting.exponentiate_constant number

Layout

Layout

layout.body_font font

Font.

layout.max_width number

Maximum width. Leave blank to stretch to container width

Min: 50

layout.background_color_enabled boolean

Color.

Allowed values:

  • true (On)
  • false (Off)

layout.background_image_enabled boolean

Image.

Allowed values:

  • true (On)
  • false (Off)

layout.background_color color

Color.

layout.background_image_src url

Image URL.

layout.background_image_size string

Size.

Allowed values:

  • cover (Fill)
  • contain (Fit)
  • auto (Original)
  • 100% 100% (Stretch)

layout.background_image_position string

Position.

Allowed values:

  • top left (Top left)
  • top center (Top center)
  • top right (Top right)
  • center left (Center left)
  • center center (Center)
  • center right (Center right)
  • bottom left (Bottom left)
  • bottom center (Bottom center)
  • bottom right (Bottom right)

layout.layout_order string

Layout order.

Allowed values:

  • stack-default (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABYAAAAdCAYAAAHZdKxuAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAANhJREFUSA3tVNEOwiAM7Iy/p2/wkTz6g5gjOVZZEepcjMmWLBTau95ugIh6lpzzLcb4wNpFJaRk9MIahxAyXmD7mC7BC2RlFbliQjFMpJTujOdGs/ECwRoP3rlKoEzNJlz3+CwutK0NLRVt2QhjggA9n2IGEKANMxmt0VVsEfxgzfX7zL3ZiqbXLjcKc8vEORk5/75mMB/7u11uuIpdbtDCc5R3l/s+e+pmHt1foza7Nv6IXOeHiqGk9zWtSk1cN2cPrItnYjZzHZEZYtacxHTiuANSO/xN8AS4uW8Rw1Gu2AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==)
  • stack-2 (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABYAAAAdCAYAAAHZdKxuAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAAMpJREFUSA3tVMsKwyAQNKW/l970Iz32Bw0jjKTrSLUY0oOBsO5rnOwYnTs9W0ppDyG8EcsOkw8uauu9T3jR2+75yJxBnnC4JxMxxlezg0V9VsJsIGz75TfKdlkpg3aPcT8TsPNRMJjZEIf5xaAAahUyE+RtfcZvtFLoFh95aFXxH4hCWpUoTCg7fxqUfB4yEcl/CJlNy5qbfuZA8m8CwJ77q2djSj50lnuAWbOAOQlXxCuRHxcUje2XzfgrYzBpHUXLkmxh181SpnEAB4Vg0DSGhHsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
  • stack-3 (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABYAAAAdCAYAAAHZdKxuAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAANFJREFUSA3tVEEOwyAMo9O+193gkRz3QSZHMmNRUkGp1guVqkCIHZMAITTfVkrZU0pv+B7NQpCV1vEdxxgLfmB9jEvwBBNzkjXn/HIRDOqzJs0GwS1eEmonAn52RITJaUYScd5KLl0fTQf58HVpIFlXMDPNBVMf2TDXPq7dZM2eelrMQ6uDucG50mlWzG/ooCWDvqENXldn1pcyhpgJWjYcPe5z5ZFrAgoe2LN0f2v1ZYq5UyofuiME99hFXKtUm1c9aoBmeEeRjVIQma6XpVblAwnpZjN/VjqsAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC)
  • stack-4 (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABYAAAAdCAYAAAHZdKxuAAAAAXNSR0IArs4c6QAAANtJREFUSA3tVNEOwjAI3Iy/p2/tR/bRH6zekmuA1glO45bYZAHKcdDCOk1izbXWC+0zlJzzDVJ5sNGW9qSUKj4QKY8yWvBDUWnoKKVcTzS2yWHiIfeMwm2yIbLbRL3DRJYubi+0bAPCkcvapO3AdFgZvuDuyJZR2i4wSpBBP9ZD7RsOLQ9gD/Y5ZmaA3EEHWY6r3SEwrzDEHLpnlvOXa4/7xttZfhNwyPdKcqLPaz6JlXpr9bNgCfbobw2ch5iY0CQzyCOPR9ya5zleBPNy3LxknAbiv1YxExxH3gEqBW7I4zw3PQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==)

layout.space_between_sections string

Space between sections.

Allowed values:

  • 0 (▁)
  • 0.5 (▃)
  • 1 (▄)
  • custom (...)

layout.space_between_sections_custom number

Custom.

Max: 100

layout.margin_top number

Top.

layout.margin_right number

Right.

layout.margin_bottom number

Bottom.

layout.margin_left number

Left.

layout.border.enabled boolean

Show borders around visualisation.

layout.border.top.width number

Top.

layout.border.top.style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)

layout.border.top.color color

Color.

layout.border.right.width number

Right.

layout.border.right.style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)

layout.border.right.color color

Color.

layout.border.bottom.width number

Bottom.

layout.border.bottom.style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)

layout.border.bottom.color color

Color.

layout.border.left.width number

Left.

layout.border.left.style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)

layout.border.left.color color

Color.

layout.header_align string

Alignment.

Allowed values:

  • left (fa-align-left)
  • center (fa-align-center)
  • right (fa-align-right)

layout.title string

layout.title_styling boolean

Styling.

layout.title_size string

Size.

Allowed values:

  • 1.4 (ᴀ)
  • 1.6 (A)
  • 2 (fa-font)
  • custom (...)

layout.title_size_custom number

Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3

layout.title_weight string

Weight.

Allowed values:

  • bold (Bold)
  • normal (Regular)

layout.title_color color

Color.

layout.title_line_height number

Line height.

Max: 3

layout.title_space_above string

Space above.

Allowed values:

  • 0 (▁)
  • 0.5 (▃)
  • 1 (▄)
  • custom (...)

layout.title_space_above_custom number

Custom.

Max: 100

layout.subtitle string

layout.subtitle_styling boolean

Styling.

layout.subtitle_size string

Size.

Allowed values:

  • 1.4 (ᴀ)
  • 1.6 (A)
  • 2 (fa-font)
  • custom (...)

layout.subtitle_size_custom number

Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3

layout.subtitle_weight string

Weight.

Allowed values:

  • bold (Bold)
  • normal (Regular)

layout.subtitle_color color

Color.

layout.subtitle_line_height number

Line height.

Max: 3

layout.subtitle_space_above string

Space above.

Allowed values:

  • 0 (▁)
  • 0.5 (▃)
  • 1 (▄)
  • custom (...)

layout.subtitle_space_above_custom number

Custom.

Max: 100

layout.text string

layout.text_styling boolean

Styling.

layout.text_size string

Size.

Allowed values:

  • 1.2 (ᴀ)
  • 1.4 (A)
  • 1.6 (fa-font)
  • custom (...)

layout.text_size_custom number

Custom. Specify a custom responsive font size. Best results will be with values between 1.2 and 3

layout.text_weight string

Weight.

Allowed values:

  • bold (Bold)
  • normal (Regular)

layout.text_color color

Color.

layout.text_line_height number

Line height.

Max: 3

layout.text_space_above string

Space above.

Allowed values:

  • 0 (▁)
  • 0.5 (▃)
  • 1 (▄)
  • custom (...)

layout.text_space_above_custom number

Custom.

Max: 100

layout.header_border string

Allowed values:

  • top (Top)
  • bottom (Bottom)
  • none (None)

layout.header_border_width number

Width.

layout.header_border_color color

Color.

layout.header_border_style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)

layout.header_logo_enabled boolean

Allowed values:

  • true (Enabled)
  • false (Disabled)

layout.header_logo_src url

URL.

layout.header_logo_height number

Height.

layout.header_logo_align string

Align. Align logo inside header or outer visualisation container

Allowed values:

  • outside (Outside)
  • inside (Inside)

layout.header_logo_position_inside string

Position.

Allowed values:

  • top (Top)
  • left (Left)
  • right (Right)

layout.header_logo_position_outside string

Position.

Allowed values:

  • left (Left)
  • right (Right)

layout.header_logo_margin_top number

Top.

layout.header_logo_margin_right number

Right.

layout.header_logo_margin_bottom number

Bottom.

layout.header_logo_margin_left number

Left.

layout.source_name string

Source name.

layout.source_url string

Source url.

layout.multiple_sources boolean

Multiple sources.

layout.source_name_2 string

Source name.

layout.source_url_2 string

Source url.

layout.source_name_3 string

Source name.

layout.source_url_3 string

Source url.

layout.source_label string

Source label.

layout.footer_note string

Note.

layout.footer_text_size number

Size.

layout.footer_text_color color

Color.

layout.footer_align string

Alignment.

Allowed values:

  • left (fa-align-left)
  • center (fa-align-center)
  • right (fa-align-right)
  • justify (fa-align-justify)

layout.footer_logo_enabled boolean

Allowed values:

  • true (Enabled)
  • false (Disabled)

layout.footer_logo_src url

Image.

Link.

layout.footer_logo_height number

Height.

layout.footer_logo_margin number

Margin.

layout.footer_logo_order string

Position.

Allowed values:

  • left (Left)
  • right (Right)

layout.footer_align_vertical string

V. align.

Allowed values:

  • flex-start (Top)
  • center (Center)
  • flex-end (Bottom)

layout.footer_border string

Allowed values:

  • top (Top)
  • bottom (Bottom)
  • none (None)

layout.footer_border_width number

Width.

layout.footer_border_color color

Color.

layout.footer_border_style string

Style.

Allowed values:

  • solid (Solid)
  • dashed (Dashed)
  • dotted (Dotted)