"Cohesion Open Data" is maintained by the European Commission to share unique, structured data generated from the monitoring of EU Budget funded, shared management programmes.  The unique data relates primarily to different forms of financial inputs (planned and implemented) and to outputs and result indicators of the physical results of the funded programmes.
The platform provides tools for creating a range of interactive charts and visuals, without IT programming knowledge. This Guide lays out the steps how to create pie and bar charts as well as examples of other available chart types. 

1. Visualizing the data 

This function on the platform allows registered users to create and save a chart (graph) for other users to access. 
Clicking “Visualize" or "Launch New Visualization” to get to chart design screen.
Set the filters (1): This function allow you to set public or hidden filters, by fund, Member States, themes, etc., to focus the chart on the desired topic. Public filters allow users to change Member State, theme, etc.
Data selection (2): There are several steps:
  • Select the dimension to be presented in the chart – i.e. Member State, fund, year, etc.;
  • Chose the chart type from the central menu. The menu suggests which chart style is most appropriate;
  • Chose the measure to display;
  • If needed, choose a second measure (or more) per dimension.
Axis and Scale (change the scale) (3): This allows you to adjust the scale, set chart sorting and add reference lines.
Presentation (labelling, formatting, colours) (4): Label the chart, change the formatting and colours used for the different measures displayed.
Formatting legends and flyouts (5): Automatically display the legend; format the flyouts to display a relevant measurement unit.


2. Creating a pie chart

In this exercise, we will create a pie chart showing a breakdown by fund of the total EU contribution, using the dataset ESIF 2014-2020 finances planned details.
1. Access the dataset: Use the "Explore this Data" function to access the data behind an existing chart on the platform (or choose the relevant dataset from the catalogue).
2. Click on "Visualize" and select "Create Visualization".
3. Select a type of chart (here a pie chart). Then, choose the "Dimension" under "Data Selection". Here, we will do a breakdown by Fund so Fund is the Dimension.
4. Select a "Measure" (the element you want to compare in your breakdown by Fund). Here we will compare the EU contribution for the period 2014-2020 for each ESI Fund so the measure will be EU Amount. "Sum" on the right is used to add all amounts for all OPs related to one fund. Other options exist (average, minimum and maximum, average or count).
5. In the "Slice Display Options", we can choose how many elements to display in the chart. Here we will exclude the last 2 elements, IPAE and (Other). 
You can notice that the selection of funds has changed.

Important, the selection will retain the elements from the largest to the smallest. To change this, you go in "Axis" and under "Chart Sorting" change "VALUE" to "Smallest to largest by value".
6. In "Presentation", you can edit the colours, display % (for pie charts only), add or remove title, description, as follows:
… Switch to %

… Edit Colors


… Add Title and Description, show a link to the dataset or the dataset under the chart

7. Add Flyout information
In the section "Legends & Flyouts", you can add, remove or edit the legend of the graph and the information displayed when your mouse cursor hovers over a slice of the chart.

3. Creating a bar chart

In this example, we will create a bar chart showing a breakdown of EU contributions by Member States, using the dataset ESIF 2014-2020 finances planned details.
The first two steps in creating a bar chart are the same as when creating a pie chart.
1. To access the dataset, use the "Explore this Data" function to access it (or choose a dataset from the catalogue).
2. Click on "Visualize" and select "Create Visualization".

3. Select a type of chart (here a bar chart). Then, choose the "Dimension" under "Data Selection". Here, we will do a breakdown by Member states so MS is the Dimension.

4. Select a "Measure" (the element you want to compare is the amount EU contribution). Here we will compare the EU contribution for the period 2014-2020 to each Member State so the measure will be EU Amount. 
The option "Sum" on the right adds all amounts for all OPs related to one fund. Other options are also available (average, minimum and maximum, average or count).

5. The next step is setting the distribution by Funds. Click on "Group Dimension Values" and select Fund.

6. The values can be presented in three ways (Grouped, Stacked or 100% Stacked). The default view presents grouped values. Under "Bar Display Options" select Stacked to illustrate the distribution by Funds of the overall EU contribution.

7. In "Presentation", you can
... add or remove Title and Description
… edit Colors


7. Add Flyout information
In the section "Legends & Flyouts", you can add and edit Flyouts - the information which is displayed when the cursor hovers of the bars in the chart. 
Legends can be added, removed or edited.

4. Examples of other charts

Below other chart types are presented that can be created on the platform.
Scatterplot chart
This chart presents correlation between GDP per capita and social progress, it is found in this datastory:  https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/d/8qk9-xq96
Time series chart
This chart presents changes in EU health allocations over time (timeseries) and is found in this datastory: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/qyuv-h9j2 
Line chart
This chart illustrates the evolution of European Regional Competitiveness Index and it is found in this datastory: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/d/363v-4uq6
Column chart
The stacked column chart presents the contributions to RDT activities, it can be found in this datastory: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/kkj2-8bik

5. Resources + Contacts

DG REGIO: Find out more about #CohesionOpenData:  Website - Blog - FAQ - User Guide to ODP - User guide to visualisation - Browse data stories
Visualizations:
Tylertech/Socrata:
Date of text:  April 2022
Authors: Iluta BADERE, John WALSH