Summary
Data clocks visually summarize temporal data into two dimensions to reveal seasonal or cyclical patterns and trends over time.
Discussion
When creating a chart object, optional arguments for the class constructor must be specified using the argument name; they cannot be specified by argument position. See the Code Samples section for an example of how to specify arguments using keywords.
Syntax
DataClock (dateField, {numberField}, {timeUnitsRingWedge}, {aggregation}, {nullPolicy}, {classificationMethod}, {classCount}, {title}, {description}, {dataSource}, {displaySize})
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
dateField | The name of the date field that is used to create the chart. | String |
numberField | The name of the field that is aggregated and used to determine the color of the chart cells. | String |
timeUnitsRingWedge | Specifies the time-unit pair that is supported in the data clock chart.
| String |
aggregation | Specifies the statistical calculation that will be applied to values aggregated into each cell.
| String |
nullPolicy | Specifies how summarized cells returning a null value will be displayed.
| String |
classificationMethod | Specifies the classification method that will be used to visualize cell color and classify data.
| String |
classCount | The number of classes used in the classification method. | Integer |
title |
The title of the chart. The title text appears at the top of the chart view and is used as the label for the chart in the Contents pane. | String |
description | The description of the chart. The description text appears at the bottom of the chart view. | String |
dataSource | The data source of the chart. When a chart is exported using the exportToSVG method or displayed in an ArcGIS Notebook, the data source will be read and rendered on the chart. Valid data sources include the following:
| Object |
displaySize [displaySize,...] | The size of the chart when exported using the exportToSVG method or displayed in an ArcGIS Notebook. The value must be specified as a two-item list in which the first item is the width of the chart and the second item is the height of the chart. | List |
Properties
Property | Explanation | Data Type |
aggregation (Read and Write) | Specifies the statistical calculation that will be applied to values aggregated into each cell.
| String |
classCount (Read and Write) | The number of classes used in the classification method. | Integer |
classificationMethod (Read and Write) | Specifies the classification method that will be used to visualize cell color and classify data.
| String |
dataSource (Read and Write) | The data source of the chart. When a chart is exported using the exportToSVG method or displayed in an ArcGIS Notebook, the data source will be read and rendered on the chart. Valid data sources include the following:
| Object |
dateField (Read and Write) | The name of the date field that is used to create the chart. | String |
description (Read and Write) | The description of the chart. The description text appears at the bottom of the chart view. | String |
displaySize (Read and Write) | The size of the chart when exported using the exportToSVG method or displayed in an ArcGIS Notebook. The value must be specified as a two-item list in which the first item is the width of the chart and the second item is the height of the chart. | List |
legend (Read and Write) | The properties of the chart legend.
| Object |
nullPolicy (Read and Write) | Specifies how summarized cells returning a null value will be displayed.
| String |
numberField (Read and Write) | The name of the field that is aggregated and used to determine the color of the chart cells. | String |
theme (Read and Write) | Specifies the name of the theme that is applied to the chart. | String |
timeUnitsRingWedge (Read and Write) | Specifies the time-unit pair that is supported in the data clock chart.
| String |
title (Read and Write) | The title of the chart. The title text appears at the top of the chart view and is used as the label in the Contents pane on the List By Drawing Order tab . | String |
type (Read Only) | The string value indicating the chart type. | String |
Method Overview
Method | Explanation |
addToLayer (layer_or_layerfile) | Adds the chart object to a layer or stand-alone table. |
exportToSVG (path, width, height) | Exports the chart to SVG format. |
updateChart () | Updates chart properties to sync changes between the object and the chart previously added to a layer. |
Methods
addToLayer (layer_or_layerfile)
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
layer_or_layerfile | The chart will be added to the target object. The layer_or_layerfile argument can be a Layer or a Table object. | Object |
Often the final step after defining chart properties is to add the chart object to a layer or table using the addToLayer method.
Add a chart to an existing layer.
import arcpy
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("current")
map = aprx.listMaps()[0]
censusLayer = map.listLayers('Census Block Groups')[0]
# Add chart object to a layer
chart.addToLayer(censusLayer)
exportToSVG (path, width, height)
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
path | The path where the chart will be exported in SVG format. | String |
width | The width of the output graphic. | Integer |
height | The height of the output graphic. | Integer |
In some cases, you may want to save the chart as a graphic that can be shared and viewed outside of ArcGIS Pro. Exporting to the SVG graphic format is beneficial, as the chart elements and text are stored as vector elements that can be independently modified in a vector graphics software. An SVG graphic can also be resized to any scale without pixelation or loss in quality.
Export a chart that has a project layer data source to an .svg file.
import arcpy
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current')
censusLayer = aprx.listMaps()[0].listLayers('Census Block Groups')[0]
# Set data source of chart object to a layer within current project
chart.dataSource = censusLayer
# Save the chart to file with dimensions width=500, height=500
chart.exportToSVG('populationByState.svg', 500, 500)
Export a chart that has a feature service data source to an .svg file.
featureServiceURL = r'https://services1.arcgis.com/hLJbHVT9ZrDIzK0I/arcgis/rest/services/CrimesChiTheft/FeatureServer/0'
# Set data source of chart object to a feature service URL
chart.dataSource = featureServiceURL
# Save the chart to file with dimensions width=800, height=600
chart.exportToSVG('theftsPerBeat.svg', 800, 600)
updateChart ()
Often the final step after defining chart properties is to add the chart object to a layer using the addToLayer method.
To further modify the chart properties, you can modify the properties of the original chart instead of starting from scratch with a new chart. You can then use the updateChart method to synchronize any changes into the chart that was added to the layer. This will allow the changes you make to be presented in the Chart properties pane and chart view.
Use the updateChart method to synchronize chart property changes into a layer.
chart.addToLayer(myLayer)
# Further modification is necessary
chart.description = "Data from the U.S. Census Bureau"
chart.updateChart()
Code sample
Create a data clock chart using a layer in the current project and export the chart to an .svg file.
import arcpy
lyr = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("current").listMaps()[0].listLayers("car_accidents")[0]
chart = arcpy.charts.DataClock(dateField="Date", aggregation="count",
timeUnitsRingWedge="WEEKS_DAYS", dataSource=lyr)
chart.exportToSVG("data_clock.svg", width=750, height=500)