Summary
Box plots allow you to visualize and compare the distribution and central tendency of numeric values through their quartiles.
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
Box (y, {x}, {splitCategory}, {splitCategoryAsMeanLine}, {standardizeValues}, {showOutliers}, {rotated}, {title}, {description}, {xTitle}, {yTitle}, {dataSource}, {displaySize})
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
y | The fields to display as boxes. Provide a single field name or a list of field names. | String |
x | The x-axis field is used to create multiple-series box plots by setting the category. See Box plots for more information. | String |
splitCategory | A second categorical field that adds a separate series or box for each unique value in the field. | String |
splitCategoryAsMeanLine | Specifies whether multiple-series box plots that are created with a split field will be displayed as mean lines or side-by-side boxes.
(The default value is False) | Boolean |
standardizeValues | Specifies whether box plots that are created from multiple fields will be standardized.
(The default value is True) | Boolean |
showOutliers | Specifies whether outliers will be shown as points extending beyond the whiskers.
(The default value is False) | Boolean |
rotated | Specifies whether boxes will be viewed vertically or horizontally.
(The default value is False) | Boolean |
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 |
xTitle | The title of the x-axis of the chart. | String |
yTitle | The title of the y-axis of the chart. | 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 |
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 |
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 |
rotated (Read and Write) | Specifies whether the chart will be displayed vertically or horizontally.
| Boolean |
showOutliers (Read and Write) | Specifies whether outliers will be shown as points extending beyond the whiskers.
| Boolean |
splitCategory (Read and Write) | A second categorical field that adds a separate series or box for each unique value in the field. | String |
splitCategoryAsMeanLine (Read and Write) | Specifies whether multiple-series box plots that are created with a split field will be displayed as mean lines or side-by-side boxes.
| Boolean |
standardizeValues (Read and Write) | Specifies whether box plots that are created from multiple fields will be standardized.
| Boolean |
theme (Read and Write) | Specifies the name of the theme that is applied to the 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 |
x (Read and Write) | The field that will be used to create multiple-series box plots by setting the category. See Box plots for more information. | String |
xAxis (Read and Write) | The properties of the x-axis.
| Object |
y (Read and Write) | The field or fields that will be displayed as boxes. Provide a single field name or a list of field names. | String |
yAxis (Read and Write) | The properties of the y-axis.
| Object |
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 box plot using a .csv file and export the box plot to an .svg file.
import arcpy
chart = arcpy.charts.Box(y=["pct_diabetes", "pct_asthma", "pct_heart"],
splitCategory="State",
dataSource="chronic_health_conditions.csv")
chart.title = "Distribution of Chronic Health Conditions by State"
chart.exportToSVG("box.svg", width=700, height=600)