MicroStrategy ONE

Steps to apply a gradient to a graph object

You can apply a gradient effect to several objects on a graph report, including the graph risers, markers, frame, and legend. This type of background style displays a blended effect to gradually change from one color to a second color. For example, the image shown below displays a gradient that changes from a dark blue color to a dark purple color.

Gradient effects cannot be used in conjunction with bevel effects.

To apply a gradient to a graph object

  1. Open a report. (How?)

  2. If the report is not already in Graph view, from the View menu, select GraphView to display the report as a graph.

  3. Right-click a graph object such as a riser, marker, graph frame, legend, and so on, and select Formatname of object from the right-click menu. This option is named differently, depending on the object you select. For example, for a line in a line graph, this option is named Format Data Marker. The Preferences dialog box opens.

  4. Click the Fill category. For information on the different options on this category and how you can modify the line of an object, see Fill formatting for graph objects.

  5. From the Background type drop-down list, select Gradient to display gradient formatting options.

    This gradient option is not available if you have applied a bevel effect to the graph object. You must define the bevel effect as None to be able to define a gradient. For steps to define a bevel effect, see Steps to apply a bevel effect to a graph object.

  6. Define the gradient formatting, using the following options:

    • Colors: Define the two colors to use for the gradient. You select from the following color options:

    • One color: Allows you to select a color, and then define the gradient by determining how to blend the color from darker to lighter shades.

    • Two colors: Allows you to select two colors to define a blended effect to go from one color to the other color.

    • Shading Styles: Defines the type of direction for the gradient. For each shading style, you can select a Variant. For example, horizontal gradients display a blended gradient effect that goes from left-to-right or from right-to-left.

      You can also use the Custom shading style to have more control over the angle and blending effects the gradient.

  7. Click OK to apply the gradient to the currently selected object and return to the graph.