We understand that the ability to download your report visuals directly as a PDF or DOCX file was a valuable feature. While we work to improve our reporting export options, you can easily re-create the visual charts and graphs using the raw data you export from your widgets into a CSV or Excel file.

This guide provides step-by-step instructions applicable to most popular spreadsheet programs, including Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.

Step 1: Export and Prepare Your Data

The first step is to export the data from the specific widget you want to re-create and ensure it is ready for charting.

Export the Widget Data: When viewing your report dashboard, select the widget you wish to re-create (e.g., "Donation Transactions over Time," "Donation Campaign Breakdown," etc.). Look for an export icon (usually an arrow pointing down or a disk icon) and choose the CSV or Excel export option.
- Tip: Widgets that display a graph or chart often have a dedicated "Chart Data" or similarly named file in the export bundle. This is the file you will primarily use for charting.
Open the Data File: Open the exported CSV or Excel file in your preferred spreadsheet program (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.).
Clean and Format Columns (if necessary):
- Remove non-numeric characters: For columns you plan to plot on a chart (like dollar amounts or counts), make sure they contain only numbers. For example, if your column for Total Amount includes the '$' symbol (e.g., "$1,234.50"), you will need to clean the data so only the numeric value remains.
  - Excel/Google Sheets Tip: Select the column, then use the Find and Replace feature to replace '$' with nothing. You may also need to remove commas.
- Ensure Proper Formatting: Confirm that your date column is formatted as a date, and your numeric columns (amounts, counts) are formatted as currency or numbers.

Step 2: Select the Right Chart Type

The type of widget you are re-creating will determine the best chart to use. Here are common widget types and their corresponding chart recommendations:

Widget Type (Example)	Data Format	Recommended Chart Type	What it Shows
Donation Transactions over Time	Date, Amount (or Count)	Line Chart or Column Chart	Trends and changes over a continuous period.
Donation Campaign Breakdown	Category Name, Amount (or Count)	Pie Chart or Bar Chart	Proportions/percentages of a whole.
Top Donors by Amount	Donor Name, Total Amount	Bar Chart	Ranking and comparison between discrete items.
Donor Locations (by State/Province)	Location Name, Count	Bar Chart or Pie Chart	Comparison of values across different categories.

Step 3: Create the Chart (General Steps)

The process for creating a chart is very similar across major spreadsheet programs:

1. Select Your Data

Highlight the two columns of data you want to use for the chart.

Example (Donation Transactions over Time): Select the Date column and the Total Amount of all Donation Transactions column from the "Chart Data" file.

2. Insert the Chart

Navigate to the Insert menu and choose your desired chart type (see the table above for recommendations).

Program	Menu Navigation
Microsoft Excel	Go to Insert > Charts section.
Google Sheets	Go to Insert > Chart.

3. Customize the Chart

After inserting the chart, you can customize it to look like your original dashboard widget.

Customization Area	Goal	How to Change (General)
Chart Title	Clearly label what the chart displays.	Click on the default title (e.g., "Chart 1") and type in the widget name (e.g., "Donation Transactions over Time").
Axis Labels	Ensure the axes are correctly labeled.	Look for Chart Elements (Excel) or Customize tab (Google Sheets) to add or edit Axis Titles (e.g., X-Axis: "Date," Y-Axis: "Total Amount").
Legend	Show what the line/bar represents (usually the data series name).	If your chart has only one data series, you can usually hide the legend to save space.
Colors and Style	Make the chart aesthetically pleasing.	Use the design options (Excel) or the Customize tab (Google Sheets) to change colors, line thickness, or bar styles.
Data Labels	Display the actual data value on top of the bars/lines.	Use the Chart Elements (Excel) or Customize settings (Google Sheets) to add Data Labels.

Example Walkthrough: Re-creating "Donation Transactions over Time"

Using the "Donation Transactions over Time - Chart Data" file you exported:

Open the File: Open the Donation Transactions over Time - Chart Data.csv file.
Select Data: Highlight Column A (Date) and Column B (Total Amount of all Donation Transactions).
Insert Chart: Go to Insert and select a Line Chart. A line chart is typically the best visual for showing trends over time.
Clean Data (if necessary): If the chart does not look correct, check Column B. It likely contains '$' and ',' symbols.
- Excel: Select Column B, go to Home > Find & Select > Replace... Replace $ with nothing, and then replace , with nothing. Then, select the column and format it as Number or Currency.
Re-Insert Chart: Select the cleaned columns and insert the Line Chart again.
Customize:
- Title: Change the title to Donation Transactions over Time.
- Y-Axis Title: Label the Y-Axis as Total Amount ($).
- X-Axis Title: Label the X-Axis as Date.

Your resulting line chart will accurately represent the original dashboard widget, showing the organization's donation volume trend month-by-month.

Final Step: Saving and Sharing

Once your chart is created and customized:

Save the File: Save your spreadsheet file.
Capture the Visual: You can easily copy and paste the chart itself into a document (Word, Google Docs, etc.) or presentation, or use a screenshot tool to capture the image as a JPEG or PNG file for sharing.

This process ensures you can maintain professional reporting visuals using the accurate, raw data exported from your reports.