Change the appearance or content of a hierarchy chart

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This topic describes the ways you can customize a tree map or sunburst chart to suit your analytical approach. Hierarchy charts are available in NVivo 11 (Update 1).

What do you want to do?

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Change what the areas are sized by

• On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the Size By group, click one of the following:

Option	Action
Coding References	Size the areas by the number of coding references. A larger area indicates more coding references.
Items Coded	Size the areas by the number of sources coded by the node. A larger area indicates more items coded.
Nodes Coding	Size the areas by the number of nodes coding the source. A larger area indicates that more nodes code the source.

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Change what the areas are colored by

• On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the Color By group, click one of the following options:

Option	Action
Hierarchy	The density of the color represents the level of the hierarchy. The highest level has the darkest shade of the color and each lower level in the hierarchy has a lighter shade of the same color.
Coding References	Color the areas by the number of coding references. A darker color indicates more coding references.
Items Coded	Color the areas by the number of items coded by the node. A darker color indicates more sources coded.
Nodes Coding	Color the areas by the number of nodes coding the source.  A darker color indicates more nodes code the source.
None	Remove color from the chart. All areas display white.
Item Color	Display item colors in the chart. Tree maps display item color in the top left corner. Sunbursts display item color as an inner band. You need to have assigned colors to your project items first.

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Change the colors displayed on a hierarchy chart

• On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the Color group, click one of the color options in the gallery.

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Change the data in a hierarchy chart of nodes or sources

1. On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the Options group, click Select Data.

The Hierarchy Chart Options dialog box opens.

2. Use the Compare option to change what is displayed in the rectangles or ring segments.

3. Use the Coded at option to limit the content that is represented.

4. Click OK.

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Change the number of levels displayed on a hierarchy chart

If your hierarchy chart displays nested levels of nodes or attribute values, you can choose the number of levels to display on the chart.

• On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the View Level group, adjust the slider to display your preferred number of levels.

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Change the order of attributes displayed on a hierarchy chart

You can change the order of attributes that are displayed on a hierarchy chart that compares attribute value combinations—this can give you a new perspective on the range of sources or cases in your project.

1. On the Hierarchy Chart tab, in the Options group, click Select Data.

The Hierarchy Chart Options dialog box opens.

2. Click an attribute in the Selected attributes list on the right, and then click the Up or Down button. The order of attributes determines the nesting of the areas in the hierarchy chart.

3. Click OK.

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Related topics

• About hierarchy charts

• Create a hierarchy chart

• Interact with a hierarchy chart