Best practice forum (Archived) - Graphs from Completion Data? HELP!

Skip to main content

Skip Create an account

Best practice forum (Archived)

Graphs from Completion Data? HELP!

We have a client who would like to be able to see their learners completion data in graph form, They are particularly keen to access information such as %'s of learners who have completed course/program 'x' and perhaps bar charts providing summaries of course completions etc etc.

At present i have the course/program reports which can be exported in excel etc. Is there a method or means of easily and quickly get this data into a graphic form? I am keen to take the burden off of the clients and dont really want to have to say "once you have the data you need to go away and edit it yourselves" - they have already stated that others platforms on the market offer neat reporting functionality!!

Any help really appreciated. Lee

Permalink | Reply

Hi Lee,

Graphical reporting isnt available at present, one of our partners is working on this at the moment but there is no timeline available.

regards,

George.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Thanks for the prompt response George. Heart breaking but much appreciated :-)

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

As someone who is interested in developiong my knowledge in this subject, can't the statistics function do this?

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi William, all ive managed to get out of the stats is a very very primitive graph which doesnt seem to give you chance to change or select variables, and so therefore not drill down specific areas of interest. somebody tell me if im wrong!!

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

We have done a working prototype or POC for a Report Builder Graph element which admin allows to define a graph to be added to a report (pie or bar graphs), for one of our clients.

It's not fully complete and needs some work but seem to go towards what your client seems to need, I think.

Here are 2 sample images:

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

and bar example

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Amir,

Thanks for your input on this, and great work!

regards,

George.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Amir,

Looks like a great improvement. is it something that will be available in the fullness of time?

Lee

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Lee,

This was done for a specific client and funded by them.

It needs more work to be considered as candidate for plugin or core, and at any rate would need Totara core team say on this, obviously taking into account broader considerations.

I shared this now in order to demonstarte that there may be a possible direction. Hopefully it helps.

Amir

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Its really useful to know solutions are on the horizon. Thanks Amir.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Amir

Just puting in our vote for this as well!

Cheers

Austen

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Lee,

From a non-development / least cost perspective, for a client I suggested exporting the data via report manager and importing the results into an Excel 'template' where macros / VBA was used to undertake any calculations & generate the required graphs.

A little 'clunky' and manual, though low-cost.

Tony

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Tony, this is ultimately where i find myself.My issue is that it 'feels' like i am offering a bang-whizz LMS whilst on one hand on the other i am having to tell clients they will have to invest time and energy themselves to do anything meaningful with the data.

i feel like im selling someone a bike with a puncture. maybe im being hard but in the age where the expectation is a solution that is a fit with customers needs, this doesnt feel like as good a fit as i would want as a customer.

But we live in hope, Amir is doing some great work, and so maybe i have to accept that tomorrow will come. one day. soon i hope. Lee

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi Lee

There are some advantages to exporting data into a spreadsheet compared to have a web application do this that you can make your clients aware of.

takes load of data analysis from web server to the spreadsheet
the spreadsheet can have predefined graphs and analysis in them so the data only needs to be copied and inserted into spreadsheet and graphs and analysis (use range names in formulas to accomplish this)
spreadsheet allow more control over output than web application as they don't have the limited fonts or layout options of web application
allows multidimensional data to be analysed with builtin data cubes.
the interface of spreadsheets is familiar to a large number of people
spreadsheets have a wide range of data analysis, stats tools
is ready to go - doesn't need development time to create analysis tools

Craig

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Thanks Craig.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

It's an interesting take on data analysis, but clients want dashbaord analytics that they can call upon more immediately, the problem with exporting data into excel spareadsheets is that it is very time consuming, and labour intensive.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi William,

@ this moment we are developing some graphical analyzes on courses completion and costs. If you have interest you can contact us directly.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

That was the conclusion that dare not speak its name. I agree.

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

There probably is room for both types of analysis tools - Excel for more powerful analysis and layout options and web based for immediate results.

I don't think exporting data to a spreadsheet is very labour intensive though. From the report builder - any report created has an export to spreadsheet button and the report can be scheduled to be emailed in spreadsheet format at specified intervals and selected filters.

Craig

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Lee

Don't know if this helps but have you explored Jaspersoft's open source iReport http://community.jaspersoft.com/project/ireport-designer

Permalink | Show parent | Reply

Hi William, no i havent! my fingers are crossed.. i will boldly go where i havent gone before! Many thanks. best regards

Lee

Permalink | Show parent | Reply