---
title: "Examples of report graphs"
slug: "examples-of-report-graphs"
tags: ["Reference", "Explainer", "Totara Platform"]
updated: 2024-08-28T08:52:07Z
published: 2024-08-28T08:52:07Z
canonical: "totara.help/examples-of-report-graphs"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Examples of report graphs

As well as producing reports from the report builder, you can also [produce graphs](/18/docs/create-a-report-graph) to visually represent the data, which can often make it quicker and easier to digest. However it is also important to note that the graphical reporting functionality in Totara has not been designed to replace any dedicated graphical reporting packages. The reports produced are meant for inclusion in blocks and dashboards rather than as a comprehensive reporting tool.

The graphs below are designed as examples to inspire and demonstrate what is possible.

See [Graphical reporting advanced settings](/18/docs/graphical-reporting-advanced-settings) for more information on customising graphs.

## **Course membership (donut graph)**

You can produce a donut graph that shows the number of users per course. This allows you to quickly and easily see which courses have the most (and least) users. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to *Quick-access menu >* *Reports > Report builder > Manage reports*.
2. Create a new report using the **Course membership** report source.
3. Then, in the **Columns** tab, ensure there are the following columns: **Course name (linked to course page)** and **User ID** (this may involve removing other columns or adding these in).
4. Set the aggregation for the **User ID** to **Count unique**, but make sure you don't set any other aggregation.
5. Click **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
6. Then in the **Graph** tab, set the **Graph type** to **Donut**.
7. Set the **Category** to **Course name** and set the **Data sources** to **Count unique values of User ID**. For now you can ignore all other settings.
8. Again, remember to **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
9. In the **Filters** tab, set the **Search** field to **Status**.
10. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Save changes**.

To view the donut graph click the link **View this report**, which is found just above the report title.

These settings will produce a graph that looks similar to this:

![A donut graph showing course views.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1643035285032.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-07T12%3A39%3A30Z&se=2026-11-07T13%3A39%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2wzqascCpa8iYrnY3b5fsmrmxb1RfeL6TOlQQEnC44M%3D)

It's also possible to produce tailored reports using the **Filters** and content controls.

## **Certification completion status (pie chart)**

You can create a report which displays a pie chart to represent learners' certification completion as a percentage. This allows you to easily see how many learners are certified, not certified, expired, or in progress. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to *Quick-access menu >* *Reports > Report builder > Manage reports*.
2. Create a new report using the **Certification Completion** report source.
3. Then, in the **Columns** tab, ensure there is only the **Status** and **User ID number** columns (this may involve removing other columns or adding these in).
4. Set the aggregation for the **User ID number** to **Count**.
5. Click **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
6. Then in the **Graph** tab, set the **Graph type** to **Pie**.
7. Next set the **Category** to **Status** and set the **Data sources** to **Count of User ID Number**. For now you can ignore all other settings.
8. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Save changes**.

To view the pie chart click **View this report**, which is found just above the report title.

These settings will produce this graph (based on arbitrary data):

![A pie chart showing certification completion.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1643035884605.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-07T12%3A39%3A30Z&se=2026-11-07T13%3A39%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2wzqascCpa8iYrnY3b5fsmrmxb1RfeL6TOlQQEnC44M%3D)

For a certification status to be **in progress** there must be more than one course in the original certification pathway, of which at least one must be completed (if there is only one course there are only two possible states: **not started** or **complete**).

It's possible to filter the results by a range of metrics, for example by certification name, manager's name, or you can use date range filters (in this case **Due date**).

## **Certification completion comparison (bar chart)**

You can also report the percentage of users from each organisation who have a certain completion status, for example, how many users from each organisation are **certified**. This can help you to compare performance and training needs across organisations.

1. Go to *Quick-access menu >* *Reports > Report builder > Manage reports*.
2. Create a new report using the **Certification Completion** report source.
3. Then, in the **Columns** tab, ensure there are the following columns; **User’s Organisation Name**, **Status**, and **User ID number** (this may involve removing other columns or adding these in).
4. Set the aggregation for the **User ID number** to **Count**, but make sure you don't set any other aggregation.
5. Click **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
6. Then in the **Graph** tab, set the **Graph type** to **Column**.
7. Next set the **Category** to **Status** and set the **Data sources** to **Count of User ID Number**. For now you can ignore all other settings.
8. Again, remember to **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
9. In the **Filters** tab, set the **Search** field to **Status**.
10. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Save changes**.

To view the bar chart, click **View this report**, which is found just above the report title.

These settings will produce this graph if the **Status** filter is set to **Certified** (based on arbitrary data):

![A bar chart displaying completion statuses for different organisations.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1643036370548.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-07T12%3A39%3A30Z&se=2026-11-07T13%3A39%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2wzqascCpa8iYrnY3b5fsmrmxb1RfeL6TOlQQEnC44M%3D)

It's also possible to produce tailored reports using the **Filters** and content controls.

## **Site usage by month (line chart)**

You can produce a line graph to show the number of users on the site each month. This could be helpful in analysing peak months where the site is most active.

1. Go to *Quick-access menu >* *Reports > Report builder > Manage reports*.
2. Create a new report using the **Site logs** report source.
3. Then, in the **Columns** tab, ensure the **Time** and **User ID number** columns are present (this may involve removing other columns or adding these in).
4. Set the aggregation for **Time** to **Month of year (textual)** and for **User ID number** to **Count**.
5. Click **Save changes** before moving between tabs.
6. Then in the **Graph** tab, set the **Graph type** to **Line**.
7. Next set the **Category** to **Time - month of the year** and set the **Data sources** to **Count of User ID Number**. For now you can ignore all other settings.
8. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click **Save changes**.

To view the line chart, click **View this report**, which is found just above the report title.

The resulting graph might look something like this (produced using test data):

![A line chart showing site usage.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1643036448628.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-07T12%3A39%3A30Z&se=2026-11-07T13%3A39%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2wzqascCpa8iYrnY3b5fsmrmxb1RfeL6TOlQQEnC44M%3D)

## Next steps

- [Create a user report](/18/docs/create-a-user-report)
- [Edit an embedded report](/18/docs/edit-an-embedded-report)

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_reports-reporting.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-07T12%3A39%3A30Z&se=2026-11-07T13%3A39%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2wzqascCpa8iYrnY3b5fsmrmxb1RfeL6TOlQQEnC44M%3D) Get involved in the conversation about [Reporting](https://totara.community/container/type/workspace/workspace.php?id=538) on the Totara Community.

Why not visit the Totara Academy for our latest course on [Reports](https://totara.community/mod/page/view.php?id=24538) in Totara. Here you can learn more on how to use reports, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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