Dynamic shapes in Lucidchart make it easy to visualize data by allowing you to create insightful shapes and graphs that change dynamically based on your data. Read on to learn how to use dynamic shapes to optimize the way you visualize your data in Lucidchart.

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Access the Dynamic Shapes shape library

You can access Lucidchart's dynamic shapes by enabling the Dynamic Shapes shape library. Click + Shape Library at the bottom of your Shape menu, type "dynamic shapes" in the search bar, and check the box next to "Dynamic Shapes". Then click Use selected shapes.

Once you have added the dynamic shapes library to your document, you can add shapes to your document by dragging them out of the toolbox and dropping them on your canvas.

Dynamic shape options

Lucidchart currently offers the following dynamic shapes:

Horizontal Progress Bar
Vertical Progress Bar
Progress Pill
Progress Donut
Half Progress Donut
Progress Pie
Progress Half Pie

Set the value of a dynamic shape

There are three different methods that you can use to set the values associated with your dynamic shape:

Custom value
Shape data
Formula

Set the method associated with a shape by selecting the available drop-down menus within the Advanced Options of the Contextual Panel that appears when you select a dynamic shape.

You can also manually adjust Min, Max, Value, Thickness, and Color from this menu.

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FAQ

How can I adjust the values of my dynamic shape?
You can adjust the values associated with a dynamic shape in the Advanced Options section of the Contextual Panel that appears to the right of the canvas when a dynamic shape is selected.

Example: Build a data-driven dashboard with dynamic shapes

Everyone knows big data is here to stay. According to Forbes, over 90% of the world’s data was created within the last two years alone. As more and more data becomes easily available, both the prevalence and importance of data-driven business solutions will increase. However, InformationWeek Business Intelligence found that one of the primary barriers businesses face when they try to leverage data is a lack of visualization tools.

Lucidchart believes there is no point to data for data’s sake. Instead, Lucidchart aims to provide a simple way for anyone to visualize spreadsheet data with the new dynamic shape library. Dynamic shapes allow you to add static values or use formulas to calculate and display statistics such as total progress, percentages, and ratings directly on Lucidchart documents.

Specifically, dynamic shapes can help you with data-driven project management. For example, let’s say you need to plan an event for your company. From creating a budget, picking a location, and planning logistics, to solidifying a promotional strategy and inviting guests, there can be a seemingly endless list of things that need to get done in a relatively short amount of time.

Typically, to organize to-do lists, tasks are delegated to different teams through a spreadsheet. While such spreadsheets allow you to organize tasks, they are less helpful when you need to quickly glance at your team’s progress. This is when dynamic shapes save the day. Rather than sift through this dataset row by row to identify which team needs more resources, you could instead use dynamic shapes to turn this tedious spreadsheet:
into this professional dashboard directly in Lucidchart:

Tip: Smart Containers can save you even more time.

By using dynamic shapes, Lucidchart transformed spreadsheet data into an event dashboard that visualizes progress overall and across teams. The horizontal progress bar dynamic shapes count down the days until the event and calculate the total progress on tasks, while the donut dynamic shapes display the percentage of tasks each team has completed. This dashboard clearly shows that the Product Marketing team has accomplished half of their goals, while the Public Relations team still needs to start. As a project manager, insights like these are essential to ensure your team is on track. Instead of wasting time syncing with each team, you can rely on your Lucidchart dashboard to provide the information you need as soon as you need it. This easy access is particularly important in scenarios where there are multiple stakeholders working under strict deadlines.

You also don’t need to worry about keeping your dashboard up to date. Dynamic shapes automatically adjust when your data source changes, so you can always count on Lucidchart as your source of truth. Additionally, Lucidchart’s collaborative interface makes it easy to share your dashboard with others. Collaborators can work directly on the dashboard, or you can export, publish, or present your document.

Whether you’re planning an event or simply want to better understand your data, dynamic shapes allow you to build collaborative dashboards directly in Lucidchart to visualize and track the important insights hidden behind spreadsheets.

Click here to begin using this Event Planning Dashboard or browse additional templates here!

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