When it comes to building powerful, dynamic charts in SharePoint, having a flexible and easy-to-use solution is essential. Data Viewer by Lightning Tools provides business users with the ability to create stunning visualizations using data from multiple sources, all within SharePoint. Whether you need to build charts from SharePoint lists, external data sources, or aggregated content, Data Viewer offers a seamless way to display critical business insights.
Below, are just some of the data visualizations that are possible with the Data Viewer. Each web part maintains its dynamic connection to the data source.
1. Connect to a Wide Range of Data Sources
Unlike SharePoint’s built-in charting tools, Data Viewer supports a variety of data sources, including:
- SharePoint Lists & Libraries (across multiple sites)
- Excel Documents stored within SharePoint
- SQL Azure Databases
- Microsoft 365 External Connectors, including:
- JIRA
- SQL On-Premises
- Salesforce
- OData Feeds
- Aggregated Content via Lightning Conductor
Connecting Data Viewer to Lightning Conductor enables users to create charts on aggregated content and Microsoft 365 Graph Data, making it an excellent solution for organizations that need to visualize insights from multiple sources in a single location.
The Data Viewer connections are configured from within the web part settings. Add a new view, select the data source, configure the data source, columns, and view.
2. Multiple Data Views: Tables, Charts & More
Data Viewer is much more than just a charting tool—it provides flexible options for data presentation, including:
- Table View: Select specific columns, apply grouping, sorting, and filtering, and use conditional formatting (including icons) for easier analysis.
- Chart View: Choose from a variety of chart types, including:
- Column
- Bar
- Line
- Pie
- TreeMap
- Gauge
- Multiple Views per Instance: Add multiple views within the same Data Viewer instance to provide a richer, more detailed analysis.
Configurations such as conditional formatting do not require any code such as JSON. Simply set your criteria, and configure the formatting.
3. Centralized Filtering Across Multiple Data Viewers
If you have multiple Data Viewer web parts on a SharePoint page, they can all consume the same filter value from Lightning Filters, creating a unified, dynamic data experience across different views and datasets.
The Lightning Filters web part is simply configured for the type of control, and then connected to the various web parts.
4. A Cost-Effective Alternative to Power BI
Power BI is a great tool, but it often comes with licensing costs and complexity that not every team needs. Data Viewer offers a lightweight, business-friendly alternative for embedding dynamic charts directly within SharePoint pages without the overhead of Power BI.
5. Integration with Viva Connections & Microsoft Teams
With Data Viewer, your visualizations aren’t confined to SharePoint. You can also:
- Embed charts and tables within Microsoft Teams, keeping critical data accessible to your teams.
- Use Data Viewer as a Viva Connections Adaptive Card, surfacing important business metrics right on your SharePoint home page.
The Viva Connections Adaptive Card supports various chart types allowing business data to be viewed and actioned easily.
6. Seamless Integration with Other Lightning Tools Products
Data Viewer is designed to complement other Lightning Tools solutions, enabling even greater data insights:
- Chart aggregated content from Lightning Conductor
- Build dashboards showing engagement within Social Squared (discussion board for Teams & SharePoint)
- Visualize content created via Lightning Forms or Lightning Tools Form Studio
Conclusion: Unlock Advanced Charting & Data Insights in SharePoint
If your organization needs an easy-to-use SharePoint Chart Builder with External Data Support, the Lightning Tools Data Viewer is the ideal solution. With broad data connectivity, powerful visualization options, and seamless integration into Microsoft 365, Data Viewer empowers business users to create meaningful, data-driven insights without the complexity of Power BI.
Want to see Data Viewer in action? Schedule a demo today!
