Bar charts display data as 3D rectangular bars, where each bar's height represents a numeric value and its position along the X-axis represents a category. Hydrant renders bars in a full 3D scene with configurable dimensions, colors, animations, labels, and a graph block container.
A bar chart scene is built from one or more dataset selections. Each selection produces a set of bar entities positioned along the X-axis. Bars grow upward from a shared ground plane, with their height scaled proportionally to the data values.
Bar chart scenes use the following entity structure:
These settings are configured per dataset selection in the Data panel.
Bar Width — Width of each bar along the X-axis (0.1 – 2.0).
Bar Depth — Depth of each bar along the Z-axis (0.1 – 2.0).
Max Height — Maximum bar height (1 – 5). The tallest data value will reach this height; other bars are scaled proportionally.
Bar Spacing — Space between adjacent bars (0.0 – 2.0). Wider spacing spreads bars apart; tighter spacing packs them closer together.
The Y-axis scale determines how data values map to bar heights. Scale settings are configured in the Data panel.
Scale Mode — How the value range is calculated:
Padding — Extra space above the highest bar as a percentage (0 – 50%). Helps create round numbers on the scale. Available in Zero-Based and Data Range modes only.
Min / Max Value — Manual override for the scale endpoints (manual mode only).
Step Size — Interval between scale labels in manual mode (0.1 – 1000).
Intermediate Lines — Number of secondary grid lines between main scale labels (0 – 4).
When multiple selections share a scene, the scale is computed globally so all bars use the same value range.
Bar animations are configured per selection in the Data panel under Animation Timing.
Animation Type:
Delay Before — Pause before the first bar begins animating (0.0 – 5.0 seconds).
Delay After — Pause after the last bar finishes animating (0.0 – 5.0 seconds).
Delay Between — Time gap between each bar when using the "Delayed" type (0.0 – 2.0 seconds).
All bars start from a uniform low height (a thin slab) and grow upward to their target height. This ensures a consistent visual starting point regardless of final value. The bar's base stays pinned to the ground while the top rises.
The graph block is an optional L-shaped container (ground platform + back wall) configured in the Scene panel. It provides spatial context for the bars and serves as a mounting surface for the scale.
Grid lines and scale numbers provide visual reference for reading values. These are configured in the Scene panel.
Labels for bar charts are configured in the Labels panel. Bar charts support all standard label types:
Value and category labels can be anchored to specific positions on each bar:
During animation, anchor points move with the bar as it grows, so labels stay correctly positioned throughout the animation.
A single bar chart scene can display data from multiple selections. Each selection produces its own bar group, and the groups are positioned side by side or layered depending on their transform settings.
Individual bars can be customized through the Object Inspector in the Scene Tree:
Overrides persist across data reprocessing — if you reprocess the scene, your per-bar customizations are reapplied to matching entities.