Understand the graph in Ads Manager

Above the data table on every layer in Ads Manager, a performance graph displays metric trends over the selected date range.

This article explains how to read the graph, use the Total Summary cards to choose which metrics appear, understand how the chart adjusts its axes, use the chart view controls, and reset the view.

If you want to learn how to set the date range or compare two time periods, see Use time selection and compare periods in Ads Manager.

What the graph shows

The graph plots the metrics you select as lines over time. By default it shows Impressions and Taps. You control which metrics appear using the Total Summary cards above the graph, described below.

The graph adjusts its vertical axes based on how many differently scaled metrics you plot, so lines stay readable even when their values are very different.

When the metrics you select share a similar scale, they plot against a single axis on the left. When you add a metric on a different scale, a second axis appears on the right, with each axis matched to its metric's range.

When you plot several metrics whose scales differ too much to share axes, the graph switches to a normalized view: the axes are hidden and every line is scaled to a common visual range so you can compare their shapes and trends directly. The exact value for each metric appears in the tooltip when you hover over a point.

Above the graph, the Total Summary section displays eight metric cards, each showing the total for the selected metric for the selected date range. Every card has a checkbox in its top-left corner: checking a card plots that metric on the graph, and unchecking it removes the line. The checkbox color matches the metric's line on the chart, so the cards also act as the graph's legend. The Total Summary updates whenever you change the date range or apply a filter.

Change the metrics shown

You control the graph from the Total Summary cards in two ways: by checking cards to choose which metrics are plotted, and by changing which metric a card tracks.

Plot or remove a metric by checking or unchecking its card. You can plot up to four metrics at once. If you check a fifth, the oldest selection is automatically unchecked to make room. At least one metric must stay checked at all times, so when a single metric is left, its checkbox locks and shows “1 metric must be selected” until you select another.

Change a card's metric using the dropdown on the card. The dropdown includes a search field and groups metrics into categories: Insights, Ad Performance, In-App Conversions, Cohort Analysis, and Custom Columns. Custom columns are available here by default, with no need to add them to the data table first.

Every metric is selectable at each layer. If a metric can't be shown in your current context, for example because it needs a goal selected, isn't available at the current layer, or doesn't apply to the selected time basis, the card shows a warning icon and the metric stays selected on the card but isn't plotted on the graph.

A metric that's already active on another card appears greyed out in other dropdowns with the tooltip “This metric is already selected,” so each metric maps to a single card.

A Reset control in the Total Summary area returns the cards to their default view. It appears once you've changed the default selection.

Adjust chart granularity

On the right side above the graph, three buttons let you change the time granularity of the data points: Daily, Weekly, and Monthly.

Daily shows one data point per day and is the default view. It gives you the most detail and is best for spotting short-term fluctuations or the effect of a specific change.

Weekly groups data into weekly totals or averages and is useful for identifying week-over-week trends without daily noise.

Monthly groups data into monthly totals and works best for longer date ranges where daily granularity would make the chart difficult to read.

Use the chart view controls

To the left of the Daily/Weekly/Monthly buttons, a set of small icons gives you additional chart controls.

The line chart icon is the default view and plots metrics as continuous lines over time.

The bar chart icon switches the graph to a bar chart format, which can make it easier to compare values across discrete time periods.

The download icon exports the current chart as an image file.

The Show Values option adds the numeric value directly onto each data point, so you can read exact figures without hovering.

When you hover over the chart, the tooltip lists every plotted metric for that date, color-matched to its line.

How the graph responds to filters and selections

The graph always reflects the current state of your table.

When you apply a filter, the graph updates to show only the data matching that filter. When you select specific rows in the table using the checkboxes, the graph updates to show only the performance of the selected items. This makes it straightforward to isolate a single campaign or ad group and see its trend without changing your overall view.

When you enable the Compare toggle in the date picker, the graph shows both periods for each plotted metric. Each metric keeps a single color across both periods, and the two periods are distinguished by style rather than color: in line view the current period is a solid line and the comparison period is dashed, and in bar view the current period is solid while the comparison period is hatched, with the two bars grouped side by side. See Use time selection and compare periods in Ads Manager for more on how comparison mode works.

Your metric selections carry over as you move between layers. If a metric you've plotted isn't available at the layer you switch to, it's unchecked and removed from the graph, and its card shows a warning.

If a data point is missing for a date, the graph treats it as zero. When you select a single day, the graph shows a data marker for that day instead of a line.

Need more help?

If you have further questions, contact your dedicated Customer Success Manager or reach out via live chat.