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Full Combination Chart entry
How-to guide

How to build a Combination Chart

Combination Charts work in any Summary or Matrix report. The configuration is mostly chart type selection plus series formatting.

By Dipojjal Chakrabarti · Founder & Editor, Salesforce DictionaryLast updated May 20, 2026

Combination Charts work in any Summary or Matrix report. The configuration is mostly chart type selection plus series formatting.

  1. Build the underlying report

    Create a Summary or Matrix report with at least one grouping and at least two summary fields (the metrics you want to combine).

  2. Add a Combination Chart

    Click Add Chart, choose Combination Chart. Set the X-axis to the grouping.

  3. Configure series

    For each summary field, pick Bar or Line. The volume metric is usually Bar; the rate metric is usually Line.

  4. Enable dual Y-axis when scales differ

    If the metrics have very different scales (count vs percentage), enable the secondary Y-axis. Assign each series to the appropriate axis.

  5. Format for clarity

    Pick colour-blind-safe colours, label axes, format values per series (currency for revenue, percentage for rate). Save the report.

Mandatory fields
Summary or Matrix Reportrequired

The underlying report format Combination Charts require.

Groupingrequired

The X-axis dimension.

Summary Fieldsrequired

The metrics to overlay; at least two required.

Chart Typerequired

Combination Chart selected in chart configuration.

Y-Axis Assignmentrequired

Primary or secondary axis per series.

Gotchas
  • Forgetting dual Y-axis when scales differ flattens the line series. Enable when one metric is a count and the other a percentage.
  • Too many series produce visual clutter. Cap at three; otherwise split into separate charts.
  • Colour choices that are not colour-blind-safe exclude part of the audience. Pick palette deliberately.
  • Combination Charts require Summary or Matrix format. Tabular reports cannot render them.

See the full Combination Chart entry

Combination Chart includes the definition, worked example, deep dive, related terms, and a quiz.