# Pyramid Plume: every field and setting explained

> Every field well and every setting of the Format and Analytics panes of Pyramid Plume: what it does, its possible values and its default value.

- Language: English
- Web page: https://plumevisuals.com/en/tutorials/pyramid-plume-champs-et-reglages
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Visual: Pyramid Plume, technical reference: https://plumevisuals.com/ai/visuals/population-pyramid.md
- If an option name in this tutorial differs from the technical reference, the reference is right (it is generated from the visual's code).

This page describes everything Pyramid Plume offers: the field wells, then each card of the Format pane, in the order they appear. The default value of each setting is in **bold**, premium features carry a ★. For a guided first visual, see [getting started](/en/tutorials/pyramid-plume-prise-en-main). This page describes version 1.1 (reorganized Format pane: **Category axis** card (formerly Age axis), new **Gridlines** card, hatched surplus with its key, neutral wording).

## The visual's fields

| Field | Required? | How many | What you drop | What it is for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (or age band, category) | Yes | 1 | A column: age (number) or band (text), or any category | One row of the pyramid per value | `Population[Age]` |
| Side (sex or any two-value field) | No | 1 | A two-value column | Both sides face to face | `Population[Sex]` |
| Value (or two measures face to face) | Yes | 1, or 2 without Side | A measure (or two) | Bar length | `Residents` |
| Play axis ★ | No | 1 | A year or date column | One pyramid per year, ▶ button | `Population[Year]` |
| Comparison ★ | No | 1, or 2 without Side | A measure | A second population as an outline | `Residents in 1975` |
| Sub-category ★ | No | 1 | A column | Splits each bar, stacked from the center | `Population[Nationality]` |
| Small multiples ★ | No | 1 | A column | One pyramid per value, same scale | `Population[Region]` |
| Tooltips | No | 5 at most | Measures | Added to the tooltip (summed when the visual groups ages) | `Mean age` |

**Age.** A number (0, 1, 2… 100) or a text that contains an age: "0-4", "5 to 9", "100+", "85 and over", "under 5", Eurostat codes `Y_LT5`, `Y5-9`, `Y_GE85`. The visual reads the number and sorts by itself; a blank value goes last. A field without numbers ("Pay", "Training") gives a butterfly chart in model order (or sorted by total).

**Side.** Two values: the first one on the left, unless the data starts with women ("Women", "F", "Femmes"): men stay on the left, as in every pyramid. A third value is ignored, with a warning in edit mode. Without Side, put two measures in Value.

**Value.** A positive measure; a measure made negative (the usual stacked-bar trick) is read as its absolute value.

**Play axis ★.** Premium feature: a "Premium preview" watermark without a key as soon as the field holds data. A year (whole number) or a date: years are sorted, the most recent one is shown on opening. A selected bar stays selected from one year to the next (the selection is on age and side, not on the year).

**Comparison ★.** With Side: one measure, compared on each side. Without Side: one measure per side, in the same order as the Value measures.

Tooltips and Dynamic format: see [the common basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume).

## Format pane settings

The cards are described in the order of the **Format** pane, followed by those of the **Analytics** pane.

The cards shared by all Plume visuals (**Plume Studio License**, **Style**, **Interactions**, **Tooltips**, **Title**, **Source note**, **Frame**, **Language and numbers**) are described once in [the shared basics](/en/tutorials/bien-demarrer-visuels-plume): they are not repeated here. The background and rounded corners are set in the **Frame** card, and the **fx** button (conditional formatting from a measure) is available on every color and every text.

### Data colors

Bar colors. Right after the Style card, as in every Plume chart.

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Coloring | One color per side (Men, Women), or per sub-category when the Sub-category ★ field is used; or one color everywhere. | ***One color per side (or per sub-category)*** · *Single color* |
| Color | Single color (shown when Coloring = Single color). | **empty** |
| Color | One line per side or sub-category: its color. | **empty** |
| Surplus (empty = darker shade of the side) | Color of the surplus of one side (Pyramid › Bars › Surplus of one side). | **empty** |

### Pyramid

What the bars show (counts or shares), side headers, bar drawing and scale.

**Displayed values group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | In %, two pyramids of different sizes (two territories, two years) compare by their shape. | ***Counts (values)*** · *% of the total population* · *% of each side* |
| Swap sides | By default, "Men" (or the first value) on the left. | On / **Off** |
| Side headers (name and total) | Above each side: its name, total and share (no total when the measure is a %). Off: the legend names the sides. | **On** / Off |
| Share of each side in the header (appears if Side headers (name and total) is on) | Share of each side in the total (shown when headers are on). | **On** / Off |
| Header size (appears if Side headers (name and total) is on) | Header text size. | 7 to 24, **11** |

**Bars group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Bar thickness (%) | Share of the row height filled by the bar. | 20 to 100, **88** |
| End rounding | Corner rounding of the bars. | 0 to 12, **1** |
| Opacity (%) | Bar opacity. | 10 to 100, **100** |
| Outline | Line around each bar. | On / **Off** |
| Surplus of one side | The part of a bar beyond the opposite one (e.g. more women at old ages): hatched in the side color, with an outline, so it is not read as a second series | ***Not marked*** · *Hatching at the end of the bar ★* · *Outline of the opposite side ★* |
| Surplus legend (appears if Surplus of one side = *Hatching at the end of the bar* or *Outline of the opposite side*) | Adds a "Surplus" key under the pyramid that explains the hatching (or the outline) | **On** / Off |

**Scale group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Same scale for every frame of the play axis | Off: the scale adapts to each year. | **On** / Off |
| Scale of both sides | Own scale per side: two measures with different units (headcount and seniority). | ***Shared*** · *Own scale per side (two measures)* |
| Scale maximum | End of the scale (e.g. 500000, or 5 for 5% in percent); empty = automatic. | **empty** |

### Ages and categories

Order of ages or categories, computed bands and observation year (generations, birth years).

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Automatic: "5-9" before "10-14", "100+" last, no sort column needed. | ***Automatic (ages in numeric order)*** · *Model order* · *Total, descending (tornado)* · *Total, ascending* · *Name A → Z* |
| Direction | Ages: young at the bottom; other categories: first at the top. | ***Automatic (young at the bottom)*** · *First category at the bottom* · *First category at the top* |
| Group ages | Computed by the visual from single ages (0, 1, 2…): no band column to create. | ***No (ages as in the data)*** · *2-year bands ★* · *5-year bands ★* · *10-year bands ★* · *20-year bands ★* |
| Open last band from (0 = no) ★ | E.g. 90: everyone aged 90 and over in "90+". | 0 to 150, **0** |
| Observation year (0 = play axis) | Used for birth years and generations. Read from the play axis when it is a year or a date. | 0 to 3000, **0** |
| Age counted as | Born in 1946: 74 in 2020 (age reached) or 73 on January 1, 2020 (completed age). | ***Age reached during the year*** · *Completed age on January 1* |
| Wording | *Neutral*: tooltips, indicators and markers say "category", "median", "under 20" instead of "age", "median age", "under 20 years" (butterfly, tornado chart); *Automatic* decides from the field name | ***Automatic (ages when the field is about age)*** · *Ages (years, median age…)* · *Neutral (categories, values)* |

### Data labels

Values written at the end of the bars.

**Labels group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Value at the end of each bar. | On / **Off** |
| Content | Value, share of the total, share of its side, or both. | ***Value*** · *Share of the total population* · *Share of its side* · *Value and share of the total* |
| Minimum row height (px) | Labels are hidden when a row is shorter (many single ages). | 4 to 40, **10** |
| Size | Text size. | 6 to 24, **10** |
| Color (empty = automatic) | Automatic: readable color depending on the background (inside bars: white or dark). | **empty** |
| Bold | Bold text. | On / **Off** |
| Text halo | Background-colored outline around the text. | **On** / Off |
| Hide overlapping labels | Setting shared by Plume charts. | **On** / Off |

**Numbers group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Display units | Label units for counts. | ***Auto*** · *None* · *Thousands* · *Millions* · *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) | Decimals (1 by default in %). | -1 to 6, **-1** |
| Prefix | Text before the value. | **empty** |
| Suffix (e.g. €) | Text after the value. | **empty** |

### Category axis

This card (formerly "Age axis") sets the column of ages or categories, in the center by default, and the birth years. Its internal name is now `catAxis`: a **Dynamic format** measure named with the old name (`ageAxis.…`) is still accepted. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Age or category labels | **On** / Off |
| Position | In the center, the two sides move apart to leave room for the age column | ***Center (between the sides)*** · *Left* · *Right* |
| Size | Label size | 6 to 24, **9** |
| Color (empty = secondary text) | Label color | **empty** |
| Labels | Automatic: one label every 1, 2, 5 or 10 depending on the room (multiples of 5 for single ages). | ***Automatic (no overlap)*** · *All* · *Every 5 years* · *Every 10 years* |
| Center gap (px) (appears if Position = *Left* or *Right*) | Gap between both sides when ages are left, right or hidden. | 0 to 40, **2** |
| Axis title | Title above the age column (field name by default). | **On** / Off |
| Text (appears if Axis title is on) | Title text (empty = field name). | **empty** |
| Birth years alongside ★ | On the right, the birth year of each age (observation year known). | On / **Off** |

### Value axis

The ticks below the pyramid (gridlines are now in the **Gridlines** card).

**Labels group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Ticks below the pyramid, positive on both sides. | **On** / Off |
| Size | Tick size. | 6 to 24, **9** |
| Color (empty = secondary text) | Tick color. | **empty** |
| Display units | Thousands (K), millions (M)… | ***Auto*** · *None* · *Thousands* · *Millions* · *Billions* |
| Decimals (-1 = auto) | Tick decimals. | -1 to 6, **-1** |
| Prefix | Text before each tick. | **empty** |
| Suffix (e.g. €) | Text after each tick. | **empty** |
| Ticks per side (approx.) | Approximate number of ticks on each side. | 1 to 10, **3** |

**Axis title group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Axis title | Title below the ticks. | On / **Off** |
| Text (appears if Axis title is on) | Title text (empty = measure name). | **empty** |

### Gridlines

This card groups the vertical guide lines at the value ticks (they used to be in the **Value axis** card), like the gridlines of the native visuals.

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Vertical lines at the value ticks | **On** / Off |
| Color (empty = style grid) | Line color | **empty** |
| Width | Line width (px) | 0.5 to 6, **1** |
| Line style | Look of the lines | ***Solid*** · *Dashed* · *Dotted* |

### Legend

This card sets the legend: the two sides, and the "Surplus" key when the surplus is marked. It is turned on by the toggle in its header.

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows the legend | **On** / Off |
| Position | Location | ***Top*** · *Bottom* · *Right* · *Left* |
| Alignment (appears if Position = *Top* or *Bottom*) | Horizontal alignment | ***Start*** · *Center* · *End* |
| Legend title | Shows a title before the legend | On / **Off** |
| Title text (appears if Legend title is on) | Title text | **empty** |
| Size | Size of the series names | 6 to 24, **9** |
| Color (empty = secondary text) | Text color | **empty** |
| Click = select the series | Clicking a legend name selects the whole series and filters the report | **On** / Off |

### Comparison ★

A second population drawn over the pyramid: another year, another territory, a target, or a frame of the play axis.

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Drawn with the "Comparison ★" field, or from a frame of the play axis. | **On** / Off |
| Compare with | Play axis frame: the pyramid of a fixed year stays drawn as an outline while playing. | ***"Comparison" field*** · *First frame of the play axis ★* · *Previous frame of the play axis ★* · *Named frame of the play axis ★* |
| Frame (e.g. 1975) (appears if Compare with = *Named frame of the play axis*) | Label of the frame to keep (shown when Compare with = Named frame). | **empty** |
| Drawing | Step outline, light bars behind the bars, or a tick at the end of each bar. | ***Step outline*** · *Ghost bars behind* · *Marker at the end of each bar* |
| Color (empty = text) | Comparison color. | **empty** |
| Width | Line width. | 0.5 to 6, **1.5** |
| Line style | Line style. | ***Solid*** · *Dashed* · *Dotted* |
| Label | Key text below the pyramid (empty = field or frame name). | **empty** |

### Generations ★

The generation followed while playing and generation markers. Ages must be numeric and the year known (play axis or Ages and categories › Observation year).

**Follow a generation group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Follow a generation ★ | The generation born in a given year is highlighted and climbs year after year while playing. | On / **Off** |
| Born in (or from) | First birth year of the generation. | 1000 to 3000, **1946** |
| To (0 = a single year) | Last birth year (0 = a single year). | 0 to 3000, **0** |
| Label | Label text (empty = "Born in 1946"). | **empty** |
| Color (empty = accent) | Band color. | **empty** |

**Generation markers group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Markers ★ (birth years = text; separated by ;) | A band and a label at the age of each generation; they climb while playing. | **empty** |
| Markers color (empty = secondary text) | Marker color. | **empty** |

### Demographic indicators ★

A box of indicators computed for the year shown (numeric ages).

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Show ★ | Computed by the visual for the current frame (numeric ages). | On / **Off** |
| Position | Corner of the indicator box. | ***Top left*** · *Top right* · *Bottom left* · *Bottom right* |
| Total population | Sum of both sides. | **On** / Off |
| Median age | Half of the population is younger than this age. | **On** / Off |
| Mean age | Mean age (middle of each band). | On / **Off** |
| Share of young people | Share of people under N (N = Young: under). | **On** / Off |
| Share of older people | Share of people aged N and over (N = Older: from). | **On** / Off |
| Dependency ratio | (young + older) per 100 people of working age. | **On** / Off |
| Ageing index | Older people per 100 young people. | On / **Off** |
| Side ratio (left per 100 right) | Sex ratio when the sides are the sexes. | On / **Off** |
| Young: under (years) | Young threshold. | 1 to 40, **20** |
| Older: from (years) | Older threshold. | 40 to 100, **65** |
| Size | Text size. | 7 to 20, **10** |

### Projection ★

Projection years drawn differently (needs a play axis).

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Mark projections ★ | Play axis frames from a given year on are drawn differently and flagged "Projection". | On / **Off** |
| Projection from | Year (or frame label) of the first projection. | **empty** |
| Bar drawing | Drawing of projected bars. | ***Hatched*** · *Pale* · *Dashed outline* |
| Tag | Tag shown (empty = "Projection"). | **empty** |

### Small multiples

The small multiples grid (shown with a field in Small multiples ★).

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Columns (0 = automatic) | Number of grid columns. | 0 to 12, **0** |
| Spacing (px) | Space between panels. | 0 to 60, **14** |
| Title size | Panel title size. | 6 to 24, **10** |
| Total in the title | Panel total after its name. | **On** / Off |
| Panel border | Frame around each panel. | On / **Off** |

### Playback ★

The shared Plume player (shown with a field in Play axis ★). Its settings add nothing to the watermark: the Play axis ★ field is what shows it.

**Playback group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Frame shown on opening | Year shown when the report opens. | ***The last one (most recent)*** · *The first one* |
| Duration of a frame (ms) | At speed ×1; the speed button of the play bar multiplies it (×0.5 to ×4) for the session. | 100 to 10000, **1000** |
| Loop | Starts over after the last frame. | On / **Off** |
| Play automatically on opening | Once, from the first frame. Not when animations are reduced (Style › Animations or the system) nor on a dashboard tile. | On / **Off** |
| Animated transitions | Values, positions and colors move smoothly from one frame to the next. | **On** / Off |

**Play bar group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Play bar | Play button, slider and buttons below (or above) the pyramid. | **On** / Off |
| Bar position (appears if Play bar is on) | Bar at the bottom or top. | ***Bottom*** · *Top* |
| Tick marks (appears if Play bar is on) | Slider tick marks. | ***Automatic*** · *Every frame* · *None* |
| Tick labels (appears if Play bar is on) | Years written below the slider. | **On** / Off |
| Start and end buttons (appears if Play bar is on) | "Go to start" and "Go to end" buttons. | **On** / Off |
| Speed button (appears if Play bar is on) | ×0.5 / ×1 / ×2 / ×4 button (for the session). | **On** / Off |

**Large value group**

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Current value in large type | Current year written in large type, as a watermark. | **On** / Off |
| Large value size (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Size of the large year. | 12 to 160, **44** |
| Large value position (appears if Current value in large type is on) | Corner of the large year (top right: the free space of pyramids). | *Bottom right* · ***Top right*** · *Top left* · *Bottom left* · *Center* |

### Median and mean age ★

In the **Analytics** pane (premium feature since 2026-10-22): median and mean age lines, computed by the visual (numeric ages).

| Setting | What it does | Possible values (default in **bold**) |
|---|---|---|
| Median age ★ | Line at the median age. | On / **Off** |
| Mean age ★ | Line at the mean age. | On / **Off** |
| Computed for | One line per side, or one for everyone. | ***Each side*** · *Everyone* |
| Color (empty = text) | Line color. | **empty** |
| Line style | Line style. | *Solid* · ***Dashed*** · *Dotted* |
| Width | Width. | 0.5 to 6, **1.5** |
| Label with the value | "Median 41.2" at the end of the line. | **On** / Off |

## Premium features ★

| Feature | Where to set it |
|---|---|
| Play axis (animated pyramid) | **Play axis ★** field, **Playback ★** card |
| Computed bands and open last band | **Format › Ages and categories › Group ages**, **Open last band from ★** |
| Surplus of one side (hatching and "Surplus" key) | **Format › Pyramid › Bars › Surplus of one side**: *Hatching at the end of the bar ★*, *Outline of the opposite side ★* |
| Birth years alongside | **Format › Category axis › Birth years alongside ★** |
| Median and mean age | **Analytics › Median and mean age ★** pane |
| Comparison (field or play axis frame) | **Comparison ★** field, **Comparison ★** card |
| Follow a generation | **Format › Generations ★ › Follow a generation ★** |
| Generation markers | **Format › Generations ★ › Markers ★** |
| Demographic indicators | **Format › Demographic indicators ★** |
| Projection | **Format › Projection ★** |
| Stacked sub-categories | **Sub-category ★** field |
| Small multiples | **Small multiples ★** field |
| Paid styles, palettes, JSON theme | **Format › Style** |