IS-171
Computing With Spreadsheets
Charts and Graphs
Week 4
Chart Design
• A chart is a graphic representation of data in an attractive,
easy-to-understand form
• Determine the message to be conveyed
– Emphasis
– Proportional relationships
– Actual data
• Keep it simple – more is not necessarily better
• Understand colors (color blindness)
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
2
Chart Types
• Pie Chart
– Illustrate proportional relationships such as percentage
or market share
– Number of slices should not exceed 6 – 7
– Group small categories (% less than 5) into one
category, “Other”
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
3
Chart Types
• Pie Chart
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region for September 2003
International
$30,500
2%
East
$448,000
30%
West
$645,000
43%
Midwest
$378,800
25%
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
4
Chart Types
• 3-D Pie Chart
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region for September 2003
International
$30,500
2%
East
$448,000
30%
West
$645,000
43%
Midwest
$378,800
25%
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
5
Chart Types
• Exploded 3-D Pie Chart
One or more slices are “pulled out” for emphasis
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region for September 2003
We need to re-evaluate our
International strategy!
International
$30,500
2%
East
$448,000
30%
West
$645,000
43%
Midwest
$378,800
25%
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
6
Chart Types
• Column Chart
Vertical representation of the data
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region for September 2003
$700,000
$600,000
$500,000
$400,000
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
$0
East
5/29/2016
Midwest
West
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
International
7
Chart Types
• Bar Chart
Horizontal representation of the data
Often preferred over a column chart – longer description labels and
less crowded
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region for September 2003
International
West
Midwest
East
$0
5/29/2016
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
$700,000
8
Chart Types
• Multiple Data Series Charts
Stacked Column Chart
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Product within Region for September 2003
$700,000
$600,000
$500,000
Tables
$400,000
Panels
Files
Chairs
$300,000
Accessories
$200,000
$100,000
$0
East
5/29/2016
Midwest
West
International
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
9
Chart Types
• Multiple Data Series Charts
Side-by-Side Column Chart
Wilson, Inc. Sales
by Region within Product for September 2003
$400,000
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
East
Midw est
$200,000
West
International
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$0
Accessories
5/29/2016
Chairs
Files
Panels
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
Tables
10
Proper Use
of Graphs and Charts
“A picture is worth a thousand words”
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Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
11
from The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward Tufte, 1983
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Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
12
Lying with Perspective
from The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward Tufte, 1983
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Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
13
Need Units
from Exploring Microsoft Excel 97, Grauer & Barber, 1998
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Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
14
Using Graphics Properly
• Let the graphic values/change accurately
depict the data values/change
• Clearly label all relevant details
• Don’t graphically mix dissimilar elements
• Use the right type of graph
5/29/2016
Carol Wilson and Fred Ferwerda
15