IS-171 Computing With Spreadsheets

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IS-171Computing With Spreadsheets

• Charts and Graphs
• Week 4

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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)

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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

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Chart Types

• Pie Chart

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Chart Types

• 3-D Pie Chart

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Chart Types

• Exploded 3-D Pie Chart
• One or more slices are pulled out for emphasis

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Chart Types

• Column Chart
• Vertical representation of the data

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Chart Types

• Bar Chart
• Horizontal representation of the data
• Often preferred over a column chart longer
  description labels and less crowded

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Chart Types

• Multiple Data Series Charts
• Stacked Column Chart

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Chart Types

• Multiple Data Series Charts
• Side-by-Side Column Chart

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Proper Use of Graphs and Charts

• A picture is worth a thousand words

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from The Visual Display of Quantitative
Information, Edward Tufte, 1983
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Lying with Perspective
from The Visual Display of Quantitative
Information, Edward Tufte, 1983
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Need Units
from Exploring Microsoft Excel 97, Grauer
Barber, 1998
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Using Graphics Properly

• Let the graphic values/change accurately depict
  the data values/change
• Clearly label all relevant details
• Dont graphically mix dissimilar elements
• Use the right type of graph