Help needed : Multiple pie charts for a series

[pumba1991]

The data which we need to present is say, market share of various players for three years. It is possible to have this with excel? The option of making three different pie charts & then placing them side by side is a trick , but not intelligent solution!
Options?

 

[Jon Peltier]

It's also not intelligent from a readability standpoint. A slightly better approach is to use a stacked column or bar chart. A clustered column or bar chart will make it even easier to compare close values.

 

[laughingdevil]

It's also not intelligent from a readability standpoint. A slightly better approach is to use a stacked column or bar chart. A clustered column or bar chart will make it even easier to compare close values.

True, unfortunatly the paying clients don't always agree! People like Pie charts, they look nice

Some work I am currently working on has somthing similar, but I had to take the "trick" way, of pie charts next to each other. So I would be very interested in any solution to this post.

 

[Jon Peltier]

Are you allowed to discuss it with these people? Share the results of studies into human vision and cognition with respect to graphics effectiveness? If so, I can give you lots of links. If not, well, I guess it's your tough luck.

 

[laughingdevil]

Jon, I've read some of your stuff elsewhere on those points and why the stacked ones are better. In my case I speak to the PM, the PM speaks to the client and the client tells them what they want and I do what they pay for, I've mentioned it once and unfortunatly that's as far as I can push them. Thankfully the charts are of the exploded type, which IMO makes them a bit easier to tell whats what, but what else can you do?
People are stubborn!

A further problem in my case is that it's for a "dashboard" type summary, in 4 sections, each one has a different type of graph (stacked bars, grouped columns and custom designed thermometers) and I think they like it to look "different" The whole thing is far to "busy" IMO but hey it's not my money!

 

[Jon Peltier]

Not an ideal arrangement. I've walked away from similar ones, but I'm an independent contractor, so I can do that.

 

[laughingdevil]

Indeed it's not ideal, but as an "employee" it's defo a case of "he who pays the piper picks the tune".

Returning to the OP I think the general advise would be "don't do it" put if you are getting paid to do it that specific way you have to "cheat" because MS may have not given this option in excel for a reason, they don't want us doing it either!

 

[Jon Peltier]

Yep, an advantage of being my own boss. Or at least being able to pick the bosses, and not being stuck with any particular one for too long.

You could show the alternatives, explain how the bar charts show the same data in one chart in a smaller space than three pies, and how one chart would be easier to maintain. Plus the story about how MS didn't offer that option for a reason, that's good too.

Another point, if the client is paying for graphing assistance, maybe you could do the graphs, but first, throw in some graphing advice for free. That's an approach I can take as a consultant and expert. YMMV.

 

[pumba1991]

Non of the quotes really tries to address the basis question: How? Why not leave it to individuals to decide what is best? Possibly, the answer is "NOt Possible" for JOn who is trying to bring in his identity as" Own Boss: to take decisions! However the basics issue is whether Yes or No & if Yes - How?

 

[Jon Peltier]

I hesitate to help people with practices which are generally not considered best practices. But the usual problem when dealing with multiple pie charts, is getting the formatting the same in all of them. The easiest way is to make one chart, format it as desired, then freeze formatting changes. Make as mag copies of the chart as needed, and change the source data of the copies.

FWIW, Edward Tufte once said, "the only thing worse than a pie chart is several of them."