Comments on: 10 x 10 tips to improve your (Excel or not) charts: Line charts http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/ Effective Charts and Dashboards for Excel users Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:31:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sunny http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-451 Sunny Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:15:53 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-451 I don't like the labels on the charts because I think it makes it look to busy. I think a legend is okay. One tip I have is when you have a group of charts - use the colors consistenly. For instance, if Blue means "Russia" on one chart then it should mean "Russia" on all charts in that package. I've seen people vary the colors - sometimes just not realizing they had done it. It causes confusion for the end user. I don’t like the labels on the charts because I think it makes it look to busy. I think a legend is okay.

One tip I have is when you have a group of charts – use the colors consistenly. For instance, if Blue means “Russia” on one chart then it should mean “Russia” on all charts in that package. I’ve seen people vary the colors – sometimes just not realizing they had done it. It causes confusion for the end user.

]]> By: grossu http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-449 grossu Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:31:43 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-449 It's time to write a book. Or to put it in the pdf. It would be great! It’s time to write a book. Or to put it in the pdf. It would be great!

]]> By: admin http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-450 admin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:44:33 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-450 Grossu: yes, there will be an e-book and something else... Grossu: yes, there will be an e-book and something else…

]]> By: Tony http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-448 Tony Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:49:04 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-448 Yeah, that could be a standing #1 on all of the lists to avoid chartjunk. Yeah, that could be a standing #1 on all of the lists to avoid chartjunk.

]]> By: admin http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-447 admin Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:32:15 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-447 Thanks Tony. From the communication point of view the idea of changing the weight of the line is very interesting. The other tips should be followed regardless of the type of chart. Thanks Tony. From the communication point of view the idea of changing the weight of the line is very interesting. The other tips should be followed regardless of the type of chart.

]]> By: Tony http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-446 Tony Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:41:38 +0000 http://www.excelcharts.com/blog/10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/#comment-446 I think it goes without saying that you should keep the chartjunk to a minimum. e.g. tick marks, gridlines, background fill, text formatting, heaven forbid - background image, etc. The more lines you have the smaller the weight of the line should be. If you only have two series, use a higher weight (just don't overdo it). Add some valuable insight below the chart regarding outliers or significant changes in the trend. I think it goes without saying that you should keep the chartjunk to a minimum. e.g. tick marks, gridlines, background fill, text formatting, heaven forbid – background image, etc.

The more lines you have the smaller the weight of the line should be. If you only have two series, use a higher weight (just don’t overdo it).

Add some valuable insight below the chart regarding outliers or significant changes in the trend.

]]>