Partition Charts in Excel – alternative to pie charts [visualization hack]

Next time you had to create a pie chart, consider building a partition chart as these charts can reveal trend information along with how much each pie is contributing. What more? They are as easy to create as eating a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream 🙂

I made a sample partition chart based on some random data, the trick lies in using conditional formatting to change the color of a rectangular range of cells based on our data. Just follow these 3 steps to create a neat looking partition chart.

1. First get the data you want to show in partition chart

The data should be in a table format. A sample dataset can be, your top selling product in each of the 100 cities for the last 48 months.

2. Create a grid where you can plat your partition chart

Now create an identical grid beneath the data table where we can plot our data chart. You can adjust column / row heights for this range until it looks like a blank canvas where you can plot the partition colors, something that looks like this.

Remember: the grid dimensions should be same as our data table in Step 1

3. Finally apply conditional formatting to the grid

This should be easy step, even if you are not a rock star of conditional formatting,

Specify conditions for each partition, Sample this:

That is all, you have a partition chart in front of you using which you can probe and analyze spatial trends.

Also: Art with charts, 73 FREE Downloadable Excel Chart templates