This week I have asked a number of owners of notable Non-MVP Excel websites for their input to their favorite Excel Tips, Tricks, Cheats & Hacks.
Notable means that the web site has attracted my attention and made it into my list of Excel Shortcuts in my Firefox browser.
Lets dive in:
001. Percent of True Items in a Pivot Table Field – Doug Glancy
Doug presents a post on how to add a Percentage of True Items in a Pivot Table
You can read the description at Doug’s YourSumbuddy Website
Contribution by: Doug Glancy
Website: YourSumbuddy
002. Fixing Bad Dates – MF Wong (aka Fung)
I regularly encounter dates that have been incorrectly input in Excel. To a regular Excel user, it is really a terrible experience.
Therefore I wrote a post about fixing trouble dates:
https://wmfexcel.com/2014/10/12/fixing-trouble-dates/
Using Text to Columns #4 in the post is my favourite trick to fix this kind of problem
Contribution by: MF Wong (aka Fung)
Website: wmfexcel
003. Using wildcard to reference sheets in formula bar – MF Wong (aka Fung)
Using wildcard to reference sheets in formula bar – a very well hidden magic
This trick, although is not perfect (not dynamic), but is incredibly useful for those who do 3D sum frequently.
https://wmfexcel.com/2015/07/11/sumc3-is-it-a-valid-formula-no-it-is-magical-indeed/
Contribution by: MF Wong (aka Fung)
Website: wmfexcel
004. Convert PDF to Excel without PDF converter – MF Wong (aka Fung)
Well technically this is not an Excel trick. Nevertheless I find it super relevant in workplace, but not yet commonly discussed on Internet.
https://wmfexcel.com/2015/08/08/convert-pdf-to-excel-without-pdf-converter/
Contribution by: MF Wong (aka Fung)
Website: wmfexcel
005. Conditional Standard Deviation – Andrew Engwirda
Excel does not have a Conditional Standard Deviation, ie: a STDEVIF() function. It’s got other conditional functions like COUNTIF(S), SUMIF(S) and AVERAGEIF(S), but is somewhat lacking when it comes to calculating conditional standard deviation.
I have written a user defined function that adds the functionality of a Stdevif() function.
You can read about it here: http://andrewexcel.blogspot.
Contribution by: Andrew Engwirda
Website: Andrews Excel Tips
006. Text Troubles – Andrew Engwirda
If you work with data from various sources, it’s possible you will come across numbers formatted as Text. Depending on what you plan to do with these numbers, it’s possible that the Text formatting will cause problems.
This post explores how to anlayse and fix some of these issues:
http://andrewexcel.blogspot.
Contribution by: Andrew Engwirda
Website: Andrews Excel Tips
007. VBA Code Indenter – Andrew Engwirda
http://andrewexcel.blogspot.
Contribution by: Andrew Engwirda
Website: Andrews Excel Tips
008. Indenting Code in Cells – Andrew Engwirda
There’s a few addins out there to indent VBA code. I should know this because I made one of them.
But let’s say for argument’s sake that you can’t use any of them. Perhaps you’re using a computer somewhere that won’t allow you to install what you want. You still have access to the VBE, right?
You can do the work in cells on a worksheet, then transfer the results to the VBE
Read about the technique here:
http://andrewexcel.blogspot.
Contribution by: Andrew Engwirda
Website: Andrews Excel Tips
009. Advanced Find & Replace – Andrew Engwirda
Excel’s built-in Find / Find and Replace dialog box is quite useful. Unfortunately you can only find/replace one thing at a time.
(This doesn’t mean you can’t select all cells with the same value at the same time. Just use the Find All button, select one of the results and click Ctrl+A on your keyboard at the same time to select all cells with the same value. The thing is you can only “find” one thing at a time).
Anyway, recently I’ve had to find/replace in lots of cells in various worksheets, and doing the same thing over and over again led me to say “Oh dear, what a bother!”. (Well, perhaps I used stronger language than that)
So I made this.
http://andrewexcel.blogspot.
Contribution by: Andrew Engwirda
Website: Andrews Excel Tips
010. Setup perfect square gridlines in Charts – Frankens Team
This technique combines XY Scatter with Pie charts to have perfect square gridlines.
Perfect square plot area, perfect square gridlines
I haven’t seen this trick published elsewhere, but I really like it because of the simplicity. We used in lot of other chart solutions where the perfect square plot area was key element.
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
011. Change the Value Fields in Pivot tables using a Slicer – Frankens Team
This technique makes it easier to change the value fields in Pivot tables or Power Pivot using only a special slicer and few rows of VBA.
Use Slicer to select value fields for Pivot table or PowerPivot!
This trick helps my users to easily select the measure they want to analyze in their pivot table.
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
012. Combine a hyperlink and drop down list – Frankens Team
It is very easy to use a hyperlink to navigate within a workbook.
But if you have lot of worksheets, it may be easier to combine hyperlink and drop down list.
In this post we will show you how easily you can set up this feature!
The trick is in the order of steps.
Hyperlink to a dynamic range – easy navigation
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
013. Add a % calculated measure without generating blank rows in Pivot tables – Frankens Team
This last technique can be interesting for some PowerPivot users.
It’s a trick how to build up % calculated measures without generating blank rows in the Pivot table.
Solution: avoid using constant value in fraction calculations.
PowerPivot: Constant in calculated field results blank rows
I had not found solution in google. So I started to investigate and found the root of the problem…
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
014. Calendar Control for all Office Versions inc. Mac – Frankens Team
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
015. Combine Bubble and xy scatter line chart – Frankens Team
Have you ever wanted to connect the bubbles of a bubble chart with lines?
For example to create kind of a timeline: how the position of a product changes month by month in a Growth/Profit matrix.
You would like to see something like this:
The technique to achieve this is discussed here:
https://sites.google.com/site/e90e50fx/home/combine-bubble-and-xy-scatter-line-chart
Contribution by: Frankens Team
Website: E90E50
016. Useful Worksheet properties in VBA – Paul Kelly
Contribution by: Paul Kelly
Website: ExcelMacroMastery
017. Remove blank rows using special cells – Christos Samaras
Remove blank rows using special cells
Contribution by: Christos Samaras
Website: My Engineering World
018. Using SUMPRODUCT function for numerical integration – Christos Samaras
Contribution by: Christos Samaras
Website: My Engineering World
019. Common auxiliary VBA functions that I use in my projects – Christos Samaras
I use a number of Auxillary Functions to assist me in my Excel and VBA Development
These functions include:
– SheetNameExists
– GetFileNameFromPathNoExtension
– FileExists
– NamedRangeExists
– IsUserFormLoaded
– GetIndexOfArray
– HasBadCharacters
These VBA functions are all demonstrated in the mFunctions Code Module in VBA in the sample file
You can see them all in the attached file: Download Sample File
Contribution by: Christos Samaras
Website: My Engineering World
020. Get data from Tables with VLookup – Christos Samaras
I use VLOOKUP with COLUMN() function and $ symbol for getting data from tables with multiple columns (sometimes exceeding 100 columns).
I have attached a sample, in which you can see what it is:
– A classic VLOOKUP formula;
– In which the $ symbol is used for locking the lookup value (its column actually is locked);
– Instead of column index, the volatile function COLUMN is used;
– This simply requires the Report worksheet columns to contain the same data layout as the Data Source worksheet
Download Sample File
Contribution by: Christos Samaras
Website: My Engineering World
021. Create a QueryTable from an SQL Query – Tom Kacprowicz
This technique creates a QueryTable from an SQL Query (so called MS Query) within your current Excel Workbook. Normally you need to undergo a lengthy 7 step process.
What does it do?
It creates a QueryTable from an SQL Query (so called MS Query) within your current Excel Workbook. Normally you need to undergo a lengthy 7 step process.
4. I recommend adding an Excel Shortcut (Macro Options) or adding it to your Excel Quick Access Toolbar.
4. Provide your Query and Click Ok.
Why I find it a Great Excel/VBA Tip
In just a couple of seconds you can run a SQL SELECT Query on your Data. In case of errors you will see the error message.
However with MS Queries you can build quick recipes for complex data analysis or quick data transformations.
How would you list a distinct list of records from an Excel Table?
Without MS Queries that would be hard (a Pivot Table? An Array Formula? A VBA Macro?), using MS Query it takes 10 seconds (see first example in my Excel file). MS Queries (SELECT) allow grouping, filtering, ordering, distinct.. the list goes on.
You can see how this works in the short video below:
Contribution by: Tom Kacprowicz
Website: The Analyst Cave
Closing
A very special thank-you to the Contributors who contributed to the Excel Tips, Tricks, Cheats & Hacks shown above.
The quality of the posts demonstrates the contributors skill and passion to the use of Excel & VBA.
I hope you get to to revue all the tips and pass comments and appreciation back to the authors as appropriate.
Next week will be the second last post in the Excel Tips, Tricks, Cheats & Hacks series, where I will be asking you for your contributions.
These will be combined with the existing comments from this and the previous 2 posts to make the final final post: Excel Tips, Tricks, Cheats & Hacks – Readers Edition.
As always if you have any Excel Tips, Tricks, Cheats & Hacks you would like to share with us please do so in the comments below:
37 Responses to “Pie of a Pie of a Pie chart [Good or Bad?]”
If I could have the same quality of graphics and illustration in Office Apps, I would certainly use it.
If I could have the same quality of graphics in Office Apps (Excel, PPT) I would certainly use it.
Chandoo,
First, let me say I love your blog. I like this post, and I think that technically (in terms of readability of data) your argument is correct. The bar of bars, and the table, are much better for readability and accuracy, and as you say would be much easier to produce.
But these points ignore the context of the chart. If the chart was part of a scientific paper, your solution would be a valid one. The context in this case is an illustrated atlas of wildlife. A companion graphic to go with written text. The importance of aesthetic goes up over readability and accuracy. Much of the data and points (I assume) will be covered in the text.
There's always a pure technical tufte-esque argument. But I sometimes think it ignores the value of aesthetics. (Which I admit are quite subjective)
Great post though. Thanks.
The Treemap makes the scope of the data much clearer! The 3D pie chart depiction is deceptive.
This reminds me of the videos ive seen on the internet where it compares the relative sizes of the earth with the larger planets, then the sun, then other stars in the galaxy. Eventually there is an image showing the largest star in the sky with a little pixel representing the sun.
My point is if you varied the size of the charts it would help convey the message. The first chart (salt vs fresh) would be the biggest and the rest would be arranged in descending order. I feel this would be more accurate.
It may be helpful to consider the advice of Steven Few and Edward Tufte regarding pie charts in general. To summarize, they are seldom the most useful way to present data. Here's Few's thoughtful piece on the subject.
http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/08-21-07.pdf
Try putting the percentages on the bar charts instead of actual amounts. Lakewater would be .013 % instead of 52.
That is very good pie chart example.
Please send example file if it is possible.
It will work , even though colors may be confusing , it can be labeled well . Also it can be called as the drilled chart , as it drills in information further , like the first chart may show business in a region , second may drill into a particular region , thrid may further drill into wat products are there in that region . It works well for me , i would more vote for the 2 nd option .
Overall all this site is awesome ,
p.s : just like me
The risk with pie of a pie of a pie chart is that Jon may have a seizure by looking at it. Also, it isn't easy to read. 😉
I dunno. The only thing worse than a pie chart is a cascading series of pie charts. I don't even think they really lend themselves to this sort of thing. It just becomes a big hide-the-ball game with your viewer.
Those goofy connectors between the pies are pure chart junk. I can't really tell if the second chart has 2 series or 3 - because the connector is a different color than the 2 labeled slices. Despite that, even whereas the drill down kind of works, still the individual components suffer from the same old weaknesses that 3d pie charts have.
Use a large bar chart as your "cover story", and fill in the sub points with smaller bar charts - or even go grab the Fabrice SFE project for extra butter. Use page orientation, color, and some text styles to guide your audience through the drill downs.
FWIW, if you check out the guy's site, you can find several other truly mortifying charts:
http://www.andrewdavies.com.au/index.html
The methane emissions one is particularly heinous. Although, I'm kind of debating what I think about the 'Glacier Changes" chart. I'd kind of like to see the data on that to see how it would look in a more traditional horizon chart.
Thank you, that was scary. I don't understand the "Glacier changes" Chart at all...
Its a very nice way to represent the data, especially when we have sets and sub-sets within the data.
I like these!
Except for the fact that they aren't dynamic and hence must be setup manually each time
It would also be nice if they could be interrogated as in select a different segment and the new data falls out automagically, but then none of the standard Excel charts do that either.
I'd like it better if the bars were stacked. How about this idea (I hope I can convey it in words):
First bar is vertical and stacked.
Second bar is horizontal, stacked horizontally and the same proportion had it been on the first bar.
Third bar is vertical, stacked vertically and the same proportion had it been on the second bar.
Then it would really look like you are zooming on the chart, like the Powers of Ten video, or maybe like the golden ration spiral.
These looks shunting but setting up for each step makes kicks them out. However if these can be arranged automatically by native excel or by VBA, these will be the part of my "Archery"
I agree with Chandoo's Suggestion about the Bar Graph which represents data in a very appropriate manner. Even I prefer doing the same. I seldom use Pie Chart unless required.
That's a real nice example of a missleading infographic. But to be honest, I think chandoos suggestion is not much better!
Why are pie charts bad? I think because they don't show the real size-relations. The biggest pie in that example ist 300k big. The 2nd one has only the size of 10k, about 3% of the first one. Niether the pies nor the bars show the real sizes. I jnow, it's hard to show the sizes because the values of the second and the third pie are so small. But that's what visualization are about - showing relations to allow the reader to see the real sizes!
So how to show the real figures?
First possibility is o use a 1:1 scaling. Well then, you need a very big screen to show also after a 90° rotation, wihich I would prefer because it's a structural comparison and not a timeline. Maybe that solution is not the perfect way.
The other chance you have is to zoom in but to really show that you zoom in! http://www.pro-chart.de/images/Water_Fall.png maybe gives you a first impression what i mean. (i was a quick try, done in 10 minutes)
The next way is, maybe to fold the bars like in the financial report 2011 of the Post of Switzerland page 22. That chart is based on an excel chart. Maybe can explain you how to do it 😉
Financial Statement: http://www.post.ch/en/post-startseite/post-berichterstattung/post-berichterstattung-service/post-berichterstattung-downloads/post-gb-2011-finanzbericht.pdf
page 22: http://www.pro-chart.de/images/FS_Schweizer_Post.png
A way that is not so very common is to divide the bars in a lot of single datapoints. So maybe the 390k bar then consists of about 5,000 single datapoint. That's not possible - it is! Have a look:
http://www.pro-chart.de/images/Dotted_WF.png
It's pure excel!
Now one single point ist 0,2% of the whole (in the example above). Add more datapoints and you can visulize the very big and the very small numbers!
Wish you a lot of fun - visualizing with excel can be very powerful!
Joerg
...if you would like to know how these charts work, just send an email to J.Decker@pro-chart.de
Hey Joerg,
I don't dig so much the dotted waterfall thing. But this is kind of awesome:
http://www.pro-chart.de/images/FS_Schweizer_Post.png
Can you help me on the bar of bar graph? Would it be possible to create that from pivot table? Can you show me how to create the bar of bar graph?
do nothing but say "Awesome!"
You are a Rock star.....This seemed an answer as if someone was reading my mind and just had the solution to my questions on what I exactly was looking for .....What a Fab !!
can u explian me step by step
Can anyone please explain how to make this chart please.
Do you mean the pie of a pie chart or the folded bar chart?
Joery PIE OF PIE Chart please
Can someone please explain how to make PIE OF PIE Chart.
@Mandeep
The last line of the post is:
PS: If you want to know to create this pie of pie of pie chart in excel, see here.
Due to forum migration, link is now:
http://chandoo.org/forum/threads/multiple-pie-chart.7343/
Hi... i love these charts.... can any one show me how to draw these charts in excel 2010
@Vamshi
The very last line of the post refers you to:
PS: If you want to know to create this pie of pie of pie chart in excel, see here. http://chandoo.org/forums/topic/multiple-pie-cahrt
Where is the attachment....it used to be there...i have seen this before but now i am not able to find...
See this:
http://img.chandoo.org/playground/WaterDistribution-chandoo.xlsx
And this:
http://chandoo.org/forum/threads/how-do-you-create-this-chart.9743/
Normally I don't learn post on blogs, however I would like to
say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do so!
Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you,
quite great article.
This is very impressive, I would like to learn how to build this for myself. I have tried for some time now, is there a step by step process on how to create these waterfall pie of pie charts?
I am novice to excel and use it very seldom. But your blog contains to the point information one needs to get going.
I was searching for a trick to do a Pie chart drill down - for example the first pie chart shows how the prices are distributed between perishable and non-perishable items.
Now if we want to know how the perishable items are distributed - one can click the segment and it will draw another pie chart with distribution of all different perishable items (milk,meat,fruit,veg etc)
So do you have any such trick?
Regards,
electrojit
I like the look of your pie of pie of pie chart, although I understand that the relative size of each pie does not represent the actual percentages.