A while back I developed a solution to a Chandoo.org Forum question, where the user wanted a 4 level doughnut chart where each doughnut was made up of 12 segments and each segment was to be colored based on a value within a range.
You can read the original post here: http://forum.chandoo.org/threads/hourly-goals-chart.30621/
This post will examine the techniques I used for the solution.
Data
Download the sample file: Download Hourly Goals Chart File
The first thing to note is that there are 4 column of data, one for each measure of Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost.
Secondly is that each measurement has 12 values representing the times from 4:30 am to 3:30 pm.
We need to setup a Doughnut Chart with 4 layers of 12 segments each
The easiest way to do this is to replicate the data area, but fill it with the same value in all cells,
I choose 1, but as long as all values are the same value, it can be any value
Add a Doughnut Chart
Select the Range A16:E28
Goto the Insert, Chart and select the Pie/Doughnut menu
We have a bit of work to do yet to get the charts format correct
First select the chart then select the Chart’s Legend and press Delete
Next with the chart still selected, Right Click on any Doughnut and select Format Data Series
Set the Doughnut Hole Size to 25%
Do not change the angle of the first slice
Right click on the Outer Doughnut and select Add Data Labels, Data Labels
Right Click on any Data Label and Select Format Data Labels
Tick Value From Cells, Select a range A17:A28
Untick Value
Untick Leader Lines
Now manually click and drag each data label outwards to its final location
Finally set the Border Color for the doughnuts
Right Click on each Doughnut in turn
Set the Doughnut’s Border Line to a Grey Color and a 2 Pt line size
We can now add a text box for the Doughnut Labels
With the chart selected, goto the Insert, Text Box menu
Drag a Text Box inside the chart
Right click on the Text Box and edit Text and type in the value Cost
Now repeat this for the other 3 Doughnuts
Connect the Doughnut Segments to the Data Area
We now have a basic Doughnut chart with all the facilities we require.
Unfortunately, Excel doesn’t have a built-in Conditional Formatting option for charts.
So we will need to develop a system using some simple VBA.
Understand the Doughnut Chart
To write a piece of code we will need to loop through each segment of each doughnut and reference it back to the source data area
Then use some code to set the fill color
then repeat for each segment
To do this we need to understand which doughnut is which column of data and which segment in the doughnut is which time period
First select the inner Doughnut, Note that when you select it, Excel highlights the Safety Series as well as showing the Series Number in the Formula Bar
Repeat with the outer Series and you will see that Doughnut 4 is connected to the Cost Data and is series 4.
To determine which segment is which goto cell E17 and change the value from 1 to 2
So we understand that the series go from Value 1 to 4, Inner to Outer Doughnuts and that the segments go from value 1 to 12 clockwise, starting to the right of 12 O’Clock.
Finally select the Chart and make note of it’s name.
The Charts Name is shown in the Name Dialog above cell A1
Now for some VBA
Lets start by first manually recording a macro in VBA and we will then edit and add to the macro to get our final result
Start the macro Recorder by Pressing the Macro Button in the lower left corner of the Excel Window
Note the Macro Name, which is most likely Macro1 and press Ok
Now everything that you do is being recorded by the Visual Basic Editor (VBE)
Select the Outer Doughnut, then select Segment one, then Right Click on Segment one, Format Data Point
Select the Fill & Line menu
Set the Fill to a Solid Fill and Select a Color Red
You can now stop macro recording by pressing the Macro button again
Lets look at our code
To change to VBA press the Alt+F11 button
You should have a screen similar to this:
Take note of the above.
We can see that we have a Macro1 subroutine, located in Module 1 of our Excel file.
If you can’t see a Properties or Immediate window, don’t worry.
Looking at the VBA Code we can see
- That the chart is called Chart 1
- We selected Doughnut 4, the outer doughnut
- We selected the first segment in Doughnut 4
- We set the Fill Color of Segment 1 to Red = RGB(255, 0, 0)
So this little bit of code will form the basis of our macro
What we need to do next is to place that within 2 loops, one loop for the Doughnut and one loop for the Segment
So lets do that:
You can see above that we have initialised two variables Doughnut and Segment as Integers
We have setup two loops, one for the Doughnut which will loop from 1 to 4 and a second loop for the Segment, which will loop from 1 to 12.
We can now use these variables within the code to reference each Doughnut / Segment as relevent
The next thing is to add lines to lookup the value of the measure in the original data table.
We can use our variables to assist us with this:
I have added a new variable declaration myVal and declared it an Integer as it is only storing the values from, 0 to 3.
Then we retrieve the value from the data area by using a Range(“”).Offset(Row,Column) combination.
We know that the segment loops from 1 to 12 and this is the Row Offset in each Doughnut.
The Doughnut loops from 1 to 4 and this is the Column Offset from the cell A1
Next we need to allow for each fill color remembering that the data area has a legend
We could loop from a value of 0 to 3 and check the new variable myVal against each value and set the color.
But VBA has a Select Case function which is ideally suited to this task
A also took the opportunity to streamline the Chart selection process in the previous step
That allowed the use of the With Object construct, allowing the Select case to use the myVal to apply different colors to the fill property of each segment
At this stage we can run the code, by simply pressing F5 in VBA
We can change the code to allow it to update automatically when Data range changes
To do this we need to shift the code to a Sheet1 Code Module associated with Worksheet Sheet 1
Note above that the code is now located in a Private Sub Worksheet_Change event. This means that the code runs whenever worksheet1 chnages.
The next line If Intersect(ActiveCell, Range(“B2:E13”)) Is Nothing Or Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
Checks whether the cell that changed was not part of our Data Area or that multiple cells were selected.
If either are are true the macro ends
Then finally I removed the MyVal calculation and made it part of the Select Case function.
because we aren’t using myVal I removed the Dim myVal statement
We can now also remove Module 1, right click on it and Remove Module.
Save the file and return to Excel with Alt+F11
You can now change any cells in the data area and the macro updates the chart accordingly
Can we tidy up the layout of the worksheet?
Although we now have a fully functional model, we are stuck with an ugly worksheet layout because our template of 1’s is being used to support the framework of the 4 Doughnuts in the chart.
What if there was another way to achieve that?
Well there is.
Firstly, we could simply shift the range A18:ER30 well away from the Chart and data area or even move it to another worksheet.
This will work, but risks a person adding data, rows or columns and messing up the layout
But there is a better way
I am going to add 4 Named Formula to the worksheet, one for each Doughnut
Goto the Formula, Name Manager Tab and add 4 Names as listed below:
_Safety =1+(ROW(OFFSET(Sheet1!$A$1,,,12,1))-1)*0
_Cost =_Safety
_Delivery =_Safety
_Quality =_Safety
The 4 Names now contain an array of 12 x 1 each with a value 1.
We can use that to link the Doughnuts to instead of the Physical Range
Right click on the chart and Select Data
Select each Doughnut in term and Edit
Change the Series Name to Row 1 and insert the Names into the Series values dialog.
Note that the formula must include the Worksheet name =Sheet1!_Safety etc
Repeat this for the 4 Series
You can now select the framework range: A18:E30 and press Delete
The chart remains intact and is now supported by the Named Formula
Change some values in the Data range at the top and the Chart updates as it should.
You can download the final version of the file here: Download Completed File
Final Thoughts
The technique applied to the doughnut chart above can fairly easily be modified to any chart type or in fact any other shapes.
Let me know what you think in the comments below:
ps: This has been one of my hardest posts to write, simply because Microsoft has misspelt Doughnut. In my native Australian English it is Donut.
66 Responses to “Budget vs. Actual Charts – 14 Charting Ideas You can Use”
[...] Update: Check out the results at Budget vs. Actual Charts [...]
Hi there:
I'm interested in understanding exactly how contestants #'s 1, 8 got their surplus or shortfall to show up at the top of the bar (is this overlapped or stacked somehow) and change colour? I hope this makes sense. I've tried to find samples and I can see contestant 8 (cuboo) may have used something called graphomate but I can't use this.
I need to create a bar chart that shows budget, and actual variance whether it be a surplus or a shortfall and I would like make it look like option 1 or 8 above but haven't a clear idea how to do it...any help would be greatly appreciated!
Regards..Linwe
[...] heute können alle Beiträge auf “Pointy Haired Dilbert” gesichtet und bis zum 12.04. bewertet werden. Falls mein Vorschlag - Nr. 8 - gefällt, freue ich [...]
Danken Sie Excel friend!
#6 is the best here. Simple, no extraneous visual effects.
I was all set to vote for #9...until I noticed its lack of y-axis labels. So I have to go with #6 also.
I think #6,#9 is enough .
#9 is my favorite
Nice data/ink ratio 😉
I agree with Jon - #6 for me.
8 & 14
I go for # 9 (simple) and #14 (complete)
I go for cuboo #8
cheers
#6 for overview at a glance / top management
#8 for deeper analysis / those who need more detailed information
#14 although I think you only need the bottom panel and I then would stack the Center charts vertically to make Center comparisons easier.
#10 gets my vote.
If there is a second place, then #14
denise
Hi, if I was not wrong, Samples 3,4 and 5 were created using Tableau software and not Excel. For more information on Tableau you might want to visit http://www.tableausoftware.com/. It was initially designed by Prof. Pat Hanrahan and his PhD students. I am not their salesperson but I thought someone might want to know more about this particular technology.
Hi Tin Seong Kam:
Thanks - I have looked at Tableau before. I have also found the means to reproduce something similar to chart 8 without using graphomate, and also chart 7. I proposed chart 9 as well but the overlap is confusing to some.
I am really not too concerned about showing actual budget figures but the variance in $ and % is important for my particular use. That is why I gravitate to the charts that seem to easily tell us that we have a surplus or a shortfall.
Thanks!
Linwe
11, 6, 9 (presque pareil)
7 pour la clarté
cuboo #8 ist my favorite
best regards...
8
8 is fantastic
I prefer N#8 - N# 1,7 & 8 use the settings of Rolf Hichert...
6 : The GURU (read "Jon Peltier ") has spoken,
SOO easy on eyes!
Hi Chandoo,
I liked Cuboo's submission. So #8 gets my vote.
Regards,
Sumit
Number 8 by far. Even though it's not part of the data display, the comments feature sells me. Variance explanations are as important as the actual variances.
I visually prefer #8, but #3 is really easier to understand, even if it lacks a lot of information (inverting budget/actual), legend, etc...
[...] All in all there are several great entries suggesting a good variety to present budget vs. actual performance. Go check them out. [...]
[...] reshape, zoo by learnr A reader of a Pointy Haired Dilbert blog enquired about best ways to visualise budget vs. actual performance. In response PHD challenged his blog readers to contribute their visualisations made using Excel or [...]
anyone willing to post their xls for these? Some really excellent exmaples.
To avoid the summary execution of the person presenting these to an executive team these charts must handle overspending as well as underspending, be comprehensible in 5 seconds and show the key fact clearly. The key fact isn't budget or actual - it's the magnitude of the gap!
Therefore:
#14 for nailing the key fact and being able to handle overspending. The winner therefore.
#6 for nailing speed-reading and being able to handle overspending, but somewhat obscuring the key fact. Second place.
#8 for nailing information depth and aesthetics. Third place.
I really wanted #8 to win, but that's the technician's view not the end-user's.
[...] Todas as contribuições podem ser vistas no seguinte endereço: Budget vs. Actual Charts – 14 Options You can Use Posted on April 5th, 2009 http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/04/05/budget-vs-actual-charts/ [...]
Social comments and analytics for this post...
This post was mentioned on Twitter by NancyJHess: I like to explore fav tweets of those I follow. Here is one from DutchDriver http://twurl.nl/17eiap Creative visual charts: Budget vs Actual...
number 8
clean, full of info, qualitative as well as quantitative
Hi,
I Like 4 chart in above as per the following ratings:-
no 1# -> 14***
no 2# -> 7***
no 3 # -> 8**
no 4# -> 1.3**
I will be greateful if someone can send me the process of making all above 4 charts.
Virender
[...] Budget vs. Actual Values in Charts – 14 more options [...]
[...] Budget vs. Actual – 14 charting options [...]
Does anyone know what type of chart #6 is (chart name?)? Also, how do I create this is Excel 2007?
@Shazbot
I'd call it a Column and Bar chart, but don't get hungup on names
To make it try this:
Setup the chart as a Clustered Column Chart
Change the Series so there is 100% overlap, ie: One column is in front of the other
Change the Budget series to a line chart
Set the line color to none
Set the marker style to a Flat Line
Change the marker width to make it the same width as the bar
Change colors and other chart properties to suit
Does anyone have an idea on how to create chart #1?
Thanks
Caroline, please see the german page: http://www.hichert.com/de/software/exceldiagramme/55
there you can find the original example for nr1.
best regards,
stefan
Caroline
This is a Clustered Stacked Column Chart
Which has the column under the Shortfall/Excess colored the same as the Budget
Have a look here
http://chandoo.org/forums/topic/question-about-budget-v-actual
&
http://peltiertech.com/WordPress/clustered-stacked-column-charts/
Hi,
Is it possible to get the source files like the other visualisation challenge (on sales).
Thanks,
Vijay
Dear Chandoo,
I discovered your site by pure chance and I am really thrilled about it and I am learning a lot.
Is it possible to post the source file for this visualisation challenge?
Thanks,
Vijay
[...] Budget vs. Actual Charts in Excel [...]
Dear Chandoo,
How do I create Chart #10 (comparing Budget vs Actual Performaces) by cost center by quarter without the cumulative performance. Do you have an actual example that I could use?
Thanks,
Greg
HI
Does anyone can help me to a to create chart #7? I'm beginer in excel , I started to work two weeks ago and my boss ask me to follow the budget/actual until the end of the year.
SO I really need your help.
Thanks in advance
p.s Sorry for my english ( i'm french)
@OKI, Greg
I have made a mockup of #7 and #10
It is available at:
http://chandoo.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Bud-Act-visualizaion-challenge-7+10..xlsx
#10 is a straight, Pivot Chart/Table but the data has been rearranged to get it into the pivot table
#7 is 2 charts, being a simple Bar Chart and a Scatter Chart with 100% Error Bars
I have used Named Formulas for the two charts.
HELLO Hui
Thanks you very much for your hepl , i really appreciate
Have I nice week
Hi,
I was wondering how can you replicated chart 1.3? The bars looked like there overlapped on two different axis?
Tony
I think 1 & 3 are good.
Hi Chandoo,
Please can you provide a link of the excel sheet for 1. Chart "3 colors and everything is clear"
I would like to drill into the spreadsheet and learn the secrets as how the chart was made.
Many thanks,
Sawan
@Sawan
It is probably 12 seperate charts, I will assume snapped to the underlying cells to ensure they are the same size
The left 3 Charts have a vertical Axis
The bottom 4 Charts have a horizontal Axis
The remainder have no axis
The remaining text maynot be part of the charts but is probably cell content
Saludos,
Como puedo descargar estos maravillosos ejemplos para estudiarlos y analizarlos deseo aprender a realizar este tipo de graficas en Excel.
Gracias,
Dear Chandoo and Hui,
Please would you help me (step by step if possible) to create Chart #8?
Many thanks in advance!
Dear Chandoo,
I think chart #8 is really great. Would really appreciate if you can show basic step to create it.
Thanks 🙂
Hi all,
Is there any step by step tutorial to recreate the the chart #1 please?
Would really appreciate if someone could show me how it done.
Regards
Sawan
Can someone tell me how do you create chart number 2? Thanks!
Am I the only one that can not display any of the images? Would love to take a look at these. This is the ONLY page on the whole website I have had this issue with. 🙁
Dear All,
how can i create chart # 7? is there any link where i can subscribe to your website by paying a certain amount. i want to learn some good excel techniques.
please let me know.
Cant see the images 🙁
Where can I find the link to download some of the above charts?? these are extremely usefull chart and would like to utilize the same.
Waiting for the reply.
Thanks..
I am interested for # 1,6,7,8,9,10,11 its very exciting for me .
Hi,
Just wanted to check, is there any possibility that pivot table or drop down work in power point?
Regards
Satyapal
@Satyapal... you can only use static images or slide animations in Power Point. Not features like pivot tables or drop downs. However, you can embed the entire workbook (or sheet) in a presentation. When clicked this will just open Excel so your users can play with the data.
Is there any instalment kind of facility available for joining the online course of Rs.12000/-.
Regards
Ramesh N
Hi,
I badly want to replicate #10. Can someone help me.. I've checked google to help but I can't figure out how to add the total 🙁
Regards,
Tim