XPAC Reference Guide

Chart basics

Chart basics

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Chart basics

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The table below describes the charts that you can generate in XPAC:

Chart type

Description

Example

Area chart

Use area charts to emphasize the relative importance of values over a period of time. An area chart focuses on the magnitude of change rather than the rate of change. Each filled-area on the chart represents a series and is identified by a different colour or pattern. Values are plotted on the vertical (Y) axis and categories are plotted on the horizontal (X) axis. You can also chart one or more series against the secondary Y axis instead of the primary axis.

Area Charts

Bar chart

Use bar charts to compare one item to another, or to compare a number of items over a period of time. These charts are particularly effective at showing large changes from one category to another. Each 2D or 3D bar represents a value in the data grid. Bars representing a series are located at the same position in each category and have the same colour and pattern. In 2D charts, values are grouped on the vertical (Y) axis, and bars are grouped by category along the horizontal (X) axis. On 3D charts, values are plotted on the vertical (Y) axis, categories are grouped along the horizontal (X) axis, and the depth (Z) axis shows series.

Bar Charts

Horizontal bar

Horizontal bars are similar to standard bar charts, except the categories are organized on a vertical (X) axis and the values are plotted on a horizontal (Y) axis.

Horizontal Bars

Clustered bar

Series and data points in a clustered bar chart are displayed as they are in a 2D bar chart, however the chart and all the chart elements are displayed in 3D.

Clustered Bars

Line chart

Use line charts to show trends or changes in data over a period of time. These charts emphasize time flow and rate of change rather than amount of change. In 2D line charts, values are plotted along the vertical (Y) axis and categories are displayed on the horizontal (X) axis. In 3D charts, values are plotted on the vertical (Y) axis, categories are grouped along the horizontal (X) axis, and the depth (Z) axis shows series.

Line Charts

Step chart

Use step charts to compare items that do not show trends. Step charts display distinct points along the value (Y) axis, with vertical lines showing the difference between each point. The horizontal (X) axis shows categories.

Step Charts

Combination chart

Use combination charts to visually highlight the differences between multiple series of data. A different method can be used to draw each data series.

Combination Charts

Pie and doughnut chart

Use pie or doughnut charts to show the relationship of parts to the whole. Each pie or doughnut represents a category. Each slice of the pie or doughnut represents a value in that category. You can separate or explode slices in a chart by clicking a slice and dragging it away from the rest of the pie or doughnut.

Pie and Doughnut Charts

Radar chart

Use radar charts to show changes or frequencies of each series relative to a centre point and to one another. Lines connect all the data markers in the same series. You can choose to fill the lines, thereby creating a radar area chart.

Radar Charts

XY chart

Use XY charts to plot two groups of numbers as one series of XY coordinates. Each series on the chart requires two columns of data in the data grid. The first column holds the X coordinate and the second column the Y coordinate. The column label on the first column in each series is used to identify the series in the legend. Additionally, any formatting applied to the first column is used to display the series on the chart. Any formatting applied to the second column is ignored. You can use markers or lines or both to draw the XY points.

XY Charts

Polar chart

Use polar charts to show cyclical trends. The polar chart requires two columns in the data grid for each chart series: the first column holds the distance from the center of the chart (the radius), and the second column contains the angle on the perimeter of the chart. The column label on the first column in each series identifies the series in the legend. Additionally, any formatting applied to the first column is used to display the series on the chart. Any formatting applied to the second column is ignored.

Polar Charts

Bubble chart

Use bubble charts to show a visual comparison using three coordinates. Each bubble requires three columns of data in the data grid. The first column holds the X coordinate, the second the Y coordinate, and the third the bubble size. All the coordinates in a bubble chart measure values; therefore, the vertical (Y) axis and the horizontal (X) axis both show values. The column label on the first column in each series identifies the series in the legend. Additionally, any formatting applied to the first column is used to display the series on the chart. Any formatting applied to the second and third columns is ignored.

Bubble Charts

Hi-lo chart

Hi-lo charts are most commonly used to show stock market information. However, these chart types can also be used for scientific data such as indicating changes in readings over a period of time. The vertical (Y) axis shows values and the horizontal (X) axis shows categories or dates.

First Impression supports a number of variations to the hi-lo charts. These include: hi-lo-close with the close marker crossing the data point or extending to the right of the data point, open-hi-lo-close, and open-hi-lo-close bar.

The data in the data grid must be organized appropriately for each variation of the hi-lo chart.

A hi-lo chart requires two columns for each data series: the first column is used for the high point and the second is used for the low point.
A hi-lo-close chart requires three columns for each data series: the first column is used for the high point, the second for the low point, and the third for the closing point.
An open-hi-lo-close or a open-hi-lo-close bar chart (sometimes called candle stick charts) requires four columns of data for each data series: the first column is used for the open point, the second for the high point, the third for the low point, and the fourth for the closing point.

The column label on the first column in each series identifies the series in the legend. Additionally, any formatting applied to the first column is used to display the series on the chart. Any formatting applied to the remaining columns that make up the series are ignored.

Hi-Lo Charts

Gantt chart

Use Gantt charts to display a range of bars that indicate the relative time required for various activities within a project. The horizontal axis (Y) shows dates and the vertical axis (X) shows categories. This chart type requires two columns of data for each series. The first column holds the start date, and the second column holds the duration.

Gantt Charts

Elevation chart

Elevation charts are commonly used to display topographic data. There are two types of elevation charts: contour charts and 3D surface charts.

A contour chart is drawn as a two-dimensional area. Changes in the data plotted on this chart are demonstrated through variations in colour known as contours. Contours are drawn on the chart as either coloured bands or lines. Contour bands can be represented on the chart in dramatic contrast or as a subtle transition in hue known as gradient. Contour charts do not have a value axis; the variation in colour is represented in the legend instead.

A surface chart is drawn as a rectangular grid with a surface base or floor. The value axis is drawn perpendicular to the chart base giving the chart its three-dimensional quality. Data variations are plotted on this chart at raised elevations from the surface. The data points themselves are plotted on grid intersections at the corresponding value axis elevation, thus giving the chart depth.

Contours can be applied to surface charts to display additional information. These variations in colour bands or lines are projected on the charts three-dimensional surface and can demonstrate a separate collection of data independent of elevation.

XPAC Elevation Charts

3D XYZ chart

This chart shows variation and relationships over three sets of values plotted on a three-dimensional grid. Each data point represents the intersection of the X,Y, and Z axes. Each series on the chart requires three columns of data in the data grid. The first column holds the x coordinates, the second column holds the y coordinates and the third column holds the z coordinates.

3D XYZ Charts

3D scatter chart

This chart is drawn as a three-dimensional grid with a base and walls. It plots data points created by the intersection of three different coordinate values. Each of the three values that make up a point corresponds to a particular axis in a 3D grid. Each series on the chart requires three columns of data in the data grid. The first column holds the x coordinates, the second column holds the y coordinates and the third column holds the z coordinates.

3D Scatter Charts