Column Plots

• The Gnumeric Manual, version 1.10
• Graphs
• Plot Types

Column plots present the numeric values of categorical data with the data values of each series represented as a vertical column. Sequential data values are considered to belong to different categories and are plotted along the horizontal axis at equally spaced intervals. The data values from different series are assigned to these categories based on the position of the value in the series, for example, the second data value taken from each series all share one category. The data values are plotted along the vertical (Y) axis as columns of different heights and positions depending on the numeric content of the data value and the particular sub-type chosen for the column plot.

Column plot sub-types provide three options for relating the values from different data series. The first sub-type plots each series independently in adjacent bars, each of which is tied to the horizontal axis and has its height determined by the numeric content of the data value. The second sub-type plots each series as a vertically stacked set of columns with the vertical height of each element determined by the numeric content of the data value and the position of the column determined by the position of the element in the data series. For example, if the first series starts with values {3.9, 4.2, ...}, the second series with values {1.2, 3.5, ...}, and the third series with values {3.1, 1.9, ...}, then the third column will be plotted ranging from 7.7 to 9.6, since 7.7=4.2+3.5 and 9.6=4.2+3.5+1.9. The third sub-type plots each series as a vertically stacked set of columns scaled to the total all the numeric values in that category. Using the example above, the three columns would range from 0 to 0.4375, from 0.4375 to 0.8020, and from 0.8020 to 1 respectively because the intervals are the proportional contribution of each data value to the total, i.e. 0.4375=4.2/(4.2+3.5+1.9) for the first, 0.3645...=3.5/(4.2+3.5+1.9) for the second, and 0.1979...=1.9/(4.2+3.5+1.9) for the third. By default, these numbers are presented as percentages on the vertical (Y) axis.

Column plots do not have any pre-defined styles.

Figure 10-7 An example of column plots

This screenshot shows a table of data and three column plots. The data consist of three series organized by row and starting with the words "Widgets", "Gadgets", and "Lumpets". Each of these series has values in five categories. The three graphs illustrate the three sub-types of column plots, with the series plotted independently in the left plot, stacked in the middle plot, and proportionately stacked in the right plot.

Each series in column plots can include three main elements and two error elements, although only the value element is necessary. The series can have a 'Name' element, which is a single text entry used to identify the series, must have a 'Values' element, which is a sequence of numeric values, and may have a 'Label' element, which is a sequence of text entries used to identify the categories. All of these elements can be defined as references to a region of the worksheet, as literally defined entries, or as formula expressions which result in the correct type. The 'Label' element is shared by all of the series. The legend added to a column plot identifies the different series, by default using the entries of the 'Name' element of each series. The two error elements include a list for errors in the positive direction and one for errors in the negative direction.

Column plots provide three icons to choose between three plot sub-types.