Data Bars – Feedback Please

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Mary Branscombe — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:35:17 GMT

I'm currently trying to use conditional formatting to compare two columns to show for each row which of the two values is greater - so for September did the company have more income or expenditure and so on for the rest of the year. I can only have this by selecting the rule set for each row individually. Even AutoFill - Fill Formatting Only - turns it into a comparison between all and its not possible to use F4 or Redo to reapply the conditional rule. What I really want it to do is compare the two columns - but shade the cell relative to the whole table. So if the values are

500 100

800 300

500 900

800 1000

then the 1000 should be a deeper shade than the 900.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

A User — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:37:33 GMT

I completely agree with Olivier's perspective on chart junk, but he is asking too much of Microsoft. If enough customers want eye candy then sell them eye candy. If some people do not know how to draw without using every single crayon in the box, it is not the crayons' fault.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Stephen Druley — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 14:36:32 GMT

If you format the cells with the data at 90 degrees orientation then have the data bars flow with this orientation. In other words, have the data bars go up and down instead of from left to right. This will allow applications to run without adding any charts to the spreadsheet. This will also allow applications to run more easily without any vba code. Remember, the best program is no program.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

GALILEOGALI — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:31:21 GMT

And if it relates the magnitude of each element of the series to Font.size?

Obviously it is quite complicated ...

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Mike Alexander — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 05:35:22 GMT

Two suggestions not mentioned:

1) Let the user define the location for the data bars. Showing the bars in the same cell as the numbers hinders a clear view to both. Sure you can show the bar without the numbers, but if you want to show both in different columns, you basically have to duplicate the data.

2) A nice-to-have functionality: allow useres to define a secondary Point on the data bar representing a target or goal. Similar to the Target line on a Bullet Graph.

A red dot or line will do.

I imagine it would be useful to let the users define the goal via a cell reference or value input.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Olivier Travers — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 21:57:35 GMT

Gradients in data bars is just one of many examples of chart junk in Excel. If the visual cue doesn't convey meaning, it's actually detrimental. What would be most productive is this:

- a strong commitment from the Excel team to fight chart junk. So far we've not seen it in the product.

- A real self-education effort from the Excel team about what chart junk is. Look it up, there are several blogs out there on this topic.

If we have a guarantee that you'll look at it in a systematic way then it makes it more attractive for users to send feedback. A piecemeal approach only goes so far. During the Excel 2007 dev cycle you guys paid lip service to chart clarity but actually chose to ship a lot of extra useless eye candy. 3D cylinders painted with gradients? Puh-lease.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Stephen Bullen — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:20:18 GMT

I'm surprised that nobody so far has suggested that in-cell data bars should have exactly the same axis formatting capabilities as a bar chart. So the Rules Options dialog should have an exact copy of the Chart Axis Options dialog(s), allowing us to specify the scaling, where the axis crosses, whether to show axes, top or bottom, etc. And for data bars, the chart's "plot area" is defined by the cell borders.

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Sergio — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:44:19 GMT

Scenario 1 – data values contain a zero

For zero value do not show a bar

Scenario 2 – data values are spaced far apart

Use an optional logaritmic scale

Scenario 3 – data values are closely spaced

Do not scale limits to min-delta to max+delta and if you do it please let the function to be optional not mandatory

Scenario 4 – data values contain a negative number

Draw a gray line for zero value and draw the bar in opposite direction for neg. values

Regards

Sergio

Excel Add-In (MicroCharts) Has Great Charts

Charlie — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:07:41 GMT

I'm not sure how many people know about this add-in for Excel, called MicroCharts, but the below link shows some very good ideas that would be great if they were built into upcoming versions of Excel. I am in no way affiliated with the website or add-in, nor have I used it, but it gives some great examples.

www.bonavistasystems.com/.../GuidedTour02.htm

re: Data Bars – Feedback Please

Eric Patteron — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:20:30 GMT

Thanks everyone for your feedback about Data Bars. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us what you think.

To summarize what most of you are saying:

- Zero values should show no bar or a line line.

- The Data bars should be proportional to better reflect the relative values.

- For Scenario 3 it is more important to show them proportionally than to be able to quickly differentiate between the bars that are close in value

- For negative values, bars going in the opposite direction and/or a different color work well to represent the value.

- Gradients should be removed from the data bars.

If you have additional feedback that has not been reflected, pleae add your comments.

Thank you,

Eric Patterson

Excel Program Manager