Custom Radar Chart

**damo_uk** · 03-31-2009, 09:35 AM

Can anyone help me please?

I have a large data set (hourly data for a year).
I usually present this as a line chart which then looks cramped.

My idea is to create a radar chart but split into sections (imagine a pie chart with 12 equal slices). I then want the data (split into months) to be graphed around each section.

Does anyone know if this is possible or exists? It will effectively have 12 x-axis' albeit all identical.

Many thanks,

Damien

**Andy Pope** · 03-31-2009, 09:48 AM

How will forcing those +8000 data points in to a slice of a pie/radar make the chart any easier to read?

Can you post example data set and what you current chart type looks like with that data.

What information are you trying to relay via the chart?

**damo_uk** · 03-31-2009, 10:05 AM

Thanks for getting back so quick Andy.

The data I am enquiring about is from an air quality monitoring machine (nitorgen dioxide) and I am producing a yearly report. The graph is for visual reference and although needed - it is okay to have the data 'cramped' up as individual results are not to be analysed from it - just the general shape of the trend line.

The data I cannot attach due to work firewall issues - it is not confidential - it's freely downloadable online. I was just trying to be fancy with my output. I have the line graph which will suffice but fancied being different!

Effecively, the spreadsheet started at 01/01/2008 00:00 and steps up in hourly increments to 31/12/2008 23:00 (8760 entries).
The data ranges between 0 and 60.
I explain this rather than provide a link as there is a lot to set up to downlaod the data!

I don't want to waste peoples time as this is purley a visual pleasantry and I have the data in the format I need but I was trying to be different if people had any ideas. The graphs will take up about an A5 sheet.
I'd rather not overlay the data in monthly bands as this is then very difficult to view and confusing - I liked the idea of a segregated radar chart but not sure if is has or can be done?

Any suggestions will be welcomed.

Many thanks!

**Andy Pope** · 03-31-2009, 10:58 AM

I've used random data which may not be helping the problem

There is a normal line chart for all hours. Assume this is something like you currently have.

Next is a radar, which just does nothing to clarify the data.

Finally is a panel chart. Where each month is trended in it's own horizontal band.
Hopefully you will see that with the right data set the monthly trends may just appear.

**damo_uk** · 03-31-2009, 11:21 AM

Thank you very much Andy.

I like the panel graph a lot - never knew you could do that!

I had the problem with my dataset with the standard line graph as it plots 24 hours worth of results on the same point so you end up with a graph made up of verticle lines joined in the middle by the average (if you expand/widen the chart you'll see what I mean). I fixed this problem by removing the a-axis data and putting in text as months and changing the a-axis scale.

I played with the radar chart but I couldn't get it to act as I wanted and you're right - it does nothing for the data.

I will definately find a place to use the panel graph! Thank you very much for your help and time!