What is the best Aspect Ratio for a dashboard 4 X 3 or 6 X 9

**jgross** · 05-23-2013, 10:33 AM

What is the best Aspect Ratio for a dashboard 4 X 3 or 6 X 9.

DaveDeV · 05-23-2013, 10:59 AM

Hi JG,

The answer will depend on the types of monitors available to the dashboard users.

If all have 4:3 monitors, then 4:3 is the way to go
If all have 16:9 monitors, then 16:9 is the way to go

Ideally and ignoring pragmatic aspects such as screens in use, 16:9 provides a better frame, particularly at 1920x1080 resolution.
So, if some or all of your management team are still lumbered with 4:3 monitors, show them what can be done with a decent 1920x1080 16:9 LED monitor (preferably 23" diagonal or bigger) and get them to re-allocate some their entertainment budget to the purchase of monitors that will reduce their eye-strain and impress their secretaries...

Dave

PS: Impressed secretaries can also provide entertainment...

**jgross** · 05-23-2013, 11:09 AM

Thanks for the reply.
I am talking specifically when you do not have information on your users.
In my case the dashboard is for my 20 or so customers. I don't know their screens, and even worse they most likely will send it to their management.
Jason

DaveDeV · 05-23-2013, 11:15 AM

Hi Jason,

Sorry - assumed the dashboard was for internal management usage and not for external customer-type users...

I guess in that case, the rule of the "Lowest Common Denominator" probably applies and you should therefore opt for 4:3 and design for a resolution that is appropriate. Avoid an over-crowded dashboard that - to be read - needs to be zoomed out so far that the font-size used results in captions and text that is unreadable. This is particularly true when using Excel charts such as pie/bar/line charts where some labels are defaulted to illegible sizes at creation.

Have fun

Dave

PS: Consider using PDF as your distribution document format as it will protect any sensitive data that might otherwise be included in the file distributed. I use a freeware product called PrimoPDF that, in effect, creates a dummy printer and allows you print a selection (a cell array range) as a PDF (as opposed to Excel's print-to-PDF option, which has some constraints).