About Scatter and Bubble Charts

A bubble chart is a variation of a scatter chart in which the data points are replaced with bubbles, with an additional dimension of data represented in the size of the bubbles.

About Scatter Charts

. They have two axes: one to show a set of numerical data along a horizontal axis, and another to show a second set of numerical data on a vertical axis. Let's look at an example of a scatter chart that compares Actual and Plan data for a set of products and services.

Figure 7-6 Scatter Chart and Data

Screenshot shows a set of Actual and Plan data for products and services in numerical form, and the same set of data plotted in a scatter chart. The chart is described in the following paragraph.

Figure 7-6 displays a set of Actual and Plan data for products and services for an electronics store. In the accompanying scatter chart, the Actual data is plotted along the horizontal X-axis, and the Plan data is displayed on the vertical Y-axis.

To create a scatter chart:

Insert the scatter chart into your report.
On the Chart Data tab, select the X button, and then highlight the data to be plotted on the X-axis.
Select the Y button, and then highlight the data to be plotted on the Y-axis.
Optionally, set labels for the axes in Axes Properties.
Optionally, set the marker color, style, and size in Scatter Properties.

Figure 7-7 shows the setup of the Actual data in the X-axis and the Plan data in the Y-axis.

Figure 7-7 Scatter Chart Setup

Screenshot shows the chart data tab with the X axis defined as the Actual column, and the Y axis defined as the Plan column.

About Bubble Charts

Let's look at an example of a bubble chart that uses the same Actual and Plan data as the scatter chart above, but adds the variance between the two as a third data set.

Figure 7-8 Bubble Chart and Data

Screenshot shows two images: a set of Actual, Plan, and Variance data for products and services in numerical form, and the same set of data plotted in a bubble chart. The bubbles that represent smaller variance between actual and plan are small, and bubbles that represent a large variance between actual and plan are larger.

Figure 7-8 displays a set of Actual and Plan data for products and services for an electronics store, as well as a third column that shows the variance between the two. In the accompanying bubble chart, the Actual data is plotted along the horizontal X-axis, the Plan data is displayed on the vertical Y-axis, and the Variance data is represented by the size of the bubbles.

To create a bubble chart:

Insert the bubble chart into your report.
On the Chart Data tab, select the X button, and then highlight the data to be plotted on the X-axis.
Select the Y button, and then highlight the data to be plotted on the Y-axis.
Select the Bubble Size button, and highlight the data to be used for the bubble size.
Optionally, set labels for the axes in Axes Properties.
Optionally, set the bubble color and marker style in Bubble Properties.

Figure 7-9 shows the setup of Variance as the bubble size.

Figure 7-9 Bubble Chart Setup

Screenshot shows the chart data tab, with bubble size defined as column C, Variance

Note:

Sample Report 8 (Waterfall and Bubble Charts) contains a bubble chart example.