The first step in creating a chart is to enter or compute your data within a worksheet.
Preparing your data
There are ways to organise your data to make it easier to build a chart.
Charts are initially constructed out of contiguous ranges of cells.
So it is easier if your data can be selected in this way.
Once a chart has been created, extra data can be added to it from other parts of the worksheet.
Charts use row and column headings which have been entered in text cells as labels for the legend and data series within the chart.
If your data is clearly labelled on the worksheet it will make it much easier to set up your chart and understand it on the page.
Most of the chart dialogue boxes enable you to specify that the
first row or column in the range is used as the legend or as labels rather than as data.
Usually, Fireworkz will detect text and treat it as a label automatically,
but if you want numeric labels for data in your chart you will need to specify this.
Making the chart
Follow this process to make your chart:
Select the range of data you want to include in the chart, and click the Chart tool button on the toolbar.
The data must include some number cells.
The chart menu will appear, from which you should choose the type of chart you want.
A dialogue box for that type of chart will appear.
Choose the type you want by clicking on the icons, and enter any other details necessary in the dialogue box.
Click Create.
Your chart will be generated and appear on the worksheet in its own frame, just beneath the data on which it was based.
In some cases (such as low-resolution screen modes) this may be off the screen.
Types of chart
Fireworkz provides several different types of chart for you to use in your documents.
The following options are available:
Bar charts
Line charts
Pie charts
X-Y scatter graphs
Overlays (mixing bar and line charts)
Each type is described in turn in the next few sections.
Each basic option contains several different versions of the chart type,
so that a wide variety of charts can be generated.
Bar charts
Bar charts display data as a series of bars measured against an axis.
A variety of types of bars are available in Fireworkz, including pictograms and three-dimensional bars.
When you choose the Bar option on the Chart menu,
the Bar chart dialogue box will appear.
Click the image button representing the type of chart you want.
Select the 3-D option if you want a three-dimensional chart.
Specify whether the data series are in columns or rows.
Specify whether the first points in each series are labels or data.
Click Create.
Your chart will be generated ready for further editing if required.
Types of bar chart
There are eight types of bar chart available in Fireworkz, which can be further customised using the options available.
Bar
The first two buttons draw simple bar charts.
The first button draws a chart where each series has a different colour.
The second button draws a chart where each category has a different colour.
Stacked bar
The third button produces a stacked bar chart in which all data series within each category are combined into a single bar.
Percentage stacked bar
The fourth button gives a percentage stacked bar chart, where the data series within each category are expressed as percentages.
Pictograms
The buttons in the third row produce pictograms, in which the bars of the chart are made up out of pictures.
Any Draw file or sprite file can be used as the basis of a pictogram.
The first button creates a pictogram where the original image is stacked up as many times as necessary to create the correct height of bar.
The number of pictures that appear is dependent on the tick positions on the Y axis.
If the number is between two tick positions, it is always rounded to the nearest tick.
The second button stretches the image to create a bar of the correct height.
The following tips apply for successful use of pictograms:
Use only one data series to reduce clutter.
Don't have too many points on it.
Use simple (fast-drawing), colourful, meaningful pictures for best effect,
such as company logos or the flags from the Example directory.
Error bars
This type of chart includes extension to the bars showing the potential error margin.
Two consecutive data series are used to construct each bar;
the first is used for the solid bar and the second for the error bar.
Cumulative bar chart
This option creates a bar chart where each new data point is added to the previous one,
so the size of the bars will normally increase along the x-axis.
Line charts
Line charts are ideal for showing changes in a series of data over time.
When you choose the Line chart option from the
Chart menu the Line chart dialogue box will appear.
Click the image button representing the type of chart you want.
Select the 3-D option if you want a three-dimensional ribbon chart.
Specify whether the data series are in columns or rows.
Specify whether the first points in each series are labels or data.
Click Create.
Your chart will be generated ready for further editing if required.
Types of line chart
There are eight line chart options available, consisting of four main types drawn with and without data points:
Simple line chart
This chart draws a line between the data points in each series.
Area chart
This chart draws a line between the data points, and then shades the area between this line and the axes of the chart.
A further line is drawn from the x-axis to each data point.
Stacked area chart
This chart stacks data series, drawing a line between the points in each and shading the area between each line and the line below it.
Line chart with error bars
This chart draws a line with error bars extending from each data point.
Each line in the chart requires two series of data; the first is used for the line data point and the second to place the error bar.
Pie charts
Pie charts are good for showing the relationships between a group of figures in proportion to the total.
Several different types of chart are available from the Pie chart dialogue box.
Click the image button representing the type of pie chart labels you want.
Click the segment layout image button you want, and set the distance for exploded segments if required.
Your pie chart will be generated and placed in the worksheet.
Labelling options
The four image buttons in the top row represent labelling options.
Click the appropriate button to produce a pie with:
No labels
Letters as labels
Values as labels
Percentages as labels
Exploding segments
The three image buttons in the next row represent explosion options.
Exploding one or more segments of the pie can draw attention to that segment.
Click the appropriate button for:
No segments exploded
The first segment exploded
All segments exploded
You should also specify the distance you want the segment(s) to be exploded.
This is expressed as the percentage of the radius of the segment which falls outside the pie itself.
Click the arrow buttons to increase or decrease the number, or type one in directly.
If you specify exploded segments you must specify a percentage greater than 0%, or the segments will not appear exploded.
Start position
You can also specify whereabouts on the circle you want the pie to begin.
Either click on one of the eight radio buttons, or type in a number in degrees (0 to 359).
Direction
The chart can proceed either clockwise (the default) or anti-clockwise.
Click the option button if you want an anti-clockwise chart.
X-Y Scatter plots
Scatter plots display data as discrete points and with or without lines between them.
To create a scatter plot, select your data in the worksheet and click the Chart tool button on the toolbar.
Choose X-Y from the Chart menu and a dialogue box will appear.
Click the image button for the type of scatter plot you want.
Specify whether the data series are in columns or rows.
Specify how the data series are arranged. X, Y, Y means that you want to plot more than one y-series against a single x-series. X, Y, X, Y means that for each y-series you are supplying an x-series.
Specify whether the first points in each series are labels or data.
Click Create and your scatter plot will be drawn.
Types of scatter graph
There are nine types of scatter graph, based on three types of graph
to which vertical error bars or vertical and horizontal error bars can be added.
Two sets of data are required for each point, to provide the x- and y-coordinates respectively.
Vertical error bars are taken from the third set of data, and horizontal error bars from the fourth.
Line
A line is drawn from point to point.
Note that Fireworkz does not automatically sort data for charts,
and you should therefore sort the x-coordinates in ascending order
or your line could travel both forwards and backwards across the chart.
Point
Each data point is represented by a blob at its x,y coordinate.
Line and point
Each data point is represented by a blob, and a line is drawn between the data points.
Overlays
Overlays place two y-axes on the same chart, one of which is placed at the left of the chart and one at the right.
Each axis can be scaled differently and your data series can be plotted against either of the axes.
To work with overlays:
Choose Overlay from the menu which appears
when you click the Chart tool button on the toolbar.
Select the option you require from the Overlay dialogue box.
Choose one of Bar-bar,
Bar-line,
Line-Line or
Scatter-Scatter.
Fireworkz automatically divides the data series into two and plots
the first half on the left axis and the second half on the right axis.
If a series appears on the wrong half of the chart, select it and change its status
in the Overlay section of the Series dialogue box.
Editing your chart
Once you have created a chart, you can:
Resize it
Reposition it on the page
Use Make constant to turn it into a Draw file
Save it as a Draw file
Most of these actions are the same as those which apply to pictures.
See the earlier chapter,
Pictures,
for details of how to perform them.
Depending on the type of chart which you have created, you can also use specific chart commands to:
Change the labelling on the axes
Change the colours used in the charts
Add extra series of data to a chart
Change the angle of viewing of a 3-D chart
The following sections on each type of chart outline the editing possibilities for each type.
You cannot change the type of a chart once you have created it.
For example, if you have made a bar chart you cannot turn it into a pie chart.
If you decide that you have made the wrong kind of chart,
you should simply delete the chart by selecting it and pressing the Delete key,
select the data again, and create a new chart.
Updating chart data
The data in your chart is taken live from your spreadsheet.
If this data changes, either because you have edited it or because of a recalculation, the chart will automatically be redrawn and updated.
This happens until you turn the chart into a Draw file using Make constant.
‘Live’ charts vs. ‘dead’ charts
When you create a chart, you may have one of two intentions.
You will probably want your chart to continue to reflect your data and any changes in it, to help you to analyse your data as you work.
Or you may want your chart to present a snapshot of the data at that time.
Fireworkz allows you to choose which of these options you prefer.
Charts that change if the data in the range of cells from which they were created changes are called ‘live’ or dynamic charts.
Charts which will not be updated if the data changes are ‘dead’ charts, and can be saved as Draw files.
Accessing the chart menus
To edit charts, you need to use the chart menus and dialogue boxes.
To access these, the chart must be selected for editing.
Double-click within the chart frame, and you will see that a double red border appears around the chart area.
The chart is now selected for editing.
If you want to edit or change the appearance of a particular section of the chart
(such as the y-axis, or a single data point), you need to select it as well. Data points
For a single data point click Adjust (RISC OS) or Ctrl-click on the part of the chart required. Data series
For a series, click on a point within the series.
You will see a dotted line appear around the selected part of the chart.
The selected area will also be described in the status line for example Series 1 or Series 2, point 1.
Once you have selected the chart frame and the part of the chart you want to change, you will be able to access the chart menus.
On RISC OS, the chart menus appear if you click Menu within the chart area.
On Windows, the chart menu bar replaces the standard menu bar at the top of the Fireworkz window.
You can choose the option you want and edit the chart.
Customising bar charts
There are several options for customising bar charts:
Bar positioning
You can customise the position of bars in the chart using the
Chart dialogue box from the Edit menu accessed from the Chart menu.
The first option sets the percentage of the space per data point taken up by the bar.
The second sets the overlap for bars
The third sets the depth for 3-D bars.
Three-dimensional charts
All bar charts can be made three-dimensional by selecting the 3-D option when you create the chart
or by setting the option button in the 3-D section of this dialogue box.
They may be made two-dimensional by unsetting this option button.
You can also edit the pitch and roll of 3-D charts using the Chart dialogue box.
Enter the pitch and roll in degrees.
This will change the viewing angle of the 3-D chart.
Editing axes
When Fireworkz draws your chart it will endeavour to produce the most acceptable divisions on the axes.
However, you may want more or less precise numerical divisions, or a different type of tick mark.
To edit an axis:
Double-click on the chart to select it.
A double line will appear around the entire chart.
Click Select (the left mouse button) on the axis you want to edit.
A border will appear to show that it has been selected.
Choose Axis from the Edit menu.
The Axis dialogue box will appear.
Edit the axis as necessary.
Options available here include setting the numerical divisions on the axis, the position of the axis on the chart, grid lines and tick marks, and scaling.
You can also opt to stack data series here, changing your bar or line chart into a stacked chart.
When you have set all the options you require, click Apply.
Your chart will be redrawn.
Using colour in charts
Charts are created using a default set of colours for each item.
However, you may want to edit these, either for the whole chart or for individual items.
You may edit both the fill colours used for areas, bars and pies, and the line colours used for other objects.
To edit colour in charts:
Double-click on the chart to select it.
A double line will appear around the entire chart.
Click Select (the left mouse button) on the chart element that you want to edit.
If this is a data series, Select will select the whole data series for editing.
If you want to edit a single data point, Ctrl-click Select on that point.
A selection border will appear to show the extent of the area which will be changed.
The status line will confirm which chart element is selected.
Choose Fill from the Chart – Style sub-menu.
The Fill colour dialogue box will appear,
captioned with the name of the chart element that you are editing.
Choose the colour you want, or select Automatic for Fireworkz to choose a colour for you.
Select the fill style.
Solid fills with a solid colour.
Picture enables you to import a picture which you can choose from the pop-up menu.
Further options maintain the imported picture's aspect ratio or allow it to be recoloured.
Click Apply to confirm your changes.
The chart will be updated.
Editing lines
Lines in charts appear in default colours and line styles. However you may edit these.
To edit lines:
Double-click on the chart to select it.
A double line will appear around the entire chart.
Click Select (the left mouse button) on the chart element that you want to edit.
If this is a data series, Select will select the whole data series for editing.
If you want to edit a line associated with a data point, Ctrl-click Select on that point.
A selection border will appear to show the extent of the area which will be changed.
The status line will confirm which chart element is selected.
Choose Line style from the Chart – Style sub-menu.
The Line style dialogue box will appear.
Choose a colour for the line or select Automatic for Fireworkz to choose the colour.
Click on a button for a line style.
Type in a width in points.
If the width is set to zero, no line is displayed.
Click Apply to confirm your changes.
Editing data series
You can edit aspects of each data series:
Select the required data series.
Choose Series from the Edit menu.
Make your choices and click Apply.
Possible options are:
Cumulative displays the series in cumulative form, adding each data point to the previous one.
Vary by point changes the colour of each point in the series.
Line of best fit draws a straight line between the data points.
Fill to axis adds a colour fill.
Overlay switches the series to the overlay side of the chart, or back.
Positioning the chart
The margins around the edge of chart can be edited - these are the gaps between the edge of the chart itself and the border of its frame.
Select the chart by double-clicking it and choose Margins from the Edit menu.
The Chart margins dialogue box will appear.
Enter the required margins in the current unit of measurement.
Click Apply.
Your chart will be repositioned as required.
Editing text in charts
You cannot type text directly into your charts.
Any text must be selected in the worksheet when the chart is created, or added later using the Add command.
Arranging the legend
You can reposition the legend on the page, or change the way it is displayed:
Select the chart by double-clicking it and choose Legend from the Edit menu.
Select On to display the legend.
Select Arrange horizontally to display the legend horizontally.
Click Apply to confirm your changes.
If the chart does not have enough space to display the legend correctly,
edit the margins as above to increase the space available.
Changing the style of text
You may change the style and colour of text directly in the chart.
To do this:
Select the text you want to change.
Choose Text from the Style menu.
The Text style dialogue box will appear.
Choose the typeface you want from the list, and if required select the
Bold and/or Italic option buttons.
Enter a height for the text (i.e. its point size).
If you do not specify a width, the natural width of the type will be used.