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最近重读了Jorge写的改进图表的系列帖子，经联系作者同意，转贴在这里，并简单做了些翻译（要点意译，非正式翻译）。 This is the first in a series of 10 posts where I’ll suggest a (hopefully) coherent set of tips to improve our charts and, more important, to improve the way we make sense of the data. These are the planned posts: 1. General charting; 2. Formating; 3. Column/Bar charts; 4. Line charts; 5. Scatterplots (XY charts); 6. Pie charts; 7. Other chart formats; 8. Dynamic charts; 9. Dashboards; 10. Miscellaneous tips; 11. Bonus post: online resources. These will be very short tips, and I’m sure some of them will require further explanation. In time, all of them will be properly linked to a more detailed post (that will keep me off the streets for a while…). This is a kind of road map for the next few months and, when finished, a (partial) table of contents for the blog. 1、通用类： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-charts-general-tips/ So, general tips on charting: 1. A chart shows trends, patterns, outliers; if you already strive to make them apparent, you don’t need to read the next 99 tips…; 图表应反映趋势、关系/模式、异常 2. Do you really need a chart? Sometimes the task and the data suggest another method of data analysis; 是否真的需要图表？ 3. Know your audience. If your audience is uncomfortable with some formats your message will be lost; 了解你的听众 4. Make sure you have enough data to create a pattern (two data points are not enough to create a trend line); 要有足够的数据～～有的人对只有3、5个点的序列做趋势预测 5. Make sure you don’t have more than enough data: just because you have it, you don’t have to show it…; keep removing interesting data until only relevant data for your problem remains; 不要过多的数据～～过多细节淹没信息 6. A chart should be able to answer elementary, intermediate and global questions regarding the data; 图表应能回答问题 7. Don’t assume that the charts you see in the media are the ones you need to run your business; 你在媒体上看到的图表不一定就适合你的业务～～杂志也有败笔 8. Learn how to lie with charts and, of course, avoid those lies; 知道图表欺骗手法，然后避免 9. Let the reader see related charts simultaneously; 让读者可同时看到相关图表 10. Chart overload is as bad as information overload. 避免图表过载 2、格式化： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-charts-formatting/ This is the second of 10 posts where I’m listing tips for better charts. Please take a look at the first post where the project is discussed. These are my chart formatting tips: 1. Use the right chart type for the data and the problem; 使用合适的图表类型，针对数据、问题 2. Apply sound design principles; 应用合理/稳妥的设计原则 3. Use color strategically: mute axis and grid lines by graying them out; gray out some contextual data also; use soft colors; use saturated colors sparingly and with a clear purpose of emphasis; 策略性的使用颜色～～EP非常重视颜色运用：） 4. What the users see is not what you see in your monitor: if needed, test for other monitors and output formats (b&w print, color print, PDF, overhead projector); 考虑显示器差异，用户看到的可能和你看到的并不一样 5. There is no rational justification to use pseudo-3D charts and other dubious effects (gradients, glow…), so never use them if you what to be rational; 不要使用3D、透视、渲染等效果～～新手请注意 6. Use a clear font; 使用清晰的字体 7. Don’t emphasize everything (for obvious reasons); 不要强调所有的东西，（＝没有强调） 8. The y axis scale should start at zero; this is particularly important if you are using bar charts; make sure you have a good reason to break this rule; Y轴应从0开始，柱形图尤其重要，截断必须有理由 9. A chart is not a table: by labeling every single data point you make it harder for the user to search for trends or patterns; if you have to, place the labels where they can do no harm; 图表不是表格，标签每个数据点让人无法看到趋势、关系 10. Annotate: Add labels for the last, the lowest, the highest or any other relevant data point; add data or comments where appropriate; 注释，标识最后、最低、最高等数据点，资料、备注 11. Bonus tips: Use smaller charts and never accept the Excel defaults; 使用更小的图表，永远不要使用excel的默认设置 3、柱形图/条形图： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-column-and-bar-charts/ These are 10 basic tips for column and bar chart design: 1. A column chart is not a skyline: if you can’t see the individual patterns, consider removing some series or create several smaller charts; 柱形图不是skyline（空中轮廓线），指序列不要太多，象高楼大厦一样，考虑分解作图 2. If you are charting categorical data sort the columns; if there is more than one series, allow the user to sort the data herself; 分类数据先排序，多个序列可选顺序 3. If you are displaying time series, column charts are not interchangeable with line charts: column charts allow you to compare individual data points, while a line chart shows the trend; be sure to select what your audience wants to see; 时间趋势：柱形图强调单个数据点，曲线图强调趋势，选择合适的 4. For target/actual series (like budget/actual) overlap them but make sure they can’t be taken for stacked bars; you can do it by using a different column width for each series or by setting filling to none (usually the target series); 预算与实绩比较，使用温度计式图表 5. Use horizontal bar charts when x labels are too large to be correctly displayed; 分类标签太长时使用条形图 6. The y axis scale should start at zero; this is particularly important if you are using bar charts; make sure you have a (very) good reason to break this rule; Y轴必须从0开始 7. If you really need to label each column try to minimize its impact; in Excel 2003, select Format Data Labels / Alignment / Label Position: Inside Base; 降低数据标签的影响，把数据标签放在柱子内 8. Don’t use multiple colors for a single data series; 同一序列不要使用多种颜色 9. Avoid stacked bar charts; 避免使用堆积条形图 10. Use category/subcategory to label the x axis. For example, instead of having Mar-2008, Apr-2008… use Mar, Apr and place 2008 in the second line. x轴使用分层标签 4、曲线图： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-line-charts/ Following the 10 x 10 post series on tips for better charts, these are the 10 tips for line charts: 1. Don’t use line markers unless you really need them to identify b&w printed charts; 不使用线条的数据标记 markers 2. Don’t use a legend; directly label the series, instead; 不要使用图例，直接标记 3. If you can’t easily see the pattern of each series you may have too many; 不易直接发现模式时，就是序列太多了，减少、分解作图 4. In a time series, the spacing between markers in the x-axis should be proportional. For example, if you have data for years 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2008, the spacing between 2000 and 2008 should be smaller than between other dates; if you can’t do it with line charts use a scatter plot; 分类的间距应成比例，使用时间刻度，或散点图 5. If you are comparing two series like imports/exports or profit/expenses, chart the differences, not the actual series (or at least add a small chart with the differences, below the main chart; 对差异作图，或者在曲线图下面添加差异图 6. If you are comparing two time series with very different units of measurement, consider using a logarithmic scale; 不同单位、数量级差异大时，考虑对数坐标 7. You don’t have to start the Y-axis scale at zero; break the scale if you need; Y轴可以从非0开始 8. If you are using different line styles you may be emphasizing some series more than the others; make sure that’s consistent with your users needs (emphasize what is important); 强调某条重要的曲线 9. Add a trend line (make sure the trend is plausible…); 增加趋势线 10. Don’t use line charts for categorical data; if you need a profile chart use a scatter plot and switch axis. 分类数据绝不能使用曲线图。如果需要分类比较的竖向折线图，可以使用散点图 5、散点图： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-or-not-charts-the-scatter-plot/ This is the time for scatter plots in the 10 x 10 charting tips series: 1. A scatter plot is square by definition (I forget that sometimes…); 散点图从定义上是方形的 2. In some cases, it makes more sense to use a scatter plot than two column charts: for example, instead of having a column chart to display product market share and another chart to display product growth, consider merging both into a scatter plot (market share on the x axis and growth on the y axis); 某些时候，散点图比两个柱形图更适合，如反映产品的市场份额×增长率 3. If you are plotting several data series, color code them instead of using different markers… 多个序列时，用颜色区分，而不是用标记 4. … but consider using several charts; ...但建议考虑做多个图表 5. In scatter plots, use empty circles as markers to let the reader see the overlapping points; 使用空心的圆圈，以看清重叠的数据点 6. Use a scatter plot matrix to analyze pairwise relationships between series; 使用散点图矩阵分析序列直接的关系 7. Use a scatter plot as an alternative to horizontal bar charts, like in a population pyramid; 用散点图作为条形图的替代－－更干净 8. If needed, use a scatter plot instead of a line chart if you have an unevenly-spaced time series; 不等距x轴的时间序列曲线图，可以使用散点图替代 9. You can use a scatter plot to create a basic map; 用散点图做一个地图～～参见EP的气泡地图 10. An outline can ruin your scatter plot. If possible, remove it and explain it; 不要外框～～why？ 6、饼图： http://charts./10-x-10-tips-to-improve-your-excel-charts-pie-charts/ I know, I know, no one likes pie charts, but I can’t ignore them. A pie chart compares proportions but it is of limited use: either the data is too complex and a pie chart can’t handle it, or it is too simple and you should just use a table. So, the first tip should be: 1. Do you really need a pie chart? 需要饼图吗？ 2. Pie charts shouldn’t be compared (comparing market shares in two regions, for example); 饼图不能比较 3. Don’t use the “exploded” option; 不要使用爆炸效果 4. Five is in general the maximum number of slices you can use in a pie chart, but two is better…; 不超过5个扇区，最好2个 5. If there is no other meaningful order, order the slices from maximum to minimum; 扇区从大到小排序 6. Put “other” in a gray slice; “其他”用灰色 7. Don’t use a legend, just label the slices; 不使用图例，直接标签 8. Use a very small pie chart in a supporting role for a more complex chart; 用小饼图作为其他图表的支撑 9. Use the appropriate color codes to identify groups of slices; 用合适的颜色区分分组 10. Start the first slice at 0o (noon); 第一扇区从12点位置开始 作者写完这6个帖子后，一直没有再写后面的了，不过也差不多了，了解并运用这6×10个贴士，足可以让你做出专业的图表。 |
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来自： baoyide225 > 《好好学习》
