Negative Data Labels in a Pie Chart

[Robert Burke]

Has anyone encountered a problem in Microsoft Excel 2003 with pie charts
where negative values data labels show up with reverse brackets (i.e. )5( )?
I sent this spreadsheet that I am working on to my home computer and when I
opened it up in Microsoft Excel 2002 the negative number label appeared
correctly (i.e. (5) ). I know the ultimate idea of a pie chart is not to
have a negative number, but on my pie chart I am showing total earnings for
different areas.

I am open to other chart representations to show total earnings for multiple
(10 areas).

Thanks.

 

[Jon Peltier]

I've heard of this problem, but I think it's less important than the fact
that you have negative values in a pie chart. How do you define a wedge of
negative width?

- Jon

 

[Bernard Liengme]

Jon: It's a bit like imaginary numbers. With a positive number the lines of
the wedge are at angle theta but with a negative value the angle is
360+theta. <g>
best wishes

 

[Del Cotter]

Has anyone encountered a problem in Microsoft Excel 2003 with pie charts
where negative values data labels show up with reverse brackets (i.e. )5( )?
I sent this spreadsheet that I am working on to my home computer and when I
opened it up in Microsoft Excel 2002 the negative number label appeared
correctly (i.e. (5) ). I know the ultimate idea of a pie chart is not to
have a negative number, but on my pie chart I am showing total earnings for
different areas.

I am open to other chart representations to show total earnings for multiple
(10 areas).

Have you considered a waterfall chart? This shows the positive
contributions, the negative ones, and the net total.

http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/Waterfall.html

 

[Robert Burke]

I use waterfall graphs in most of our presentations. I was trying to switch
it up a little bit and give the people who view the reports I create a little
different view of things. I know that negative values should not happen on a
pie chart, but at first it appeared to be the best representation of the
detail (earnings: profit or loss) that I was trying to show.

 

[Jon Peltier]

Pie charts are almost never a good way to display information. The perceived
size of a wedge varies with the orientation of the wedge, and it doesn't do
negative numbers. There are numerous alternatives that improve the transfer
of information.

- Jon