Negative number in Pie chart

  • Thread starter Thread starter chris w
  • Start date Start date
C

chris w

I have a field of numbers, in some instances there is a
negative number (which happens to be the mark-up field :
( ) I need it to show as a pie chart but it shows on the
chart as a positive for a collective 100%.

Can I show a negative on the pie?

Chris
 
Chris -

You cannot depict negative numbers on a pie chart. And if you think
about it, a negative number doesn't make much sense on a pie chart. Pie
charts just are not appropriate if the percentages don't add up to 100%.
If you want to show a shortfall, color the wedge red or something, but
remember that it's a positive distance from your total to your goal.

If you want to show performance against a target, a better choice is a
stacked column chart, so you can see where the total is compared to 100%.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______
 
Jon,

Thats what I thought.

The reason for the pie is to show a cost percentage
breakdown, the target price cannot be reached with a
positive mark up on this particular item. While a bar
chart will show the negative clearly, I was hoping to
keep it in a pie to show percentages of the whole.

Thanx

Chris
 
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