Comments on: Excel Chart Advisor Helps You Choose The Best Chart Options http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2008/09/excel_chart_advisor_helps_you_choose_the_best_chart_options/ tips and downloads to help you at work and play Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:02:01 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Andreas http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2008/09/excel_chart_advisor_helps_you_choose_the_best_chart_options/comment-page-1/#comment-10917 Andreas Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:49:52 +0000 http://www.lifehacker.com.au/tips/2008/09/26/excel_chart_advisor_helps_you_choose_the_best_chart_options.html#comment-10917 You should have a look on Chart Tamer: http://www.bonavistasystems.com/Products_ChartTamer_Overview.html http://www.bonavistasystems.com/DownloadMicroCharts.html#Chart_Tamer Microsoft Chart Advisor chart selecting process is based on an automated approach. A rule engine scans your data and calculates a score based on the rules and a so called popularity index. I have my doubts that such a full automated approach will help users selecting the appropriate chart type. Charts that are popular but not effective, like the pie chart, will get a high score. Chart Tamer is following a different philosophy, respecting Alan Coopers rule “Imagine users as very intelligent but very busy.” Chart Tamer asks you some questions about the relationship you want to display and how you want to emphasize your data. Finally Chart Tamer offers you a selection of charts that makes sense in this context. Andreas You should have a look on Chart Tamer:

http://www.bonavistasystems.com/Products_ChartTamer_Overview.html
http://www.bonavistasystems.com/DownloadMicroCharts.html#Chart_Tamer

Microsoft Chart Advisor chart selecting process is based on an automated approach. A rule engine scans your data and calculates a score based on the rules and a so called popularity index. I have my doubts that such a full automated approach will help users selecting the appropriate chart type. Charts that are popular but not effective, like the pie chart, will get a high score.

Chart Tamer is following a different philosophy, respecting Alan Coopers rule “Imagine users as very intelligent but very busy.” Chart Tamer asks you some questions about the relationship you want to display and how you want to emphasize your data. Finally Chart Tamer offers you a selection of charts that makes sense in this context.

Andreas

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