Pie charts are among the most commonly used charts in data visualization. A pie chart is a circular graph split into slices, with each slice representing a specific data category and its size proportionally to the entire dataset. Follow the steps below to create your own pie chart!
With Infographics, you can use several types of pie charts to visualize your data:
- Pie. A classic pie chart that uses slices to compare different categories as part of a whole.
- Donut (or Doughnut). Compares categories by displaying differences in length and allows the empty center to be filled with additional information on the data.
- Irregular. Compares data through differences in the length of the radius of each segment.
- Semi-circle. Like the donut chart, it displays differences in categories by length.
- Sunburst. It consists of an inner circle surrounded by rings of deeper hierarchy levels.
Adding a pie chart to your project
- From the editor, select Add chart in the left-side toolbar.
- Find the pie chart or one of its types (you can use the search bar at the top) and click on the thumbnail or drag and drop it right onto the canvas.
Adding data to the chart
- To access the chart's datasheet, double-click on it or select Edit data in the top right corner of the editor.
- All charts have placeholders for you to see the correct formatting. Here's how you should format the datasheet:
- Use column A to enter the names of categories that you want to compare with your pie chart.
- In column B, enter the values of each category.
- If you'd like to create additional tabs for your pie chart, enter additional values for every category in the following columns.
You can also add data by uploading XLS, XLSX, and CSV files, connecting your chart to a Google Drive document, connecting your chart to a JSON feed, as well as connecting to an online database. Just make sure that the formatting matches that of the pie chart.
Customizing the pie chart
You can edit everything from the chart's colors and fonts to the legend and data format.
- Chart properties. Select whether you want to display the chart's callouts, let viewers download the data you've visualized, and more.
- Color. Set the color of each slice and adjust the contour color.
- Fonts. Change the font of the chart and adjust its color and size. In addition, you can customize specific text elements under Advanced settings.
- Legend. Enable or disable the legend, and adjust its positioning.
- Tooltips. Enable or disable tooltips.
- Data format. Adjust the data format, add prefixes/suffixes to the values.
- Accessibility. Make your chart accessible to viewers using screen readers by adding a label and a description.
Making the chart more interactive
Infographics's charts are interactive by default – when viewing the charts online, readers can interact with them by hovering over different parts, as well as clicking on the legend and the tabs (if there are any). But, you can also add even more interactive features to your charts.
Adding URL links, page links, and tab links
You can add links to specific slices of your pie chart and link out to your website or other pages of your project. Here's how:
- Double-click on the chart or select it and expand the Edit data tab on the right.
- Right-click on a cell of a specific value and select Add/change link.
- Select one of the available options and add the link. Then, select Apply.
You can learn more about using links in the articles on adding URL links to content in Infographics, linking pages in Infographics, and adding links to tabs of charts and maps in Infographics.
Placing callouts on your chart
With Infographics, you can place callouts on top of your content, including charts, to provide additional context on the information you've visualized. Pre-made callouts can be accessed by selecting Add element in the left-side toolbar and then choosing Callouts.
Learn more in the article about using callouts in Infographics.
Enabling interactivity hints
When sharing your Infographics content online, you can give a hint to the readers that they can interact with the charts you've created. To enable the hints, go to the project's Settings on the right, expand the Viewer experience tab and check the box next to Show interactivity hints.
Learn more in the article about using interactivity hints in Infographics.
Downloading and/or sharing the pie chart
Downloading the chart
To download the project you're working on, select the Download option in the top right corner of the editor. Next, choose one of the available file formats at the top and select Download to save the project to your computer.
If you'd like to download the chart straight from the editor, right-click on it on the canvas, select Export as... in the context menu, and pick the file format.
Learn more in the article about downloading your content in Infographics.
Sharing and embedding the chart
Select Share in the top right corner of the editor to access the project's privacy settings. Choose whether you want to keep it private and use a private link to share the content with others or make it public and visible on search engines. Read more in the article about changing privacy settings in Infographics.
To learn more about embedding the chart on your website, read the article on embedding your Infographics content.
Best practices for creating a pie chart
- Make sure your segments add up to 100. Sounds obvious, but this is a common mistake.
- Keep it clean and consistent. Compare just a few categories to get your point across. If the pie slices have roughly the same size, consider using a bar or column chart instead.
- Avoid using 3-D imagery or tilting your pie chart. This often makes your data impossible to read, as the viewer is trying to compare angles quickly.
Learn more about Infographics in the article on getting started with Infographics.