Data in columns and data in rows

In the second step of the Chart Wizard are the options Data in: Rows and Data in: Columns.

The operation of these options depends on whether the chart data is stored directly in the cells of the spreadsheet or is displayed in hyperblocks.

Data in spreadsheet cells

If the number of rows and columns of data is equal, Data in: Rows is selected by default. The rows of data form the data series. That is, in a column chart for example, the data in the rows forms the columns and is displayed in the chart legend. The columns are displayed on the horizontal (X) Axis.

In this example, there is an equal number of rows and columns. In a column chart based on this data, there would be a column for each year. Product 1 and Product 2 would be displayed on the X-axis.

Product 1 Product 2
2010 Value Value
2011 Value Value

In this example, the number of rows exceeds the number of columns. Data in: Columns is selected by default. The columns form the data series and the rows are displayed on the horizontal axis. So, in a column chart based on this data, there would be a column for each product. The three years would be displayed on the horizontal X-axis.

Product 1 Product 2
2010 Value Value
2100 Value Value
2012 Value Value

If the number of columns exceeds the number of rows, Data in: Rows is selected by default. That is, the rows of data form the data series and are displayed in the chart legend. The columns are displayed on the X-axis.

Regardless of the default, you can choose whether to display data in columns or in rows by selecting the required option when you create the chart.

Pie charts

Pie charts, with the exception of Tiled pie charts, have only one data series. If the chart data is specified directly in the spreadsheet, it must be in a column. For example:

Pie type Number sold
Beef 509
Lamb 172
Pork 300
Vegetable 276

Data in: Columns is automatically selected in the Chart Wizard.

If the data is in a hyperblock, the hyperblock can be vertical or horizontal but you must match the 'Data in' option to the direction of the hyperblock.

Data in hyperblocks

If the columns and rows of data are held, for example, in overlapping horizontal and vertical hyperblocks, Data in: Rows is always selected by default, regardless of whether the number of rows exceeds the number of columns.

Note: Hyperblocks expand vertically or horizontally. A vertical hyperblock forms the rows of data and a horizontal hyperblock forms the columns.
In this example, the rows formed by the vertical hyperblock form the data series and the products in the horizontal hyperblock are displayed on the X-axis.
Period dimension in vertical hyperblock Product dimension in horizontal hyperblock
Product 1 Product 2
2010 Value Value
2011 Value Value
If you chose Data in: Columns in the Chart Wizard, this would have the same effect as putting the Product dimension in the vertical hyperblock and the Period dimension in the horizontal hyperblock.