How to create Leader Lines for Pie Chart Labels

Question

Level 1

12 points

How to create Leader Lines for Pie Chart Labels

I like Numbers but the restrictions they force are sometime just too much.

Example: Labels

The restriction of only being able to move a label of a wedge on a parallel axis is ridiculous. Here Excel clearly out shines Numbers.

I want an option to add a leader to a "Value" label so I can move it away from an area that is too crowded or the space for it is limited.

Yes, I know I could just not turn Labels on in Numbers and then use a text box to place the value anywhere I wish and then draw in a leader to fit my needs. But that is no solution just a horrible work-around.

Come on Apple. You've started a nice product here but gee-whiz, golly-gee, it's hard to adopt your products as MS replacements when so many basic features are missing.

MacBook Pro (Multi-Touch) / 3G IPhone v 2.2, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 16, 2009 10:45 AM

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Answer 1

Badunit

Level 7

30,660 points

May 17, 2009 4:00 PM in response to TegarKC

While you cannot place the label wherever you want (it moves only on the radial line extending out of the center of the pie), you can draw a leader line via the Insert/Shape menu (or the toolbar).

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Answer 2

TegarKC Author

Level 1

12 points

May 17, 2009 5:35 PM in response to Badunit

Thanks, yes I'm aware of that.

The real problem as you pointed out is not having the ability to move the label to an area where it can not be crowded, overwritten or even pushed off the printing area.

It just makes no sense to me why this is not an option. This is something that Excel has had the capabilities to do from version 1 I believe.

Give me a command+drag option to move the label freely.

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Answer 3

Jul 23, 2009 4:46 PM in response to TegarKC

Agreed! ++1

In 2009, certainly ridiculous! I would like to like Numbers, but its curious eccentricities limit its usefulness.

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Answer 4

Jul 23, 2009 7:20 PM in response to TegarKC

I'm trying to understand what complaining here will accomplish exactly. I have used every spreadsheet I can think of since Visicalc, which I taught myself by hacking, and they all have features lacking in the others and they all have features best left out ... and not any single one is really compatible with the other. You won't believe the number of complaints and comparisons of OpenOffice with MS Office ... and that one's free! Anyone brought up on any one will naturally compare with the others. It's simply human nature to do so.

I feel the same way about cars. It's simply freedom of choice. If someone prefers one over the other, they have the choice to use the one rather than the other. If one serves a purpose that the other doesn't, then one should use the one that does. That's just my take on it though, merely another opinion.

David.

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Answer 5

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jul 24, 2009 2:45 AM in response to AlbertEinstein

Bravo, bravissimo !

Numbers designers are not photocopiers.
They made their own choices.
If they don't fit our needs we are free to use other tools !

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE vendredi 24 juillet 2009 11:45:43)

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Answer 6

TegarKC Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2009 4:37 PM in response to KOENIG Yvan

KOENIG Yvan,

Please don't get your short all bound up.

Of course we can all make choices to use whatever tool we wish, or have as may be more to the point. But when a software such as Number overlaps labels one on top of the other then it's an obvious error in the program. That is unless you always set your paragraph leadings to 0 in order to save space.

See I can make such comments too but they aren't helpful. Why is it that on these boards people feel they must add garbage that is not useful to a conversation. Go blog somewhere if you just want to spout your opinion. As for me, I'm here trying to get a problem solved.

Anyway, whether it copying or coming up with a more creative way to deal with it, I'm just trying to figure a way to keep my labels from overlapping and making them unreadable.

If you have a useful suggestion please!

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Answer 7

TegarKC Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2009 4:53 PM in response to AlbertEinstein

AlbertEinstein,

And I don't understand why you are even posting here. What in your reply was useful to my issue? Seriously, if you're here on this board just to spout opinions, might I suggest you take up blogging.

As for me, I'm here to try to find an answer to my problem. If you're knowledgable and know that it can't be done then just saying so the way Badunit did. It wasn't the answer I was looking for but at least he was trying to be constructive.

OK, so to your point. You've been using spreadsheets since Visicalc, good for you. My issue isn't with the spreadsheet part of Numbes, but rather with the charting technology.

Well I was a draftsperson when all there was, was boards and T-Squares. And a common rule is if your information is too close, overlaps, etc to be understood then you use a leader to move it to an area where it is not so cluttered.

Your issues with OpenOffice and MS Office I can't address because I'm not interested in either of those products within this thread.

So please if you have a suggestion as to how to solve my issue then I welcome your comments. But if you're here just to "complain" about others complaining I can just ask, what's your point?

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Answer 8

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Aug 10, 2009 6:24 PM in response to TegarKC

Hi Tegar,

Meanwhile, back at your issue...

Badunit has pointed you in the currently available direction to work around the issue. There is no current solution that I'm aware of.

Solving the issue requires revising the software to add the feature, something that's a developer issue, and outside the scope of this user-to-user forum.

Launch Numbers, go to the Numbers menu, choose Provide Numbers Feedback, then make your feature request on the form that opens. Highly unlikely that the change will occur before the next full version, but if there are no requests it's pretty certain the feature won't be added.

Regards,
Barry

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Answer 9

Badunit

Level 7

30,660 points

Aug 10, 2009 6:40 PM in response to TegarKC

Solutions:

1. Move all numbers out radially and/or change font size until there is no overlap. You can move them all to the same distance or move them separately. Add leader lines manually.

2. Create another column in your table to calculate the percentages. Add a bunch of one-cell tables around your chart that reference those percentages. Put them exactly where you want them and have the chart not show labels. Add leader lines manually. I would suggest a fill of "none" for these little tables. You can get the same text style as the chart labels by selecting one of the chart labels, Copy Style, then Paste Style to the table.

Either way, leader lines are going to be a manual addition.

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Answer 10

TegarKC Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2009 9:05 PM in response to Barry

Barry,

Thanks. Yes I agree that Badunit's information is correct. I was just hoping that I had missed something a thus the reason for my original posting.

I have provided my feedback through Numbers and hopefully some others will join me so the next version will have a solution for this issue.

Thank you for the constructive comments though.

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Answer 11

TegarKC Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 10, 2009 9:10 PM in response to Badunit

Badunit,

What I've been forced to do is simply not include the units labels at all. I then take them into Photoshop and add the labels with leaders and make that into a pdf and then bring it back into my presentation.

A lot of work for such a minor issue but until Apple correct the problem that is what I'm stuck with. (That or use PPT and have an inferior chart with nice labeling.)

Again, thanks.

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Answer 12

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Aug 11, 2009 1:47 AM in response to TegarKC

I did that using only Numbers.

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France.) mardi 11 août 2009 10:47:18

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