Chart won't Populate Data

Mark, I am having this problem on a MacBook Pro with Numbers 09. The chart is not populating the data from my table. I have only numerical data. Bizarre.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

HI Mark and Jonelle,

You are trying to create a chart similar to this one, made in Numbers '09 (for Mac):

Table 1, feeding the chart is a two column table with one Header Row and one Header Column.

The stock symbols, entered in column A, will appear in the chart's legend, indicating the colour used to represent each stock.

The amount (in whatever unit you are measuring this and wish to compare) is entered in column B. Note that these are NOT percentages. The full circle of a pie chart is ALWAYS 100%. Numbers will calculate the percentage of the total represented by each number in this list, and display that percentage on the chart.

To make the chart:

Enter the list of symbols in column A (must be a Header Column).

Enter the quantity ($ value?) of your holdings for each stock in column B (Must be in non-header cells and on the rows matching each symbol).

Select the values in column B (see blue selection box in image above)

--Click the Charts button in the toolbar (Numbers '09)

--In the option bar that appears (Numbers for iOS) tap Create Chart

Click/Tap the pie chart in the list of chart types.

Result shown is from Numbers '09. I have changes only the width of the text box holding the legend (to force the legend items into a vertical list) and moved the legend from below the chart to the position shown.

I suspect you will find a difference between the list of steps above and the steps you followed in creating the chart.

Regards,

Barry

Mark,

On your iPad tap the + upper left, Create Spreadsheet and choose either the 'Charting Basics' or 'Simple Budget' template to see how pie charts work in Numbers for iOS. Make sure your column on the left is defined as a Header Column.

SG

Hi Mark,

Except for the location of the Create Chart buttons, the process and the product are essentially the same in Numbers for iOS and Numbers '09.

For future Numbers for iOS questions, you may want to post in the iWork for iOS community, where there are more people who regularly use that version of Numbers.

Regards,

Barry

Mark,

No worries. Some of us here read and post in both the Numbers for Mac and iWork for iOS communities. There tends to be more Numbers-specific expertise here in this community. Numbers for iOS and Numbers 3 for the Mac (not Numbers 2 for the Mac) are designed to work well together and they largely succeed. As suggested above, I think checking out those templates will clear up a lot of questions you may have about pie charts.

SG

No, it's not that complicated. It's actually very quick and simple if you know what to do.

In a blank table where the leftmost column is a Header Column (shaded by default) try this.

Enter A in cell A2.

Enter B in cell A3.

Enter C in cell A4.

Enter 1 in cell B2.

Enter 2 in cell B3.

Enter 3 in cell B4.

Dismiss the keyboard and select cells A2 through B4, and tap Create Chart in the popover strip.

Tap the pie chart symbol and you're done.

SG

Hi Mark,

A pie chart is typically used to show proportions of a total.

I don't think you've specified which total. Are you trying to show which proportion each name is of your total Net Profit?

If so you could structure your table so your Name is in the leftmost column (which must be a Header Column) and Net Profit is in column B.

Then follow my instructions above.

SG

HI Mark,

Add a new table to collect the data for the chart. This table needs only the Name in column A and the data to be shown (net profit) in column B. Row 1 is a Header Row, column A must be a Header Column.

The names have ben entered manually. The net profit totals are calculated using the formula below, entered into B2 and filled down.

B2: =SUMIF(Trades data::E,A,Trades data::C)

Select cells B2 to B4.

Tap Create Chart in the bar that appears.

Tap the pie chart icon.

Done. Numbers will calculate the percentage that each stock has contributed to the net profit.

NOTE: Numbers for iOS is pretty forgiving here (as is Numbers '09). Selecting A2 to B4 (as in SG's instructions) or selecting only the data containing cells B2 to B4 (as in mine) will give the same result.

Regards,

Barry

PS: SG's "No worries" point regarding Numbers expertise is well-taken. 🙂

B

Here's what you can do:

Continue collecting your data as you have been doing. Once you've set this up the charts will update automatically as you add new data.

Then create summary tables based on that data and base your charts on those summary tables. For charting the order of the columns is significant in that you must have the "categories" (here the Name) in the leftmost column, which must for a pie chart be defined as a Header Column (pick the table type that shows the shaded column on the left).

The formula to calculate the number of trades by Name is as shown here:

=COUNTIF(Name,A2)

The Name part is entered by tapping at the top of column E of the data table to select the whole column.

The formula to calculate Net Profit by Name is as shown here:

=SUMIF(Name,A2,Net Profit)

The Net Profit part is entered by tapping at the top of column C of the data table to select the whole column.

To create a chart you select the cells as shown here, and tap 'Create Chart'.

If all goes well you will end up with a "dashboard" something like this:

This is how it looks on the iPad. Essentially the same in Numbers 3 on the Mac.

SG