2.2.3.7 Chart Group

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A chart group is a set of one or more series (section 2.2.3.9) that visually represent data in a similar manner and are plotted using the same coordinate system. A chart group also includes all parts of the chart (section 2.2.3.3) that are associated with the set of series and the chart group can specify default properties for the data points (section 2.2.3.10) and data labels (section 2.2.3.11) associated with the series.

Basic charts have a single chart group because they contain one or more series of a single type and all data points are plotted using the same coordinates. Complex charts, such as combination charts that contain multiple series of different types or multiple series of similar type that are plotted using different sets of axes (section 2.2.3.6), contain multiple chart groups.

A chart group specifies a collection of series of a common type that share an axis group (section 2.2.3.5) and specifies the chart elements that are common to the collection of series.

A chart group is specified by a sequence of records that conforms to the CRT rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) specified by the chart sheet substream (section 2.1.7.20.1) ABNF.

A chart group has a type as defined by the following table:

Type

Specified By

Description

Area

A chart group that contains an Area record (section 2.4.2).

A chart group type in which the data points of a series are plotted in a line and the region between the line and the horizontal axis is filled.

Bar

A chart group that contains a Bar record (section 2.4.15) with field fTranspose equal to 1.

A chart group type in which the data points in a series are represented as horizontal bars.

Bar of pie

A chart group that contains a BopPop record (section 2.4.25) with field pst equal to 0x02.

A chart group type that plots data points as segments in a circle or bar, where the bar displays the details of the data called out from a single segment of the circle.

Bubble

A chart group that contains a Scatter record (section 2.4.243) with field fBubbles equal to 1.

A chart group type that is a variation on a scatter chart group type in which the data points are represented as bubbles. A bubble chart group type compares three variables. The third variable determines the size of the data point.

Column

A chart group that contains a Bar record (section 2.4.15) with field fTranspose equal to 0.

A chart group type in which the data points in a series are represented as vertical bars.

Doughnut

A chart group that contains a Pie record (section 2.4.194) with field pcDonut not equal to 0x0000.

A chart group type in which multiple series are represented as concentric rings and the data points are represented as segments of the ring.

Filled radar

A chart group that contains a RadarArea record (section 2.4.213).

A chart group type that is a variation on a radar group type in which the data points in a series are connected by a line and the area enclosed by the line is filled.

Line

A chart group that contains a Line record (section 2.4.155).

A chart group type in which data points in a series are connected by a line.

Pie

A chart group that contains a Pie record (section 2.4.194) with field pcDonut equal to 0x0000.

A chart group type that plots data points as segments (or slices) of a circle.

Pie of pie

A chart group that contains a BopPop record (section 2.4.25) with field pst equal to 0x01.

A chart group type that plots data points as segments (or slices) of two circles, where the secondary circle displays the details of the data called out from a single segment of the primary circle.

Radar

A chart group that contains a RadarArea record (section 2.4.213).

A chart group type in which each data point in a series is plotted along a separate axis that starts at the center of the chart and extends outward.

Scatter

A chart group that contains a Scatter record (section 2.4.243) with field fBubbles equal to 0.

A chart group type that displays quantitative values on both horizontal and vertical axes to represent two variables as a single data point.

Surface

A chart group that contains a Surf record (section 2.4.272).

A chart group type that shows a three dimensional surface that connects a set of data points.

The following records and rules define the significant parts of a chart group:

  • The SeriesList record (section 2.4.253) specifies the series of the chart. This record MUST NOT exist in the first chart group in the chart sheet substream. This record MUST exist when not in the first chart group in the chart sheet substream.

  • The Chart3d record (section 2.4.46) specifies that the plot area, axis group (section 2.2.3.5), and chart group are rendered in a 3-D scene, rather than a 2-D scene, and specifies properties of the 3-D scene. If this record exists in the chart sheet substream, the chart sheet substream MUST have exactly one chart group. This record MUST NOT exist in a bar of pie, bubble, doughnut, filled radar, pie of pie, radar, or scatter chart group.

  • The sequence of records that conforms to the LD rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) specifies the legend (section 2.2.3.8) on the chart. The sequence of records that conforms to the LD rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) MUST NOT exist in a chart group that is not the first chart group in the chart sheet substream.

  • The sequences of records that conform to the DROPBAR rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) specify the up-down bars on the chart group.

  • The CrtLine (section 2.4.68) LineFormat (section 2.4.156) record pairs and the sequences of records that conform to the SHAPEPROPS rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) specify the drop lines, high-low lines, series lines, and leader lines for the chart.

  • The sequences of records that conform to the DFTTEXT rule (section 2.1.7.20.1), the DataLabExtContents record (section 2.4.76), and the sequence of records that conforms to the SS rule (section 2.1.7.20.1) specify the data label and data point formatting for the chart group. Refer to the data label overview for details on the chart group data label.