Pitney Bowes MapInfo Professional - Manual (Page 146)

• Percent - The percent column graph is a column-graph representation of a pie graph. Each group
calculates the percent of the total required for each series. The axis goes from 0 to 100%.
• Stacked - The stacked column graph shows stacked groups of columns. Each stack is made up of all
series in this group, added up to obtain a total. The axis is the total value of the cumulative points.
Column charts are more accurate than pie charts, because distances are more accurately estimated
than areas. Do not use column graphs for:
• Comparisons. Instead use one-dimensional scatterplots.
• Larger data sets. Instead, use line charts.
Histogram Graphs
Histograms show frequency distribution by grouping values into value ranges-it measures the number
of data values that fall within each range. The ranges display as bars without gaps.
• Horizontal - The orientation of the bars is horizontal.
• Vertical - The orientation of the bars is vertical.
Line Graphs
Line graphs display trends and relationships by connecting data points by lines or curves.
• Clustered - In a clustered line graph, lines draw on top of each other to show the absolute relationships
between data series.
• Percent - The percent line graph is a line-graph representation of a pie graph. Each group calculates
the percent of the total required for each series. The axis goes from 0 to 100%.
• Stacked - In a stacked line graph, lines stack on top of each other. The axis is the cumulative total of
the all the groups.
Do not sue line graphs if the X axis has non-numeric values.
Pie Graphs
Pie graphs display proportional relationships at a given time. Segments of the pie chart may be pulled
out of the pie for emphasis, as an exploded pie chart.
• Pie - The pie graph displays percentages of a total as pie wedges.
• Ring Pie - The ring pie graph is a variation of the standard pie graph. It looks like a ring or donut. The
total value of all the pie slices displays in the center.
Pie charts do not represent values beyond 100% and do not show change over time. Do not use pie
charts:
• For exact comparisons of values. The pie shapes can be hard for people to interpret.
• For rank data. Instead, use column or bar charts.
• When proportions vary greatly.
Scatter Graphs
Scatter graphs display measurements over time (one-dimensional scatterplot) or an impression of the
relation between two variables (two-dimensional scatterplot). It distributes data points along one or two
dimensions using a standard X-Y plot requiring two values per marker, X and Y, in that order.
Do not use a scatter graph for:
• Trends, interpolation, extrapolation, recognition, and comparison of change rates.
MapInfo Professional 12.5 146
Selecting the Right Type of Graph