When should I use bars instead of pies?

Use bars for precise comparison or many categories; use pies only for a small number of parts of one whole.

When is a heatmap useful?

Use it for many values across two dimensions or repeated periods; use lines when sequence and trend are primary.

Can one dataset have several charts?

Yes, when each chart answers a different question and units, labels, and filters remain consistent.

Chart and Diagram Generators

Goal and scope

Choose a chart or diagram that makes comparisons, distributions, hierarchies, relationships, and schedules understandable.
Use this guide to turn the stated scope into a reviewable result. Keep the source, intermediate outputs, and decisions together so the next person can understand what was checked and why.

Prepare evidence and make decisions

Prepare labeled values, categories, relationships, or dates. Define the audience and decision before choosing a visual.
Use a representative dataset and retain the source values for verification.
Decision: Classify the data shape and message.. Prepare labeled values, categories, relationships, or dates. Define the audience and decision before choosing a visual.
Decision: Which visual family fits?. Match trends, categories, distributions, relationships, hierarchy, status, or dates to a chart with the same visual grammar.
Decision: Is the result trustworthy?. Check scale, totals, labels, units, ordering, and readability before sharing.

Complete the workflow

1. Classify the data shape and message.

Prepare labeled values, categories, relationships, or dates. Define the audience and decision before choosing a visual. Use line-chart-generator, box-plot-generator, bar-chart-generator, sankey-diagram-generator, sunburst-chart-generator, gantt-chart-generator.

2. Generate a baseline with the narrowest suitable chart family.

Choose the narrowest chart family for the data shape and create a labeled baseline. Use area-chart-generator, grouped-bar-chart, scatter-plot-generator, heatmap-generator, network-chart, timeline-generator.

3. Compare one alternative encoding when it may clarify the message.

Test one focused alternative for comparison, composition, uncertainty, or relationships. Use comparison-bar-chart, stacked-bar-chart, donut-chart-generator, radar-chart-generator, parallel-coordinates-chart, chord-diagram-generator.

4. Verify values, labels, units, and readability before export.

Compare totals and labels with the source, then export the version that supports the decision. Use waterfall-chart-generator, quadrant-chart, gauge-chart-generator, progress-ring-chart, rating-star-chart, word-cloud-generator.

Verify the result before handoff

The visual answers the stated data question without a misleading scale.
Every input category, series, node, or date has an intentional mapping.
Labels, units, legend, and ordering are readable for the audience.
Rendered values match the source before publication.

Common questions

When should I use bars instead of pies? Use bars for precise comparison or many categories; use pies only for a small number of parts of one whole.
When is a heatmap useful? Use it for many values across two dimensions or repeated periods; use lines when sequence and trend are primary.
Can one dataset have several charts? Yes, when each chart answers a different question and units, labels, and filters remain consistent.

Choose the right path

Classify the data shape and message.

Prepare labeled values, categories, relationships, or dates. Define the audience and decision before choosing a visual.

Which visual family fits?

Match trends, categories, distributions, relationships, hierarchy, status, or dates to a chart with the same visual grammar.

Is the result trustworthy?

Check scale, totals, labels, units, ordering, and readability before sharing.