Radar chart/Spider chart

Overview

There is no dedicated chart type but with formulas and Cross sampling you can create one with Category Scatter chart.

How to create a Radar chart?

  1. Prepare series - one of the methods would be to use  PercentRank(series1, series1) formulas: 
    PercentRank() returns the rank of a value in a series as a percentage (0..100) of the values in the series, e.g.,PercentRank(sek, sek) calculates the percentile value of the series 'sek' for each observation.
  2. Prepare position's values - in next Formula analysis use these four formulas for each series (note that some elements should be changed, see below for more information):
    • fx:s1*Sin((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • fx:s1*Cos((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • 100*Sin((0)*2*pi()/6)
    • 100*Cos((0)*2*pi()/6) 
      Changing elements:
- Each set of formulas should have successive number after Cos/Sin e.g., fx:s1*Cos((1)*2*pi()/6), fx:s1*Cos((2)*2*pi()/6).
- The number at the end (here '6') is total number of series in initial data set.
- We also recommend to rename these series as 'series1 X'; 'series1 Y', 'series1 X Max'; 'series1 Y Max'.
NOTE: If you want to flip the chart by 90 degrees set Cos-series as first (X-series), and Sin-series as second (Y-series).
    • and add these at the end of list:
      • 0
      • 1
  3. Add Cross sampling with four 'Calculations: Last'.
    • Name three of them as 25th %-ile, 50th %-ile, 75th %-ile - these will be needed for intermediate lines. The fourth is your outer shape, the 100%-ile Max-series.
    • To avoid clutter, in Output mode > Label generation select the best option for your data set.
    • In Group panel create columns for X-series, Y-series, X Max-series, Y Max-series. Same series should be at first and last position (without this duplication the shape will not be closed).
    • Select '0' and add press 'Add selected series as new single series column', same for '1'.
    • We recommend to rename all columns to X, Y, X Max, Y Max, 0, and 1.
  4. Add Arithmetic analysis to prepare radar's intermediate lines.
    • Whole '25th %-ile' list multiply by 0.25
    • Whole '50th %-ile' list multiply by 0.5
    • Whole '75th %-ile' list multiply by 0.75
  5. Add Category Scatter chart.
    • Open Graph layout (Ctrl+L), leave/create pairs for:
      • Last X, Y
      • Last, X Max, Y Max
      • 25th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
      • 50th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
      • 75th %-ile, X Max, Y Max
    • Additionally you can create pairs for:
      • 0-point - add two 'Last, 0' series
      • markers - add Bubble graph type and Last X; Last Y; Last 1 (or add them on a line's graph style).
  6. Graphic style
    • Turn off labels - due to how it is constructed there will always be one doubled label. Click on each line, under Presentation properties > Content un-check 'Show value labels'.
      Instead use Legend labels or Observation labels - see here how to add them. You can copy-paste them to other points.
    • To change each line's style click on it and go to Presentation properties > Appearance > Graph style: Custom, set Line width and style.
    • Scale adjusting:
      • under Presentation properties > Scale > Display range set for example -150/150,
      • under Presentation properties > Appearance > Tick position select 'None',
      • un-check Presentation properties > Appearance > Show labels to hide numbers.
    • To turn off borders go to Presentation properties > Border > Width, select 'None'.
    • To turn off grid line, click on one and un-check box under Presentation properties > Appearance > Show grid line.
  7. Chart size - to avoid stretching the chart use Chart view size.

Adding more lines

You can easily add more lines.

  1. Go to Cross sampling and add, for example, calculation 'Value at: -1y' (for values one year back).
  2. Go to chart, open Graph layout (Ctrl+L).
  3. Adjust series - leave just Line for 'Value at, -1y, X' and 'Value at, -1y, Y'.

Examples

Radar on 'A Countries'

We have chosen five countries and presented their current and 2000's Human Development Index position on a radar.

Spider Pigs

Here we showed latest data for agricultural production from New Zealand. You can also see how to flip the outer shape of radar.

Economic spider web

In this example we have calculated percentile ranks relative to historic data for eight different USA's indicators.

 

Tags: radarspider