Pie Chart non value reporting

**Out2sea** · 07-20-2009, 10:51 PM

Hello Excelforum.com!

My issue with my pie chart is that I can’t seem to stop the chart from reporting a category with no value. I am using it for a money spending tracker. I have my finances going to different categories. The (Series) data for the pie chart is a list of spending categories. I.E. Bills, Groceries, Gas, etc… In the (Category) side is the dollar amount for the above series. I have the series as a “SUMIF” logic. I.E. when I enter a withdraw for a groceries, I state on my checking register that this withdraw is the category “Groceries” in a specific column. The formula finds the key word “Groceries” and gets the value from the amount withdrew column on my checking register. It than will add up all withdraws for the entire month for groceries in one cell.

The problem I am having, is the categories that I haven’t spend money in. It shows a $0.00 reference on the pie chart. With about 30 categories, there isn’t a lot of room in the chart for something without a value, and just looks sloppy. If I clear the formula from that specific cell that has a 0 value reporting to the chart, it than removes it from the chart. It than looks as I wanted it, but it won’t be able to update once I do spend for that category. There is no longer the SUMIF logic. If there is a formula in the cell, it shows it on the chart. Regardless if it has money withdrew from that category or not.

I tried formatting the cells as ##??. The categories that don’t have any money spent, show as blank, but it still shows a reference to it on the pie chart.

I hope I made myself clear, and I’m not too confusing. I am out to sea currently and somewhat limited to files that I can attach. If anyone would need a sample ok the work, I could see if I could set it up.

Sorry for the long read!

**shg** · 07-20-2009, 11:51 PM

Welcome, Sailor.

Post a workbook, and we'll see if we can help sort it out.

**teylyn** · 07-21-2009, 01:00 AM

Hi Out2sea,

sounds like one of those typical problems you get with pie charts. I don't want to sound patronising, but this is exactly why they are not the best choice of chart. You say you have about 30 categories. This would be much more legible in a horizontal bar chart and it would be much easier to compare data points. You could then even play around with automatically sorting the data to quickly see where you spend most and where you spend least.

HTH

**Andy Pope** · 07-21-2009, 04:07 AM

Remove zeros from pie
http://www.andypope.info/charts/piezeros.htm

But as suggested, consider alternative chart type.

**Out2sea** · 07-21-2009, 02:58 PM

I agree with you, teylyn & Andy. The pie chart isn't the best of choices. I did try that piezero program. It just doesn't turn out how I expected. I'll that to get used to a bar or column graph.

Thanks for the help!