Dismantling Excel graphs for AE?

[deliverance]

Hi,

I am provided being provided a bunch of graphs with loads of data in Excel format and I would need to get the graph parts (individual bar chart bars without the background grid, etc.) as easily as possible to After Effects for animating them.

What is the easiest way for this / are able to point to some workflow?

(I am using Mac)

[Mylenium]

Don't waste any time slicing up the graphs or whatever! Rebuild the items natively in AE using shape layers, solids, Linear Wipes and other techniques. There's also tons of scripts that deal with data graphics/ info graphics and charts on AEScripts.com, so shelling out a few bucks might save you a lot of headaches.

Mylenium

[deliverance]

Thanks for reply.

I do appreciate the notion of not wasting time and the hint about possible plugins!

Yet, besides the bar charts, there's at least line charts (see the image below), which are comprised of TONS of data. In other words it will be impossible to rebuild them in AE.

[Mylenium]

Not impossible. These days one would probably simply export as JSON and have them being drawn on using effects like Write-On. if that's not up your alley, export each graph as a separate black&white graphic so they can be used as mattes, colorized and so on in AE.

Mylenium

[deliverance]

Thanks for reply.

"Not impossible. These days one would probably simply export as JSON and have them being drawn on using effects like Write-On."

I had a look on Using After Effects CC 2018, Excel and JSON to create Graphs , but may not have change to learn that up now.

"if that's not up your alley, export each graph as a separate black&white graphic so they can be used as mattes, colorized and so on in AE.

That's something I was originally asking help to. How do I export from Excel those line data chart lines each by each?

[Mylenium]

You have to get into the thick of Excel and learn how to show/ hide specific data sets and how Excel plots data to export each line separately. Depending on how the files are already structured this may be easier (pivot tables/ pivot charts with filters) or require some manual fiddling and lots of extra clicks. Either way, you will need access to Excel and the native spreadsheets or have the people who prepare the data provide their charts in such a manner.

Mylenium