Creating Graphs, Charts in InDesign

It's 2023.

Time for an update on this discussion.

We've tested several programs listed in this thread to create data charts for use in professional publishing apps like Adobe InDesign.  With our projects, client data visualations include simple pie/ring charts, line/bar/column charts, stacked columns, combo bar/line charts, scatter charts, and candlestick charts (like stock market charts).

Our projects contain 10-30 chart graphics, all different kinds, and they must maintain a unified, professional design and appearance. Fonts and colors can't change between the charts.

As of last month, no tools can do this type of data graphing except MS Excel and Tableau. In fact, these programs make it easy for anyone to generate the chart right from the original data source. Update the data and the chart updates as well.

Downsides:

• Appearance isn't exactly professional design, if you know what I mean.
• Can't adequately control fonts, size, leading, and placement. Things change from chart to chart.
• Can't adequately control color palettes and schemes, especially for print/press. In MS, learn how to set color themes that will work for your print projects; this will help control the colors for the charts.
• Difficult to get a press-quality hi-rez graphic from these programs. We found that a 600 dpi PDF worked best.
• To update the data, you must return to the source program, edit the data, re-export the graphic file, and update the graphic in the InDesign layout. Most times the placement of text labels and legends remains intact, but not always.
• The font sizes and text placement vary from chart to chart. For consistency, we use only the graphic from these programs and then lay in the text labels and legends in InDesign. It's been the only method that produces a satisfactory professional result

Claquos and Chartwell are sweet plug-ins but they lack the range and depth of data visualization required by our clients. They really only work with pie charts. As much as I would really love to live my design career with pies (blueberry and pumpkin, especially), clients won't let me. I must also do all the other charts described above.

Datylon (plug-in for Illustrator), Chartbot, and Cacidi Charts all have interesting features and capabilities. They are still in our shop's testing phase, but with a bit more development (or easier charts on our end), they're worthy of a try.

• Datylon has 3 versions: online web chart generator, plug-in for Illustrator, and plug-in for PowerPoint. Extensive templates and chart types. Customizable. Exports to PDF, PNG, SVG.
• Chartbot is intended to quickly create a lot of automated charts for database-intensive publications. Works within InDesign, but the design appears to be limited.
• Cacidi Charts is one of the more promising programs. Plug-in for InDesign lets you design charts directly in the layout file. Nice control of fonts, colors, positioning, but covers only 10 basic styles of charts. For our projects, this is the most promising program.

DeltaGraph is a old standby in the STEM world of data. Has the most extensive library of graph types, but design control is limited. We haven't needed to use it in a while, so I'm not as familiar with its ins and outs.

New kid on the block: Vengage Charts looks like a Canva knock-off (gosh, never thought I'd ever say those words together!). Some cute features for heavily-designed basic chart types. But they do scream "I'M A CANVA DESIGN" even though this online web app is not Canva.  Can be downloaded/exported as HTML, PDF, PNG, and PPT (PowerPoint slide).

Which leaves us with...Illustrator. But it too is limited (can't create stacked 100% column/bar, bar/line combos, candlestick, and scatter graphs). But then again, the majority of the basic chart types are there. And the data is editable, as long as you don't delete the data or convert the live chart to a static graphic. Or touch it in any way. Or breathe on it.

Downsides:

• Someone earlier mentioned that the chart module hasn't changed much since the early 1990s. That's not correct: IMHO and experience, it hasn't changed at all since it was originally released. It. Is. An. Ancient App! Clunky as he!! to use. We have to do massive charts every few months for clients and I just can't retain the idiosyncratic do's and don'ts and mouseclicks to get through the process: so I've recorded several hours of videos for my staff to review before they begin the task.
• Yes, you can edit the data. But...if you've move the labels or legend or changed a bar or pie slice, things will fly all over the artboard (and off it) when the data is updated.
• It's really difficult and clunky to adjust the vertical and horizontal grids, markers along the sides and top/bottom.
• It's clunky to rotate pie charts to get the appearance you want.  *&^%$#@!*
• Controlling the appearance of data point markers is nearly impossible. We make the marker/symbols by hand and manually overlay them on the chart.
• You're constantly reminded by the client that they're able to easily do all this in Excel. And you're repeatedly asked by the client why it's taking you so long to just change the pie slice values. Geeze Louise. Whats wrong with you?!
• Illustrator's chart module has an exceptionally high 4-letter-word factor when used, and often necessitates additional substances to appease the designer: double-espresso cafes, brownies, vodka neat, hourly Taco Bell deliveries, etc. Be sure to build these additional costs into your estimates to clients. And make sure the children are kept in a safe place, out of earshot. Better yet, send them to camp or the grandparents' the week you're working on Illustrator charts.

Hope this helps my fellow designers!

nicolee29025779  wrote

HI Nicolee,

Two people mentioned the Chartwell font on October 22, 2014 and one of them linked to the same video that you did. There have been several other mentions of Chartwell in this thread — you might want to scroll through and read the entire thread.

Just for fun!  LOL 

https://indd.adobe.com/view/b940f8c5-b78f-4948-b3f4-baf42d217ddf

Animations totally done in InDesign!

(^/)

http://indesignsecrets.com/creating-instant-charts-with-chartwell.php

Dwaynie: I do charts in Illustrator for InDesign documents all the time - and I easily update them from issue to issue, and from change to change in the current issue.

The secret is: DO NOT DELETE THE DATA. If you want/need to fiddle with the artwork and the data won't let you, then copy the chart then break it up. You can easily copy and paste the bits generated by the amended data. Of course I am assuming you are not attaching really complex changes to the chart artwork that require you to start from scratch.

For changing the chart shapes and auto-generated text I use the Group Selection Tool nearly all the time. 

I agree that the Illustrator chart tool is quite primitive, but it is still the most flexible charting tool around. I wish it  would do overlays...

Do you know of a link that shows how to create, design and format pie charts and graphs in Illustrator. Perhaps a good video tutorial. Thanks

But Illustrator is pretty ordinary too!