Creating Graphs, Charts in InDesign

[BruinSID]

Is there an easy way to create detailed pie charts and graphs in InDesign, for use in high Res print publications?

[Peter Spier]

Yes -- do them in Illustrator and import them.

[andrew.clarke]

But Illustrator is pretty ordinary too!

[BobLevine]

You just answered a 12 year old post!

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

Well seriously, no, ID doesn't have a good facility for doing charts and graphs natively.

[BruinSID]

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

[Peter Spier]

Try Google....

[Lloyd26304052da10]

Google led me and countless others here. 

[Guest]

Illustrator's graph tool sucks. It's like a remnant from the early 90s. For instance, because I require my graphs to look a bit more pro than the default - every time my data changes - I have to redesign all my graphs from scratch.

I'm currently looking into doing my graphs with Flash and AS3 instead. Don't know if that's feasible yet though.

--Dwayne

[Guest]

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...

[Eugene Tyson]

I've often created graphs in Excel and printed those to PDF - opened them in Illustrator to tidy them up and apply colours. Then imported that to InDesign.

Some people have success copying and pasting from Excel to Illustrator.

I've used Illustrator to create graphs similar to these though. http://www.tutorial9.net/tutorials/illustrator-tutorials/create-beautiful-3d-graphs-and-charts-in-il...

Depends on what you want for the end result.

[Mike.Edel]

We quite often do the charts in PowerPoint, export to pdf and either fix those (in Illustrator) or directly use them (when exact colors are not an issue).

Works like a treat...

[ThinkB!G]

See how to create easy graphs in InDesign in this short tutorial Creating Graphs in Adobe InDesign - YouTube

[Eugene Tyson]

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

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi,

Take a look to:  Indiscripts :: Claquos 2 | Pie Chart Builder for InDesign Cool! 

Another great tool written by the very clever french scripter Marc Autret!

[kitjgrant]

Chartwell look neat but the font set is now €160

[Eugene Tyson]

If you click on Styles on the right hand side you can buy individually for €25.

FontShop | Buy FF Chartwell

[Laubender]

Hm. I don't see the support of decimals with Chartwell.

Quoting Mike Rankin from his 2011 article at indesignsecrets.com :

About the only negative I’ve found is the limitation of working only with whole numbers. It means that you can’t have something like a pie chart perfectly divided into thirds.

And that pretty much kills its usability for me.

Regards,
Uwe

[jane-e]

Please, please put in a feature request and be sure to say exactly which features you want to see in a brand new re-designed charts and graphs tool / application. I talked to two people on the Adobe team at two conferences this month, and this is a question they asked me. They read the wishform list.

http://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

According to Wikipedia, graph creation was introduced to Illustrator in June 1993. It has changed little since then.

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/graphs.html

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Just for fun!  LOL 

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

Animations totally done in InDesign!

(^/)

[jane-e]

For fun. Yes.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

https://indd.adobe.com/view/41ebd2b5-0f9f-4ce3-b877-5020d6107ba1

(^/)

[jane-e]

Are you using Paste Into for the rectangle inside the circle? The animation disappears when I try that.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi Jane!

No!  😉

[jane-e]

I kind of figured that out. The animation disappears when you paste inside.

J'ai besoin d'un indice, s'il vous plaît.