Generate a Area Chart with AI

Introduction

An Area Chart effectively represents changes over time and allows comparison between multiple quantities. With the advent of AI, tools like Sourcetable offer a straightforward method to harness powerful analytics without needing extensive spreadsheet knowledge. Sourcetable goes beyond traditional spreadsheets by integrating an AI assistant that simplifies creating charts, including Area Charts.

Traditional spreadsheet programs like Excel and Google Sheets also support Area Chart creation but may require more manual effort and understanding of data manipulation techniques. These programs allow users to plot and analyze their data through a series of steps, which can be more time-consuming compared to AI-driven solutions.

To explore the capabilities of an AI-enhanced spreadsheet, sign up for Sourcetable to generate your first Area Chart or keep reading for more detailed information. Sign up here.

What is an Area Chart?

An area chart combines the features of line charts and bar charts to display how one or more groups' numeric values change over the progression of a second variable, typically time. It uses shading between lines and a baseline to distinguish itself from a line chart.

The primary feature of area charts is the shading between lines, which adds a visual element that emphasizes data trends and makes the data appear more tangible. This shading extends to a zero baseline, creating a visual representation of part-to-whole relationships and the magnitude of changes in related data sets.

Area charts are particularly effective for illustrating trends over time and comparing the contributions of different groups to a total value. They can be configured with multiple lines to show how a whole is divided into component parts or to make comparisons between groups.

Two common types of area charts are overlapping and stacked area charts. Overlapping area charts are useful for comparing values between groups but require starting with a line chart and additional customization. Stacked area charts, more commonly used, track a total value over time and compare the contribution of each group to the total.

While area charts are similar to line charts, they focus more on total volume and variations in values, making them visually appealing and useful for discovering trends of magnitude. However, they may cause occlusion, where one data series hides another, and generally use more ink and visual weight than line charts.

When to Use an Area Chart

Advantages of Area Charts

Area charts are ideal for displaying data over time, emphasizing the magnitude of change. They effectively show trends and can highlight the cumulative value across a dataset. Use area charts to illustrate overall volume changes over time.

Limitations of Area Charts

Area charts can become cluttered and hard to read with multiple data series. They may obscure data if the colors are not distinct enough. Avoid using area charts for data with high variability or many overlapping elements.

Area Charts vs. Line Charts

Line charts provide a clear view of trends over time without the added emphasis on volume. They are better for detailed comparisons between several series. Area charts, however, offer a visual sense of volume that line charts lack.

Area Charts vs. Bar Charts

Bar charts excel at comparing individual categories at a single point in time. They are not ideal for showing trends over periods. Area charts, on the other hand, are designed to depict changes and trends over time, with a focus on cumulative quantities.

Best Use Cases for Area Charts

Choose area charts for visualizing data trends over time when the magnitude of change is important. They are suitable for financial data, climate data, and other time series data where showing cumulative change is beneficial.

How to Generate an Area Chart in Excel and Google Sheets

Create an Area Chart in Excel

To create an area chart in Excel, first select the range A1:D7. Navigate to the Insert tab, then click on the Line symbol within the Charts group. From the dropdown menu, click the Area option. This will generate an area chart based on your selected range.

Create an Area Chart in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, ensure your data is formatted in columns and rows. The first column should have a label describing the data, and the first row, while optional, can contain category names that appear as labels in the legend. Ensure you have at least two data series to create the area chart.

To begin, collate your data into a pivot table if needed. Go to the 'Insert' menu and select 'Charts'. Choose the data range, typically the pivot table. Select the Area Chart type. Use the 'Setup' and 'Customize' options under the Chart Editor to customize fields, titles, and labels as needed.

Benefits of Area Charts

Area charts are excellent for finding trends in data over time and comparing multiple data sets. They are similar to line charts but shade below the lines, highlighting the magnitude of trends. Stacked area charts can show part-to-whole relationships, and stepped area charts emphasize changes and differences.

Conclusion

Throughout this guide, we explored the essentials of Area Charts, a versatile tool useful for displaying changes over time and comparing multiple quantities. We detailed the process of creating these charts using traditional spreadsheet software like Excel and Google Sheets, highlighting step-by-step methods for users familiar with conventional tools.

Additionally, we introduced Sourcetable, an AI-enhanced spreadsheet platform that simplifies creating Area Charts and other data visualizations. Sourcetable's AI spreadsheet assistant supports users in quickly generating charts, making it an ideal solution for both novices and experienced spreadsheet users looking to enhance their data analysis skills.

To explore the capabilities of Sourcetable and to easily generate your first Area Chart with the help of an AI assistant, sign up here.