More Information

Column, Bar, and Stacked Column/Bar Charts

Column and bar charts can be created from a single variable or from multiple variables (i.e., stacked column/bar).

For statistical bar charts (one- and two-way or three-way mean bar charts), click the related links on the right-hand side panel.


Column and Bar Charts With a Value- and a Category-Axis

Column Charts (Also Known as Vertical Bar Charts)

Column charts are used for comparing values of a variable represented by column length, across X-axis categories or time.

  • Stacked column charts are used for comparing the contribution of two or more variables to a total, across X-axis categories or time. When using the 100% stacked column plot option, the values of the selected variables will be normalized and scaled to 100%.

A 100% Stacked Column Graph

A Stacked Column Graph

A Clustered (Side-by-Side) Column Graph

Bar Charts

Bar charts are used for comparing values of a variable represented by bar length, across Y-axis categories or time.

  • Stacked bar charts are used for comparing the contribution of two or more variables to a total, across Y-axis categories or time. When using the 100% stacked bar plot option, the values of the selected variables will be normalized and scaled to 100%.
  • Clustered bar charts are used for comparing values of multiple variables, across Y-axis categories or time.

Error Bars on a Stacked Bar Graph

Adding Error Bars to Column and Bar Charts

Error bars can be added to column, bar, or stacked column/bar charts, and the feature provides several options, including:

  • Standard error
  • Standard deviation(s)
  • A user defined fixed value
  • Any variable value (e.g., numeric values of experimental data, user calculated errors)

Error Bars on a Clustered Bar Graph

X-Y (Value Axes) Column and Bar Charts

X-Y column charts are used for displaying the values of a variable represented by column length, extending from each X-Y point to the X-axis. Both X and Y are value axes.

  • X-Y bar charts are used for displaying the values of a variable represented by bar length, extending from each X-Y point to the Y-axis. Both X and Y are value axes.
  • X-Y stacked column charts are similar to the X-Y column chart, but each column shows the contribution of two or more variables to the total, and the column length represents the sum of the parts that make the total.
  • X-Y stacked bar charts are similar to the X-Y bar chart, but each bar shows the contribution of two or more variables to the total, and the bar length represents the sum of the parts that make the total.

A Stacked X-Y (Value-Axes) Column Graph

A Stacked X-Y (Value-Axes) Bar Graph

An X-Y (Value-Axes) Single-Variable Column Graph