Excel author extroardinaire and amateur banjoist John Walkenbach describes this year’s Lime Crop this weekend in The J-Walk Blog. I’ve reproduced John’s chart below.
In a completely unwarranted statement, John snidely wondered how long until I criticized his chart.
Man. How did I deserve that… Oh, yeah.
Well, he asked for it.
Here’s what I did like about John’s chart:
- He used PNG format for the image file.
- The chart clearly shows most of the data.
- The use of lime graphics was not overboard, in fact, one lime per lime is an appropriate scaling factor.
Here’s where John’s chart needs improvement:
- His ink to data ratio is way too high: look at that distracting shadow.
- His vertical axis title is tilted 90°, making it hard to read.
- The zero limes harvested in 2007 and 2008 are not clearly shown.
- Time series data is usually more effective on a line chart.
I’ve made the appropriate changes in the following chart.
I guess we should call this a Lime Chart.
Debra Dalgleish says
Lime chart? Anyway, I thought John’s chart was sublime. Your version could be improved by a transparent background for the series markers.
But aren’t limes usually used in bars and pies?
John Walkenbach says
If you add a legend to the chart, you’d have a key lime.
Jon Peltier says
I actually did try to make the white background transparent. But due to the magic of antialiasing, I could only make the corners transparent, and there is still a white halo around the lime. And I didn’t feel like playing for hours just for a dumb picture for a silly chart.
Marlena says
Nice to see such a lime-hearted viz post ;o)
Jon Peltier says
I’m waiting for someone to bring up that old Harry Nilsson song….
Debra Dalgleish says
Oh, now I get it. The yellowy bit behind each lime is the coconut.
Thanks to you and Harry, for the song that’s now stuck in my head.
Ute-S says
Your lime chart is misleading! It shows lime where there were no limes at all (2007 and 2008). You should consider inserting the image of a bottle of Rose’s Lime Juice instead, indicating that John had to rely on external supplies for his preferred cocktails ;-)
Bob says
How long until the apples and oranges get mentioned?
: )
Anonymous says
Nice to see a topic like this in the limelight. But don’t you think the topic is a little lime-iting?
Where did John get the lime.png? Is there a rum.png hanging around?
Doug Glancy says
blimey!
Colin Banfield says
An analysis of the charts suggests that John should grow a different plant. PI (personal intelligence) at its best!
David Hager says
Perhaps a tick mark would be appropriate for the 2007-2008 lyme years.