Third Y Axis?

[MindChild]

Please don't hate over this question. I am simply trying to conform to what the boss insists on, and I have fought hard on this and lost.

 

 

 

I have a need for a graph that shows three types of unrelated values simultaneously. They are 'Cost Per Item', 'Average Item Count per Purchase', and 'Total Items in stock'

 

 

 

Obviously, these numbers aren't even the same kind of numbers, so relating them in a graph is, frankly, silly. But I digress.

 

 

 

I think the best option I have seen is the example for the Combination 2d dual Y chart. Even though the boss wanted it all to be vertical bars, they simply don't relate at all, and the values are too skewed.

 

 

 

Now down to the problem. In this example chart (MSCombiDY2D.swf). The bars and the area piece are perfect. The line part, not so much. When I see a line on a graph, it says to me that we are looking at something that takes place over time. This is not the case, and I would like to try to avoid it. Also, the area part of the example graph (profit) doesn't really have any labels or means of knowing what values it is representing.

 

 

 

So my question is... Is there some clean way to have three completely different types of values on the same graph, sans the line bit of the chart? Also (an I honestly don't know how you would do this), is there a way to have three unambiguous Y axis sources? Something that the user doesn't have to struggle to understand?

 

 

 

And just to throw this in there, the graph is to show three sets of 'Cost Per Item', 'Average Item Count per Purchase', and 'Total Items in stock' on a single graph.

 

 

 

Maybe something along the lines of the PowerCharts multi-axis line chart... but with bars instead at this point.

 

 

 

I know I am probably not as clear as I could be. I am just trying to find a solution to this annoying problem.

 

 

 

Thanks.

Edited April 2, 2008 by Guest

[gigemboy]

Well 3 Y axis on a 2D chart doesn't make sense. What are the number ranges of each series? Why not just use a multi-series column chart, like the one here (right hand column, next to last). That example has three unique series... Also on the dual Y charts, you aren't restricted to one item being an area, one item being a line, etc. You can use the 'RenderAs' attribute to specify whether to render it as a line, bar, etc...

Edited April 3, 2008 by Guest

[Pallav]

Or, you could use the bubble chart, as that chart allows you to plot 3 inter-related quantities on x,y and z axis.