# Spreadsheet Charts

> Build charts that make the point clearly, choosing the type by the question and removing everything that does not carry meaning. Use when presenting spreadsheet data visually.

- Skill: `amey-thakur/spreadsheet-charts` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add amey-thakur/spreadsheet-charts`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/amey-thakur/spreadsheet-charts/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Data & Analytics
- Author: Amey-Thakur (https://skillmd.com/u/amey-thakur)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/amey-thakur/spreadsheet-charts

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# Spreadsheet charts

Default chart settings produce cluttered, hard-to-read output. A chart
should make one comparison obvious, and most improvement comes from
removing elements rather than adding them.

## Method

1. **Choose by the question.** Change over time as a line, category
   comparison as bars, composition rarely as a pie, and correlation as a
   scatter (see data-visualization).
2. **Sort bars by value.** Alphabetical ordering hides the ranking that
   is usually the point.
3. **Start value axes at zero for bars.** A truncated axis exaggerates
   differences and is misleading rather than emphatic.
4. **Remove decoration.** Gridlines, borders, shadows, and legends that
   duplicate labels all compete with the data.
5. **Label directly where possible.** Series labelled at the line beats
   a legend the reader must map back and forth.
6. **Title with the finding.** Sales fell after the price change is more
   useful than Monthly Sales (see slide-deck-creation).
7. **Check it works without colour.** Colour-only distinctions fail for
   many readers and in print (see color-contrast).

## Boundaries

Charts show patterns and hide detail, which is their purpose and their
risk. Spreadsheet charting is limited compared to dedicated tools for
complex visualisation. A chart cannot make a weak finding strong (see
data-storytelling).