need help with graphing some data

[minus0]

Folks: This is not a post asking for help with a problem but more like getting the ideas for the best way of plotting my graph.

I am trying to plot a graph to see where an associate is spending his/her most time - these include different activities on a day, will try to explain with an example

Joe works on task1, task2, task3, task4 on 11/30/09 and on task1, task2, task5, task6 on 12/01 so on so forth, and for the week of 11/30 it would work out to 20 hours on task1, 10 hours on task2, 2 hours on task3 and so on.

I want to be able to plot this data over a period of time to get a gauge on where most of the time is being spent. Where i am getting lost is, the best way to plot this for multiple associates, that too on a weekly basis.

Appreciate any ideas you folks can give me.

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

What application is your data & chart in?

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[minus0]

sorry, i thought i mentioned it. I want to use Excel and the data is in Excel as well.

 

[SkipVought]

First you have to decide what data you want to see on the chart.

If multiple employees, how would that work?

Have you played with the Chart Wizard?

Have you set up some test data to plot?

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[minus0]

got the test data and yes i did try my luck with the chart wizard but when I saw its not anywhere close to what I think it should be, reached out for help.
One idea i had was go with a pivot table/chart with the associates on y-axis, weeks on x-axis and the tasks and sum of hours per week as data points but not sure if this is the best way of doing it.

 

[SkipVought]

Please post some of your representative test data.

There are 2 broad aspects to charting:

1. determining how you want to tell your story (what your chart will look like)

2. figuring out how to make the chart do what you want.

Of course, you must have adequate data to plot.

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[minus0]

sorry, got caught up with stuff so couldnt get back any sooner. here is the link for the test data

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AtDaqvCoIjcfdGp5SHotY01mcUdMOXk0NXFSVVpCZkE&hl=en

would that do or do i actually attach the file here?

 

[SkipVought]

Again, what story do you need to tell or what question do you need to answer with this chart?

One possibility might be a PivotTable.

Here's the basic structure of the PT...
[tt]
Task Task1 Task2 Task3.....
Associate StartDate
bob sum of hours
emma
john
phyllis
[/tt]
Then with the PT selected, click the Chart Wizard Icon and you'll get a PivotChart.

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[minus0]

thanks Skip. I will try the Pivot chart and see how it goes.