Pie Charts in PPTX Template

Learn how to create and populate pie charts in your PowerPoint templates to show proportions and percentages.

Overview

Pie charts display data as slices of a circle, making them ideal for showing proportions, percentages, and parts of a whole. Each slice represents a category and its relative size.

Data Structure

Pie charts require:

  • Categories: Labels for each slice
  • Values: Numerical data representing the size of each slice

Example Data

{
  "chart_title": "Market Share",
  "data": [
    {
      "product": "Product A",
      "value": 35
    },
    {
      "product": "Product B",
      "value": 25
    },
    {
      "product": "Product C",
      "value": 20
    },
    {
      "product": "Product D",
      "value": 20
    }
  ]
}

Tabular representation (as it appears in Excel):

Product Value
Product A 35
Product B 25
Product C 20
Product D 20

Creating a Pie Chart Template

  1. Insert Chart: In PowerPoint, go to Insert > Chart > Pie Chart
  2. Choose Pie Chart Type: Select a pie chart variant (pie, donut, etc.)
  3. Set Up Structure: Create the chart with sample data matching your expected structure If you want to add multiple series to the chart you don't need to create this structure in PowerPoint - just make sure the data in JSON, CSV or Excel is structured accordingly.
  4. Apply Formatting: Style the chart as desired (colors, labels, percentages)
  5. Add Placeholders: Use placeholders in chart titles if needed
  6. LINK DATA TO THE CHART: Right click on the dummy chart and click "View Alt Text" to edit the alt-text of the chart. Set the Description field to:
  • For JSON data: {{type=chart data=json.data}} (assuming the JSON structure as in the example above)
  • For Excel data: {{type=chart data=xlsx.Sheet1!Table1}} (assuming the Excel table is named "Table1" in Sheet1)

Data Format

Simple Pie Chart

For a standard pie chart:

{
  "data": [
    {
      "product": "Product A",
      "value": 30
    },
    {
      "product": "Product B",
      "value": 25
    }
  ]
}

Donut Chart

Donut charts work with the same data structure but display as a ring instead of a full circle.

Best Practices

1. Number of Categories

  • Limit to 5-7 categories for readability
  • Combine small categories into "Other" if needed
  • Too many slices make the chart hard to read

2. Data Values

  • Ensure values are positive numbers
  • Values represent proportions (they don't need to sum to 100)
  • Percentages are calculated automatically

3. Color Coding

  • Use distinct colors for each slice
  • Consider using a color scheme that matches your brand
  • Ensure colors are accessible (good contrast)

4. Labels and Percentages

  • Show category labels
  • Display percentages for clarity
  • Consider showing both values and percentages

5. Chart Title

  • Use descriptive chart titles
  • Consider using placeholders for dynamic titles: {{region}} Market Share

Common Use Cases

Market Share

Show the distribution of market share across competitors or products.

Budget Allocation

Display how a budget is allocated across different categories.

Survey Results

Show distribution of survey responses or ratings.

Resource Distribution

Display how resources are distributed across departments or projects.

Formatting Tips

Slice Colors

  • Use distinct colors for each slice
  • Consider using a gradient or color scheme
  • Highlight important slices with brighter colors

Labels

  • Position labels for readability
  • Show category names clearly
  • Display percentages or values as needed

Exploded Slices

  • Consider "exploding" (separating) important slices
  • Use this sparingly for emphasis
  • Too many exploded slices can be distracting

Legend

  • Use a legend if space allows
  • Position legend for best readability
  • Consider removing legend if labels are on slices

Troubleshooting

Slices Not Displaying

  • Check Data Format: Ensure values are numbers, not strings
  • Verify Structure: Ensure categories and values arrays match
  • Check Values: Ensure all values are positive numbers

Incorrect Proportions

  • Data Type: Verify numerical values are actual numbers
  • Data Order: Verify data order matches expected structure
  • Zero Values: Check for zero or negative values

Formatting Issues

  • Chart formatting from template is preserved
  • Slice colors and labels may need adjustment
  • Test with sample data to verify appearance

Limitations

Too Many Categories

  • Pie charts work best with 5-7 categories
  • Consider using a bar chart for many categories
  • Combine small categories into "Other"

Similar Values

  • When values are very similar, slices look similar in size
  • Consider using a different chart type if distinction is important
  • Use data labels to show exact values

For more information, see Charts Overview or Basic Placeholders.

Take a look at an example use case of creating sales report with charts and tables in PowerPoint from Excel data: Sales report with charts and tables in PowerPoint from Excel data. You will find sample Excel and PowerPoint files in the article.