Chart typeDual axis

Combo chart

Columns and lines together, with a second axis.

Combine amounts and rates in one chart: columns for the volume, a line for the rate, each with its own scale on the left and on the right.

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Combo chart, DataInk for Adobe InDesign
Drawn as native InDesign objects: paths, rectangles and live text in your styles.

Plugin options

Options for this chart

  1. 1

    Shown as lines

    How many of the last series are drawn as lines; the others are columns.

  2. 2

    Second axis for the lines

    Give the lines their own scale on the right, or share the left axis.

  3. 3

    Columns

    Rounded ends, group gap and bar gap, as in the column chart.

  4. 4

    Lines

    Markers, marker size, line width and smooth curves.

  5. 5

    Value labels

    Figures on the columns and points.

Also available for every chart

Colours and styles
DataInk object styles, one colour in tints or a swatch group of your document; your own paragraph styles for axis labels, values and legend.
Legend
Below or beside the chart, or as an InDesign table you style like any other.
Numbers
Number format of 14 locales, decimals, prefix and suffix (€, %, kg), compact numbers (12K).
Size
Width and height in your document's unit, or fit a frame you drew beforehand.
Data
Panel grid, large data editor, paste, Excel and CSV import, or a linked InDesign table.
Presets
Save the look, reuse it, and share it with your team as a file.

Editorial guide

When to use it

Typical use

An amount and a rate side by side: revenue and margin, visitors and conversion rate, production and yield.

Better avoided

Two series in the same unit: a second axis then only confuses. Use grouped columns or lines.

Layout tips

  • Name both units clearly: in the series names, the caption or the axis notes.
  • Lines are drawn over the columns, so the trend stays visible.
  • Use contrasting colours for columns and line to tie each to its axis.

Data structure

Sample data

Periods in the first column. The first series are drawn as columns, the last ones as lines (choose how many in the panel).

Paste a table like this one, import it from Excel or CSV, or click in an InDesign table with the same layout.

QuarterRevenue ($M)Gross margin (%)
Q1 20254234.5
Q2 20255838.2
Q3 20257541.0
Q4 20259245.8

Other chart types

Previous chart: Area chartNext chart: Pie chart
Pie chartParts of one total.Doughnut chartA pie with room in the middle for a key figure.Radial bar chartConcentric rings for progress and scores.TreemapRectangles sized by value, filling the whole frame.Radar chartProfiles across several criteria.Column chartCompare values across categories or periods with vertical bars.

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