Chart typePart-to-whole

Stacked column chart

Totals and their composition in one set of columns.

Each column shows a total, split into the parts that make it up. Readers compare totals at a glance and see how the mix changes from one category to the next.

Get it on Adobe Exchange All chart types

Stacked column 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
Group gap
Width of the columns, through the space between them.
2
Rounded ends
Round the top of each stack.
3
Value labels
Show each layer's figure inside its segment.
4
Category labels and axis
Rotation of category names, gridlines, tick marks and weights, as for every column chart.

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

Totals that break down into a few parts: energy mix, revenue by product line, spending by item over the years.

Better avoided

More than four or five layers, or when readers must compare the middle layers precisely: only the bottom layer shares a common baseline.

Layout tips

Put the most important or most stable layer at the bottom.
Use related tints for layers of one family and a contrasting colour for the one you discuss.
If the shares matter more than the totals, switch to the 100% stacked chart.

Data structure