How to Create a Pie or Donut Chart

Show part-to-whole relationships using slices.

How to create a Pie or Donut Chart in the Advanced Chart Builder

1

Start with the right data

Ensure your dataset includes:

• At least one categorical field (e.g., department, grade level, course name)

• One or more numeric or metric fields (e.g., enrollment count, average GPA)

2

Quick Chart or Advanced Chart Builder

Pie & Donut charts can be built quickly using the Quick Chart option (click on the Pie or Donut Chart Quick Chart icon at the top of the data view).

For additional customization and control, open the Advanced Chart Builder from a thread or Pin to launch the builder.

3

Open the Chart tab

• Select the type of Pie or Donut Chart.

• Review the live preview of your chart.

4

Go to the Setup tab

• Confirm your Category from the dropdown (e.g., department, program name, grade level)

• Add one or more Series (e.g., enrollment count, average GPA)

• Choose the appropriate aggregation (e.g., Sum, Average)

5

Apply Data Filters

Filter your data to reduce clutter, increase readability, and focus the chart on the story.

6

Customize the Chart (Optional)

Use the Customize tab to adjust the look of your chart:

• Add axis titles and chart labels

• Adjust colors, axis lines, labels, and tooltips

7

Save the Chart

Click Save when you’re ready to apply your changes, or Cancel to discard the changes.

Pie & Donut Chart Use Cases

Need some inspiration? Consider these examples where a Pie or Donut Chart may work well.

• Visualize funding source or expense source breakdown.

• Show student distribution across program, department, or school.

Pie & Donut Chart Tips and Best Practices

• Avoid Pie & Donut Charts if values don’t add up to 100%.

• Limit categories to 3-5 to maintain readability.