The polar chart is a diagram that is perfect for engineers who might need it for some reasons and for scientists as well. It has a fixed point, which is called the pole.
This fixed point sends out a ray and goes in a stable direction; this is called the polar axis. There is a distance from the pole, and this is either called the radial coordinate or the radius. There is also an angle, which is the angular coordinate, azimuth, or polar angle.
The Polar chart is very useful for things like measuring vibrations in aircraft. It helps calculate and apply any necessary adjustments to the rotor, and it helps in making the data points move as close to zero vibration (center) as possible. The polar chart is also known as the star chart, spider chart, star plot, irregular polygon, web chart, or kiviat diagram.
The polar chart normally graphically shows the size of the gap among 5 to 10 organizational performance areas. It also makes the concentrations of weaknesses and strengths more visible. Furthermore, it clearly displays the important categories of the performance. If it has been properly created, it will also define the full performance in each of the categories.
Layout and Design of Your Data
You'd need to lay out your data. The data should be similar to what is displayed in the picture shown above. It is also important to make sure that the data corresponds with what you would like to address.
You should mark the title, which in this case is the "timely delivery percentages" and make sure that the size of the columns is adjusted with the help of clicking on the (A, B, C, etc.) as the one showing right above the number 1 (marked in red), and right on the straight line, stretch the size of the column.
Then, you should go to the Merge & Center that is found on the Home tab of Microsoft Excel. Click on it, and click on the Merge & Center that shows once you click on the one marked number 2.
After you've completed the previous step, you can now mark the title and select the merged column. You should click on it (it is marked as number 1 in the pic), and then click on the Cell Styles (marked as number 2 in the pic), and choose the color in the one labeled as number 3.
In this case, accent 5 was chosen for the title. You should now mark the title and time. You could do this by marking the columns that have to do with the parts you want to mark. In this case, we have chosen the months using the SHIFT key and the CTRL key while choosing the title area, and we will continue to select the columns that include the title with SHIFT.
Then do the same with the value data and choose a color for it. Make it look like it is in the pic shown below.
Polar Chart Creation
Click on the table (number 1), and then click on INSERT (number 2). Then you would click on the Recommended chart, which is marked as number 3. Furthermore, you should click on all the charts that are marked with the number 4.
Once you see number 4, you should choose the Radar (number 5), and finally choose the kind of chart you would like, which is number 6, and finally choose the one you would like to have, and click on Ok.
Tips: You could just use the one marked in red and labeled as Alt in the picture above to create the polar chart.
You click on the title chart, and type in the title of the chart you have created. That is it. You now have your polar chart ready.
You can download a free polar chart template here.
Further reading: Radar Chart Chart with multiple series Chart with subcategories