Stiff Diagram

Excel does not have a Stiff Diagram chart option in the charts. But, we can create a Stiff Diagram in Excel by using a scatter chart and a freeform diagram in the shapes tool. Tweaking a bit of the coloring of the chart will give us the perfect Stiff Diagram. Here's how.

Creating a stiff diagram

These are a few basic steps on how to create Stiff Diagram in Excel.

Step 1: Enter the values of cations and anions. Use the anion values in the negative as shown below.

stiff anions and cations

Step 2: Select 1, 3, and 5 (press Ctrl key, so select cells individually) and copy (ctrl+c).

stiff select data

Step 3: Right click on empty cell -> Paste special -> Transpose

stiff transpose

Step 4: Select the data in this table (2, 3, 4)

stiff select transposed data

How to plot a stiff graph?

Step 5: Now go to Insert -> Charts -> Insert Scatter

stiff insert scatter

Step 6: Now assign the data labels according to the values in the first table. Select the blue dots by clicking -> right clicking -> format data labels.

stiff format data labels

Step 7: Select a value from the cells and then provide the range of cation names.

stiff provide cations range

Step 8: Format Data Labels -> Size and Properties -> Text Direction -> Rotate 90 degree

stiff rotate 90 percent degree

Step 9: Select free form diagram from Insert -> Shapes -> Freeform. Click on the dots to connect them into the shape below.

stiff insert shapes freeform

Step 10: Remove the gridlines. Copy the chart and paste it as an image. Then Format -> Rotate 90 degree.

stiff diagram ready

To delete the point colors, right click on them and select color as white.

You can also add a horizontal axis to the chart by right-clicking -> axes -> Primary horizontal axis.

Your Stiff Diagram is ready to use.