LibreOffice Calc · Charts and visualization · Intermediate
Use bubble, net or stock charts for appropriate data
A worked Calc example to use bubble, net or stock charts for appropriate data, with source checks, changed inputs and recovery.
Documentation-qualified for Calc 26.2; native workflow and persistence checks pending · Editorial standards
Choose a chart by the structure of the observations, not its novelty. Bubble charts encode three numeric variables; net charts compare profiles on a common scale; stock charts encode ordered open/low/high/close values. This walkthrough builds a small checkable example of each so you can reject an inappropriate encoding.
Scope and workbook setup
Use LibreOffice Calc 26.2 desktop with English standard menus on Windows/Linux. The procedures use versioned Help; native execution and save/reopen checks remain pending. Create three sheets in a disposable ODS file. Keep each source table visible beside its chart. The examples are synthetic and require no market feed or external account.
Bubble: position plus a third magnitude
On Bubble, enter A1:D4:
| Site | Hours | Output | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2 | 20 | 4 |
| B | 4 | 30 | 9 |
| C | 6 | 25 | 16 |
Select the table and choose Insert > Chart, then Bubble. In Data Series, retain one series and assign X-Values to B2:B4, Y-Values to C2:C4 and Bubble Sizes to D2:D4. Use A2:A4 as data labels where offered, not as numeric X coordinates. Title the axes Hours and Output and explain that bubble size represents Jobs. Finish the wizard.
Check that B is at (4, 30), C is at (6, 25), and C has the greatest size. Do not infer a precise radius ratio from the values; the Help establishes relative size, not a user-selected radius-versus-area contract here. Change D3 from 9 to 25: B should become largest without moving from (4, 30). Restore 9. If its position changes, the size and coordinate roles are incorrectly assigned.
Net: comparable dimensions on a common scale
On Profiles, enter A1:C5:
| Criterion (0–5) | Plan A | Plan B |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4 | 3 |
| Reliability | 3 | 5 |
| Ease | 5 | 2 |
| Support | 2 | 4 |
Select A1:C5 and choose Insert > Chart > Net > Points and Lines. Use series in columns, first-row series labels and first-column categories. Leave stacking off: these are competing profiles, not additive components. The chart should have four spokes and two profiles. Both plans sum to 14, yet their trade-offs differ; a polygon’s area is not a reliable score.
Use the same 0–5 scoring rubric for every criterion. Combining dollars, seconds and ratings on one common net scale would be misleading. Reordering the criteria changes the polygon shape without changing the underlying scores, another reason not to rank by area. Change Plan A Support from 2 to 4 and confirm only that profile’s Support point moves outward. Restore 2.
Stock: preserve the value roles
On Prices, enter A1:E4:
| Session | Open | Low | High | Close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 22 |
| Day 2 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 20 |
| Day 3 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 24 |
Select A1:E4 and choose Insert > Chart > Stock, Type 2. Use series in columns and labels in the first row/column. In Data Series, verify Open Values B2:B4, Low Values C2:C4, High Values D2:D4 and Close Values E2:E4. Do not alphabetize those columns: order and assigned roles matter.
Day 1’s wick should run 18–24 with the body spanning 20–22; Day 2 falls from 22 to 20. Every row must satisfy Low ≤ Open/Close ≤ High. Change Day 3 Close from 24 to 21: its body shrinks while the 20–25 wick remains. Restore 24. Types 3 and 4 add volume and a second scale, but this fixture intentionally uses Type 2 without volume.
Keep or replace the chart
Save, reopen and repeat the changed-value checks one chart at a time, restoring each value afterward. If a chart cannot communicate its units without a long explanation, prefer a simple labeled table or ordinary column chart. Repair bad range bindings through the chart’s Data Ranges dialog rather than changing correct source data to fit a misleading picture. Retain the ODS master; CSV can preserve a source table but not these charts or multiple sheets.
Official references
Sources were captured on 20 October 2026 and reviewed from retained snapshots. All outcomes above are expected checks, not a claim of native execution.