Use the Edit Pie Chart window
Updated 28 Aug 2023
The Edit Pie Chart window lets you define a pie chart to include in your question.
Students cannot interact with pie charts that you create in the Custom Question Builder.
To access the Edit Pie Chart window, click Pie Chart in the left menu.
The Pie Chart option is not available in econ, finance, and operations management courses.
See Use a pie chart in a math question for an example of creating a pie chart.
The Edit Pie Chart window has three tabbed pages where you can define your pie chart. These tabs are described in the following sections.
Pie tab
Size - Select Small, Medium, or Large to specify the size of your pie chart. The display on the right shows the size you have chosen.
Pie Title - If you want a title for your pie chart, enter it here. If your title is long, preview the question to make sure the title shows in full. You can right-click and choose Editing Options to insert algorithmic values or you can type in algorithmic values directly.
Outline Color - Click the color code box to display the color chart, and then select the color for the outline of your pie chart and its wedges by clicking a color or by entering a color code in the box. The outline color shows on the circumference of the pie chart, as well as the radii for each wedge of the chart.
Authoring Notes - Enter any information you might need if you edit the pie chart later.
Data tab
For each wedge you want to create, click Add to display the wedge in your pie chart. Then select a wedge in the box and edit its properties using the options below. Select a wedge and click Remove to delete the wedge.
Color - Click the color code box to display the color chart, and then select the color for your wedge by clicking a color or by entering a color code in the box.
Label - Enter a label for the wedge in the box. You can right-click on the box to enter predefined algorithmic values or you can type in the values directly. You can also create new algorithmic values.
Value - Enter a numeric value (not a percentage) for the wedge using either positive integers or decimals. Do not use commas in large numbers; you can set the display to use commas on the Legend tab. You can right-click the box and choose Editing Options to enter algorithmic values or functions or you can type in the values and functions directly.
Legend tab
Label Spacing - Move the slider to the left to decrease the line spacing between the items in the legend or to the right to increase spacing. This slider also adjusts the pie chart size to minimize crowding in the question layout area. If you have very long legends, preview the question to make sure it displays correctly.
Legend Spacing - Move the slider to the left to decrease the space between the pie and the legend or to the right to increase the space.
Show Legend - Clear this option to make your legend invisible.
Legend Position - Select one of the options to specify where your legend displays in relation to your pie chart.
Label Format - Select one of these options to specify how wedge values display:
- Percent - Each wedge’s value shows as a percentage of the total amount. You set the number of decimal places in the Format section.
- Decimal - Each wedge’s value shows as the decimal equivalent of its percentage of the total amount. You set the number of decimal places in the Format section.
- Fraction - Each wedge’s value shows as a reduced fraction that is equivalent to its percentage of the total amount.
- Data Values - The value you enter for each wedge on the Data tab displays with the number of decimal places you specify in the Format section.
- Label only - Only the labels for the wedges display; the values are hidden.
Number of decimal places - Enter the number of decimal places you want to display. This setting affects the Percent, Decimal, Fraction, and Data Value label formats.
Show trailing zeros - Clear this option to remove trailing zeros from values in your labels.
Show commas between periods - Select this option to display commas in large numbers.
When you finish formatting your pie chart, click Save to add it to your question.