.Graph for ExcelEnhancing the Graphics Production Process at the OECDMSIS2014 Dublin Prepared by: Susan CartwrightPresented by: Jonathan Challener

Outline

A. IntroductionB. Overview of three solutions provided by

OECD.Graph– Formatting – Facilitating the translation process – Creation of Statlink files

C. Evidence of impactD. Future developments

OECD.Graph: A solution to 3 problems

OECD.Graph is enhancing the graphics production process at the OECD in three ways:• Automating the formatting of graphs with the

OECD Look & Feel• Facilitating the creation of alternative language

versions of graphs (translating process)• Automating the generation of “StatLink” files

(catalogued Excel files for dissemination).

How does it work?

• OECD.Graph is an Excel macro that users add to their Excel menu

• They then open the Excel file with the graphs they want to work on, and move through the ribbon left to right, making formatting, translating,… choices

1. Formatting graphs with the OECD Look & Feel

General (publication) options:Choice of: Style templates, color palette, page dimensions

Chart/ panel options:Choice of: Size/layout, Colors, Patterns

Open an Excel file with a graph to format..

Choose a style template

Select: “OECD Standard”

Icon changes

Choose a colour palette

Select: “Bichrome”

Icon changes

Choose page dimensions

Select: 21 x 28

Icon is Large Page by default

Choose a size/layout

Icon reflects choice

Select: “1/3 Page (2 graphs in same row)”

Choose a start color

Apply Formatting –> Go

OECD Look & Feel

Formatting a Panel of charts

Select Panel Size & Panel Layout -> Go

OECD Look & Feel

Options

Option: Focus country• Allows users to highlight one or two bars• Below: CZE = first focus; OECD= 2nd focus

Option: Customize

Panel Legends: Development in progressBefore - 4 graphs, 4 legends:

After - 4 graphs, 1 legend:

Separation of macro code and formatting specifications

• Style templates = XML files

XML tags = components of the Excel Chart

XML attribute values = formatting specifications in the

“charte graphique”

<Palette Name="Bichrome (B &amp; W + Blue)"><Picture>PaletteBlue</Picture>...<Color R="79" G="129" B="189">

<Label> Blue accent 1 </Label></Color><Color R="184" G="204" B="228">

<Label> Blue Accent One Lighter 60% </Label></Color><Color R="216" G="216" B="216">

<Label> White Background Darker 15% </Label></Color>

...</Palette>

Excerpt from the “OECD Standard” XML file: “Bichrome palette” tag

2. Translation Facilitator

Extract TextsApply Translation

Extract Texts icon -> Extract all text elements from the graph

“Extracted texts” sheet

Do the actual translation

Apply translation icon -> New graph is created with translated texts

New sheet: Figure 1_French

3. Automating the creation of Statlink files

Statlink

Statlink file: graph + data in particular format

Evidence of impact of OECD.Graph

• The usage of OECD.Graph within the OECD has increased significantly in recent months: from 25 at the beginning of 2013 to over 160 users today.

• The tool is used to format graphs in more and more OECD publications.

Feedback from users“Very useful knowledge. Everyone should use OECD.Graph!”

“This will save me a lot of time and the end result (the graphs) will look a lot nicer.”

“ It's a great tool that should be used across all directorates - people need to know about it!”

“Real value for our organisation”

“Prepare complying graphs more efficiently.”

“I will be using OECD.Graph immediately as a result of this training.”

“Great for integrating harmonised graphs into our publications.”

Development roadmap for 2014

• OECD.Graph will be interfaced with our new “SVG engine” in order to create high quality SGV (scalable vector graphics) output for the web

• Formatting functionality will be extended to tables• Integration with new Authoring Environment: graphs

will become smart content in XML-based documents

Thank you

Susan Cartwright, OECD susan.cartwright@oecd.org