Chapter 5. Gallery of Cycle and Radial Charts
Cycle and radial charts are grouped here because they are both circular charts.
Cycle charts illustrate a process that is repetitive; after the final step, you begin again with the first step. This might represent a continuous-improvement process or a monthly accounting cycle.
Radial charts illustrate the relationship of many subentities to a central entity. The shapes are arranged as spokes around a central hub.
Cycle Charts
Cycle charts are used to illustrate a process that repeats. This type of chart is great for continuous-improvement charts and other cyclical events.
Eight cycle charts and one chart type are called Basic Pie. Most of these styles are designed for only Level 1 text, although Cycle Matrix can handle Level 2 text by adding new shapes outside the circle.
Most of the cycle charts offer arrows indicating a logical flow around the graphic. Nondirectional Cycle offers no arrows, and Multidirectional Cycle is the only style to offer bidirectional arrows.
Text Cycle
The Text Cycle layout demonstrates the flow of a repetitive process. It is best for Level 1 text. In this style, the arrows are actually more prominent than the words. It works well with short Level 1 text entries, as shown in Figure 5.1.
Figure 5.1 The arrows are more prominent than the text in the Text Cycle chart. Theme: Equity, Style: Sunset Scene, Color: Colorful – Accent Colors.
Basic Cycle
The Basic Cycle layout style emphasizes the Level 1 text. Bold but small arrows represent the flow around the diagram. This style does not work well with Level 2 text; any Level 2 text is forced into the main circle and makes all the text too small. Figure 5.2 shows a Basic Cycle layout with Level 1 text.
Figure 5.2 Basic Cycle layouts emphasize the Level 1 text. Theme: Flow, Style: Cartoon, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 2 to 3.
Continuous Cycle
One thing annoys me about most cycle charts. The reader is never really sure where to begin reading the process chart. Which step is supposed to be the first step? The layout for Continuous Cycle addresses this quandary in an interesting way. A large circular arrow starts with the shape located at 12 o’clock and continues clockwise around the circle.
This cycle chart is ideal for only Level 1 text.
Figure 5.3 shows a Continuous Cycle chart. After the Colored Fill – Accent 2 style was applied to the entire graphic, the arrow was changed to Accent 3 to add contrast. To format just the arrow, follow these steps:
- Click on the SmartArt graphic.
- Click on the arrow itself. A thin bounding box surrounds almost the entire shape.
- From the Format tab, choose Shape Fill and then Accent 3.
Figure 5.3 The single arrow in the Continuous Cycle layout leaves no question as to which step is the first step in the process. Theme: Median, Style: Intense Effect, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 3.
Cycle Matrix
The Cycle Matrix layout is the only cycle chart that provides extra shapes to handle Level 2 text. The downside, though, is that this style supports only four blocks of Level 1 text. If your process is shorter or longer than four steps, this layout is not ideal.
In Figure 5.4, the diagram is shown with only Level 1 text. In Figure 5.5, a few steps of Level 2 text are added to each block.
Figure 5.4 Cycle Matrix can handle only four steps in a process. Theme: Foundry, Style: Inset, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 5 to 6.
Figure 5.5 When you add Level 2 text to the chart, Office adds extra shapes outside the circle to accommodate the text. Theme: Foundry, Style: Inset, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 5 to 6.
When you look at Figure 5.5, it is obvious that the first shape is in the upper-left corner of the diagram. This is unlike all the other layouts, where the first shape appears at 12 o’clock in the diagram.
Block Cycle
The Block Cycle layout places emphasis on Level 1 text. The arrows joining each shape are thin and less prominent.
The diagram is best with only Level 1 text. If you add minimal Level 2 text, it is shown in a slightly smaller font in the same box as the Level 1 text.
The color styles have one strange behavior with this layout. In Figure 5.6, the color style is Colorful Range – Accent Colors 5 to 6, and the arrow color matches the color of the preceding shape. However, if you use Colorful – Accent Colors, the arrow colors match the shape that follows the arrow.
Figure 5.6 The Level 1 boxes are emphasized over the arrows in Block Cycle. Theme: Opulent, Style: Polished, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 5 to 6.
Nondirectional Cycle
No arrows appear in the Nondirectional Cycle layout. The Level 1 shapes are arranged in a circle. A continuous-improvement process is shown in Figure 5.7.
Figure 5.7 Nondirectional Cycle uses shapes arranged equally around the perimeter of a circle. Theme: Oriel, Style: Brick Scene, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 1.
Although most readers will understand that this is a continuous process, the lack of arrows makes this layout suitable for describing anything that can be arranged in a circle.
For example, Figure 5.8 shows a clock. Because the first Level 1 item appears at 12 o’clock on the chart, the text pane for Figure 5.8 starts with 12 and then proceeds from 1 to 11.
Figure 5.8 This diagram uses Cycle Chart 6 to illustrate a clock. Theme: Oriel, Style: Moderate Effect, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 3.
Figure 5.9 shows a compass rose, with north, east, south, and west. An additional shape, an arrow, is overlaid on the chart. The arrow was added from the Insert tab, using the Shapes gallery.
Figure 5.9 Nondirectional Cycle with four text items creates a compass rose. Theme: Oriel, Style: Brick Scene, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 1.
Figure 5.10 shows a bit of choreography for a basketball routine. This figure uses custom colors applied through the SmartArt Tools, Format tab, using the Shape Fill drop-down. New arrows are added using the Insert ribbon.
Figure 5.10 Additional arrows are overlaid on the chart to show the movement of a basketball in the magic circle routine. Theme: Oriel, Style: Moderate Effect, Color: Custom colors.
Multidirectional Cycle
The Cycle chart created with Multidirectional Cycle is like the other cycle charts, except this chart has arrows that point in both directions.
This chart might be used to illustrate a continuous process in which the information can flow both ways from step to step. The style is best for items with Level 1 text only. Any Level 2 text is forced into the main boxes.
Figure 5.11 shows a chart created with Multidirectional Cycle.
Figure 5.11 The bidirectional arrows make this layout unique. Theme: Solstice, Style: Cartoon, Color: Transparent Gradient Range – Accent 2.
Segmented Cycle
The Segmented Cycle layout is similar to a pie chart with equal pie slices. A series of arced arrows surround the outer edge of each pie slice. This layout indicates that the pieces of the process are an interconnected piece of the whole. This layout is best for diagrams with only Level 1 text.
Figure 5.12 shows a Segmented Cycle chart with five steps.
Figure 5.12 Each step in this process is part of the whole. Theme: Verve, Style: Intense Effect, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 3 to 4.
The limit is seven bullets of Level 1 text. Any items beyond 7 steps are not shown in the diagram. Figure 5.13 shows a process with 12 steps; only the first 7 are shown in the diagram.
Figure 5.13 Anything beyond seven steps is not shown in this diagram. Theme: Verve, Style: Bird’s Eye Scene, Color: Colorful – Accent Colors.
On the other end of the spectrum, a Segmented Cycle chart with only one slice shows a complete circle with an arrow. If the pointy-haired boss were allowed to set the continuous improvement process, he might come up with Figure 5.14.
Figure 5.14 Segmental Cycle includes only a single bullet of Level 1 text. Theme: Verve, Style: Powder, Color: Accent 6-1.
Basic Pie Chart
Microsoft includes the Basic Pie layout in both the cycle and relationship galleries. This layout is similar to Segmented Cycle. From one to seven bullets of Level 1 text are arranged in a pie chart layout. The first pie slice is slightly exploded from the pie.
This style is good for showing how the pieces are a part of the whole organization. It is also ideal for diagrams with only Level 1 text.
Figure 5.15 shows a Basic Pie diagram.
Figure 5.15 This Basic Pie diagram shows how the seven members of the G-7 are part of the whole organization. Theme: Technic, Style: Inset, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 2.
Radial Charts
The radial charts are used to show the relationship of several branches to a central organization.
Of the six radial charts, most allow for a single bullet of Level 1 text with several Level 2 items surrounding the central hub.
The one exception is Radial List, which places an image in the center and then allows for Level 1 and Level 2 text surrounding the center.
Basic Radial Chart
The Basic Radial layout includes a single large circle in the center of the image, surrounded by multiple smaller circles. Text for the single hub circle comes from the first Level 1 text. The Level 2 text entries below the first Level 1 item are used to populate the satellite circles around the central hub.
Figure 5.16 shows a Basic Radial chart.
Figure 5.16 Six bullets of Level 2 surround a single Level 1 item. Theme: Trek, Style: Inset, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 2.
In this layout, you might want to leave the Level 1 text blank and instead fill the center shape with an image. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on the center image.
- On the SmartArt Tools, Format tab, choose the Shape Fill drop-down.
- Click on Picture.
- Browse to and select a picture. Click on Insert.
- The Picture Tools Format tab is added to the ribbon. If desired, adjust brightness and contrast or recolor the image.
Figure 5.17 shows a Basic Radial chart with no text at each level. Four blank Level 2 bullets provide circles. Each circle features a different image as the Shape Fill.
Figure 5.17 Images replace text in this diagram. Theme: Trek, Style: Simple Fill, Color: Colored Fill – Accent 2.
Radial List Chart
The Radial List chart features an image placeholder as the center hub. Level 1 items appear as circles to the right of the hub. If you have Level 2 text, it appears as bullet points outside each circle.
Figure 5.18 shows a Radial List chart with four Level 1 bullets.
Figure 5.18 Radial List provides a picture and Level 1 circles arranged along the right side of the hub. Theme: Urban, Style: Metallic Scene, Color: Colorful – Accent Colors.
Although this image always appears with the Level 2 circles to the right of the hub, you can reverse this using the Right-to-Left icon in the Create Graphic group of the Smart Art Tools Design tab.
Level 2 text is shown outside the Level 1 circles. This is the only radial chart that suitably handles Level 2 text.
Figure 5.19 shows a Radial List chart with Level 2 text. The chart has been reversed to a right-to-left orientation to move the smaller circles to the left.
Figure 5.19 Radial List is the only radial chart to accommodate subtext for the satellite shapes. Theme: Urban, Style: Moderate Effect, Color: Colorful – Accent Colors.
Radial Venn Chart
The Radial Venn layout includes a single large circle in the center of the image. The Level 2 circles surround and overlap the hub image. Text for the single hub circle comes from the first Level 1 text. The Level 2 text entries below the first Level 1 item are used to populate the satellite circles around the central hub.
Figure 5.20 shows a Radial Venn chart.
Figure 5.20 Five bullets of Level 2 text surround a single Level 1 item. Theme: Verve, Style: Metallic Scene, Color: Colorful – Accent Colors.
Converging Radial Chart
The Converging Radial chart includes one large circle for the first Level 1 text item. Level 2 text items are shown as rounded rectangles surrounding the top half of a semicircle. Each Level 2 box has an arrow pointing to the hub, indicating that the text in these shapes contributes to the central core idea.
Figure 5.21 has a single entry of Level 1 text. Level 2 text is shown as the headline in each rounded rectangle. Level 3 text is included to illustrate subconcepts.
Figure 5.21 The Level 2 items contribute to the central core idea. Theme: Apex, Style: White Outline, Color: Colored Outline – Accent 3.
Diverging Radial Chart
In Diverging Radial diagrams, the emphasis is on the surrounding Level 2 circles. One central Level 1 text item is represented by a circle in the center. Arrows point from the Level 1 circle out to the various Level 2 shapes.
Figure 5.22 shows a Diverging Radial diagram.
Figure 5.22 In Diverging Radial, the central shape supports the Level 2 shapes. Theme: Civic, Style: Intense Effect, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 2 to 3.
Radial Cycle
The Radial Cycle layout places equal emphasis on the shape in the center of the diagram and on the circles in the outer ring. Radial Cycle handles a single item of Level 1 text. The Level 2 bullet points are in the circles on the outer ring.
Figure 5.23 shows a Radial Cycle diagram.
Figure 5.23 In Radial Cycle, Level 2 shapes appear in an outer ring around a central hub. Theme: Concourse, Style: Polished, Color: Colorful Range – Accent Colors 2 to 3.
Next Steps
The galleries in Chapter 6, “Gallery of Relationship Charts,” illustrate the various relationship layouts available.