Treemap and sunburst in Excel - Real Business Scenario

Scenario Mode

👤 Your Role: You are a sales analyst at a retail company.

📋 Request: Your manager wants a visual report to understand sales distribution by product category and subcategory.

📊 Data: You have sales data with columns: Region, Category, Subcategory, and Sales Amount.

🎯 Deliverable: Create a Treemap and a Sunburst chart in Excel to show sales by Category and Subcategory.

Sample Data

Region	Category	Subcategory	Sales Amount
North	Electronics	Phones	1200
North	Electronics	Computers	1500
South	Furniture	Chairs	800
South	Furniture	Tables	700
East	Clothing	Men	900
East	Clothing	Women	1100
West	Electronics	Phones	1300
West	Furniture	Chairs	600
North	Clothing	Men	700
South	Electronics	Computers	900

1

Step 1: Organize your data by creating a summary table that shows total sales for each Category and Subcategory.

Use a PivotTable: Rows = Category, then Subcategory; Values = Sum of Sales Amount.

Expected Result

PivotTable showing total sales per Category and Subcategory, e.g., Electronics > Phones = 2500.

2

Step 2: Select the summary table created by the PivotTable.

Click inside the PivotTable and select the entire table with categories, subcategories, and sales sums.

Expected Result

The summary data is selected for chart creation.

3

Step 3: Insert a Treemap chart to visualize sales distribution.

Go to Insert tab > Hierarchy Charts > Treemap.

Expected Result

A Treemap chart appears showing sales by Category and Subcategory with size representing sales amount.

4

Step 4: Insert a Sunburst chart to visualize the same data differently.

With the summary table selected, go to Insert tab > Hierarchy Charts > Sunburst.

Expected Result

A Sunburst chart appears showing sales by Category and Subcategory in concentric rings.

5

Step 5: Add chart titles and labels for clarity.

Click on each chart title and type: 'Sales Treemap by Category' and 'Sales Sunburst by Category'.

Expected Result

Charts have clear titles explaining what they show.

Final Result

Large block

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Medium block

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Medium block

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Medium block

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Small block

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Small block

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Medium block

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Small block

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Small block

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Center: Electronics

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Ring 1: Phones, Computers

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Next ring: Furniture

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Ring 1: Chairs, Tables

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Outer ring: Clothing

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Ring 1: Men, Women

✓Electronics category has the highest total sales, especially Phones and Computers.

✓Furniture sales are moderate, with Chairs selling slightly more than Tables.

✓Clothing sales are balanced between Men and Women subcategories.

✓Treemap and Sunburst charts help quickly see which categories and subcategories contribute most to sales.

Bonus Challenge

Create a dynamic dashboard where selecting a Region filters the Treemap and Sunburst charts to show sales only for that Region.

Show Hint

Use Slicers connected to the PivotTable and charts to filter data interactively.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a treemap or sunburst chart in Excel?

easy

A. To show parts of a whole with nested groups

B. To create a simple line graph

C. To calculate sums automatically

D. To sort data alphabetically

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand chart types

   Treemap and sunburst charts visualize hierarchical data by showing parts of a whole with nested groups.

2. Step 2: Compare with other chart types

   Line graphs show trends over time, sums are calculated by formulas, and sorting is a data operation, not chart purpose.

3. Final Answer:

   To show parts of a whole with nested groups -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Treemap/sunburst = parts of whole [OK]

Hint: Remember: treemap shows nested parts visually [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing treemap with line or bar charts
• Thinking treemap calculates data
• Assuming treemap sorts data

2. Which Excel menu path do you use to insert a treemap or sunburst chart?

easy

A. Formulas > Function Library > Math & Trig

B. Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart

C. Data > Sort & Filter > Filter

D. Review > Comments > New Comment

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate chart insertion

   Treemap and sunburst charts are found under Insert tab, then Charts group, specifically Hierarchy Chart.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated menus

   Data menu is for sorting/filtering, Formulas for functions, Review for comments, none for charts.

3. Final Answer:

   Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Insert > Charts > Hierarchy = correct menu [OK]

Hint: Charts are always under Insert tab in Excel [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Looking under Data or Formulas tabs
• Confusing chart types location
• Not finding Hierarchy Chart group

3. Given this data in Excel:

Category | Subcategory | Sales
Fruit    | Apple       | 100
Fruit    | Banana      | 150
Veggie   | Carrot      | 80
Veggie   | Broccoli    | 120

If you create a sunburst chart from this data, what will the inner ring represent?

medium

A. The sales for only the first row

B. Individual sales numbers for each Subcategory

C. The sum of all sales combined

D. The total sales for each Category (Fruit, Veggie)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand sunburst chart rings

   The inner ring shows top-level groups (Categories), outer rings show subgroups (Subcategories).

2. Step 2: Apply to given data

   Categories are Fruit and Veggie, so inner ring slices represent total sales per Category.

3. Final Answer:

   The total sales for each Category (Fruit, Veggie) -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Sunburst inner ring = top-level groups [OK]

Hint: Inner ring = main groups, outer rings = subgroups [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking inner ring shows individual sales
• Confusing total sum with category totals
• Assuming only first row is shown

4. You tried to create a treemap chart but Excel shows an error. Which of these is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You used a formula instead of typing numbers

B. You selected the Insert tab instead of the Data tab

C. Your data has missing or blank cells in the hierarchy columns

D. You applied a filter to the data before inserting the chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data requirements for treemap

   Treemap requires complete hierarchy data without blanks in category columns.

2. Step 2: Analyze error causes

   Missing or blank cells break the hierarchy, causing Excel to error. Other options don't cause chart errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Your data has missing or blank cells in the hierarchy columns -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Complete hierarchy data needed [OK]

Hint: No blanks allowed in hierarchy columns for treemap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Insert tab is wrong
• Believing formulas cause chart errors
• Assuming filters block chart creation

5. You have sales data for regions and products:

Region | Product | Sales
North  | A       | 200
North  | B       | 300
South  | A       | 150
South  | B       | 350

You want to create a treemap chart that shows sales by region and product. Which steps should you follow to prepare your data and insert the chart correctly?

hard

A. Arrange data with Region and Product columns, no blanks; select all data; go to Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap

B. Sort data by Sales descending; select only Sales column; Insert > Charts > Pie Chart

C. Create a pivot table first; then insert a line chart from pivot data

D. Filter data by Region; select filtered data; Insert > Charts > Bar Chart

Solution

1. Step 1: Prepare data with complete hierarchy

   Ensure Region and Product columns have no blanks and all sales data is included.

2. Step 2: Insert treemap chart

   Select all data, then use Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap to visualize sales by region and product.

3. Final Answer:

   Arrange data with Region and Product columns, no blanks; select all data; go to Insert > Charts > Hierarchy Chart > Treemap -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Complete data + Insert > Hierarchy > Treemap = correct [OK]

Hint: Select full hierarchy data before inserting treemap [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting only sales column
• Using wrong chart type like pie or line
• Filtering data before chart insertion