Which chart do you like better?

[Matt Timion]

Which chart do you like better? And why?

The first one shows all MPG values from 0 to above your max value. It is what is currently on your garage screen if you use the gaslog.

Example:

[img]/chart.php?vehicle=327[/img]

The other option zooms in a bit based on your values. It does not display a graph for areas in which you do not have an extry. IOW, if my lowest gas mileage stat is 21.5 MPG, the chart will start at 20MPG.

Example:

[img]/chart3.php?vehicle=327[/img]

---

More examples:

[img]/chart.php?vehicle=328[/img]
[img]/chart3.php?vehicle=328[/img]

[img]/chart.php?vehicle=400[/img]
[img]/chart3.php?vehicle=400[/img]

[img]/chart.php?vehicle=508[/img]
[img]/chart3.php?vehicle=508[/img]

[SVOboy]

No love for me this time?

I like the second option.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

No love for me this time?

I like the second option.

[img]/chart.php?vehicle=360[/img]
[img]/chart3.php?vehicle=360[/img]

[kickflipjr]

^
I like the one on top. With 0 at the bottom.

[Compaq888]

I like the ones with the 0. Also can you make the green bar stand out more?? The red line kinda gets in the way because it's our fill ups. But it's not as important as the green line. So can the green line be twice as fat and be on top of the red, not the bottom of it.

[MetroMPG]

i like the zoom (2nd) ones. it exaggerates what's going on and makes it easier to separate out the different lines.

the more consistent a driver is, the harder it will be to read the graph that starts from 0 (less vertical movement; more line overlap).

the only reason i could see for starting from 0 is if you were going to compare graphs for more than one vehicle side by side. but we're not.

also, the zoom version would let you put in intermediate horiz. reference lines (e.g. every 1 or 5 mpg) so you could eyeball datapoint values more accurately/easily.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

i like the zoom (2nd) ones. it exaggerates what's going on and makes it easier to separate out the different lines.

the more consistent a driver is, the harder it will be to read the graph that starts from 0 (less vertical movement; more line overlap).

the only reason i could see for starting from 0 is if you were going to compare graphs for more than one vehicle side by side. but we're not.

Good insight. I would urge everyone else to please explain WHY you like the chart. Ultimately the decision is mine, but I'd like input.

Of course, I could also provide two options on your garage page. I also don't care to make it too customizable. Too many options is never fun for something this simple.

For Compaq, I need to know if anyone else shares the feeling. Should the average line be on top of the other lines? Should it be a different color than green? What about the EPA line? Is blue okay, or should it be more low-profile (grey, etc.)?

[MetroMPG]

i don't really have a preference on the order you draw the lines (which overlaps which). same with the colours.

it was looking kind of christmas-y before with just the green and the red. not sure what to make of the blue...

[krousdb]

Sorry to make it more difficult, but I always prefer to see the whole picture. The zoom view exaggerates the movement, makes it more dramatic than it really is. People have a tendancy to say "wow, his mileage dropped 50% on that tank" when really it only dropped 5% because they didnt take the time to look at the scale. It's really a pet peeve of mine as they do the same thing with stock charts to exaggerate the movement.

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by krousdb

Sorry to make it more difficult, but I always prefer to see the whole picture. The zoom view exaggerates the movement, makes it more dramatic than it really is. People have a tendancy to say "wow, his mileage dropped 50% on that tank" when really it only dropped 5% because they didnt take the time to look at the scale. It's really a pet peeve of mine as they do the same thing with stock charts to exaggerate the movement.

another excellent point