Tutorial:Insert tables, graphs and maps

Image tools

Three types of visualisations can be used for charts and tables in Statistics Explained. One single article can include both types.

Eurostat excel add-in: create tables and graphs in PNG format in line with Eurostat's style guide

Download from EC Store by entering "Eurostat" in the search bar:

Downloadable version of the Eurostat layout add-in 32 bit (for external contractors only; please send the zip file to your contractor via WeTransfer. Eurostat staff should install via the EC-Store)
Downloadable version of the Eurostat layout add-in 64 bit (for external contractors only; please send the zip file to your contractor via WeTransfer. Eurostat staff should install via the EC-Store)

For instructions on creating tables and graphs:

Vistool: create interactive graphs in line with Eurostat's style guide

The Vistool allows all Eurostat staff to create interactive visualisations for their Statistics Explained articles. The data can be input as a link to the database or as an Excel file. See the Vistool user guide for instructions on creating charts.

IMAGE - interactive map generator for maps

Eurostat maps are produced with the IMAGE tool.
Please note that all maps should be sent to the GISCO team for opinion/approval before inserting into the Statistics Explained article, using the following Teams group: GRP-ESTAT GISCO MAP CHECKING

See the Layout rules and instructions for maps. Please not that if units create ad hoc interactive maps for their articles that are not done using the standard IMAGE tool, the SE team needs to be involved at an earlier stage, at least 3 weeks in advance, so we can check that the guidelines in our tutorials have been respected and how the embedding could work.

Preparing the visualisations

create tables and graphs with Excel add-in or Vistool
graphs, tables and maps should include the source dataset code and Eurostat logo; maps should also include the graphical element ribbon and copyright notice
for accessibility reasons, ensure that a bookmark including a hyperlink leading to the custom dataset (not the default dataset) is included in the excel file, as well as in the article for each graph or table written as follows:

Excel file example

Bookmark:

hlth_rs_prs2 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/bookmark/65709a40-8efe-44d7-9bcc-9898c08675bf?lang=en

Example:Excel file with bookmarks

In order to create a custom dataset:

click on the 'Customise your dataset' button

choose the settings corresponding to the graph and click on 'Save and go to data view' in the bottom right corner

select 'Share/bookmark' to get a clickable link for the Excel file

name graphs and tables descriptively, not simply "Table 1" or "Figure 2," ; titles must allow graphs or tables to be found via Google search by standing alone, mentioning geographical area, reference period, and unit. e.g., Population structure, by broad age groups, by NUTS 3 regions, EU, 1 January 2025
avoid these characters in image titles: / \ ? * + : | " — '
upload finalised tables and graphs to Statistics Explained and insert them in the article
set graph and table size to 700 px
Every chart axis should start at zero. This is an obligation for all bar charts as the ratios between the bars can get distorted. If, exceptionally, a chart needs to start at a point other than zero, it is necessary to add a footnote.
Charts should not have 2 y-axes as this makes it difficult to interpret the data; instead make 2 graphs.

Inserting the images in the articles

Excel add-in

1. Insert the image manually

go to the article where the image should be displayed
click on 'Tools' at the top of the article, and choose 'upload file'

click on browse and select the png file

click on 'upload file' at the bottom of the page
a new page opens with the title of the image and the image displayed: copy the descriptive title , including the 'png' extension (but without taking the word 'File:')

return to the article where the image should be displayed and click on the edit button
paste the title into the template within the image tags and update the text for the image label accordingly
insert the number of the Figure, Table or Map and the corresponding title (but do not include subtitles or units)
insert the data source with the corresponding data code from Database or Selected datasets (if available) and the source URL. Ensure you add a link to a customised dataset rather than a default one.

save your page after each upload of image
add the alternative text for the image immediately after the data code brackets }}

For data included in the Excel file, the alternative text should be simple and timeless. At the end, add the sentence ‘The complete data of the visualisation are available in the Excel file at the end of the article. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.’

Example: <image imgid="figure3" zoom="100">[[Image:Collection of cows milk by dairies.png|thumb|center|800px|Figure 3: Collection of cows' milk by dairies, 2024<br>(% of EU total, tonnes)<br>''Source:'' Eurostat ([https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/apro_mk_pobta__custom_18793496/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=c86256f5-67db-4b5e-be8f-3017dbd06893&c=1762514978000 apro_mk_pobta])| alt= Doughnut chart showing percentage collection of cow's milk by dairies in individual EU countries for the year 2024. The EU total of 146.5 million tonnes of milk is highlighted. For more details please use the link to the source dataset code below the image.]]</image>

For data not available in the Excel file, the alternative text should be more detailed. Please follow the guidelines provided by the Publications Office Training on accessible publishing - alternative text

If your article already contains alternative text, please check that it is still valid and change it as necessary.

Additionally, it is important to add customised dataset links instead of the default ones to meet accessibility guidelines. Therefore, please ensure you customise your dataset before adding the link to the page. The link cannot be added via the data code only, so please refer to the Example above and to the following structure:

([https and dataset code])

2. Insert the image using the Editor automatic tool

(Follow the steps as above for inserting an image manually until 'copy the descriptive title with 'png' extension...')

go to the article where the image should be displayed, open the editing mode (click 'edit' at the top left corner of the page), place your cursor where the image should be inserted and choose the following icon from the editor navigation bar:

in the field 'Image file name' paste the exact title of the png file you uploaded
in the field 'Caption' paste the title you want to display below the image directly in the article
click insert and then save page
the size should be changed to 700 px
for adding alternative text, see instructions above for inserting image manually

Vistool graphs

In order to embed a Vistool chart into a Statistics Explained article you will need:

Data visualisation tag <vistool>
The unique widget code that you have copied from the Vistool
Caption text (Figure number only)
Vistool graphs do not need alternative text
It is not necessary to upload the excel file with the source data for tables and graphs

Example:

<vistool> <script>{ "utility": "wcloud", "url": "https://europa.eu/assets/wcloud/widgets/202406/79f08280-2327-11ef-b902-cbebaf377491/uec.json" }</script> <caption>Figure 3</caption> </vistool>

Maps

1. Static image maps

Follow the above-listed instructions for inserting PNG images

2. Interactive maps

When you create a map in the IMAGE tool, you can download it as an interactive html map and embed this into the SE article.
Once you have downloaded and correctly named the map, you can ask the SE team to upload the map for you.

See tutorial Layout rules for maps for further guidance.