Use Half Doughnut Charts to save space while showing proportions. Ideal for semi-circle gauge effects or compact dashboard layouts.

Half Doughnut Pie Charts (or Semi-Circle Donuts) are a specialized variation of the doughnut chart. By engaging only the top (or bottom) 180 degrees, they create a gauge-like appearance. This is particularly effective for dashboards where vertical space is at a premium, or when you want to imply a "meter" or "progress" metaphor without using a traditional needle gauge.

Edilitics simplifies the creation of these unique charts, offering a point-and-click interface to transform standard categorical data into this compact visual format using your governed metrics.

When to Use a Half Doughnut Chart

Use Case	Why This Chart Works
Compact Dashboards	Takes up half the vertical space of a full circle, perfect for headers or tight layouts.
Goal Progress	Use two slices (Achieved vs Remaining) to simulate a progress meter.
NPS Scores	Visualize Detractors, Passives, and Promoters in a recognizable arc.
Risk Meters	Show distribution of High, Medium, and Low risk items in a gauge format.

Chart Configuration in Edilitics

Inputs Required

Data Type	Required Count	Description
Dimensions (Columns)	1	Categorical field defining the slices (Labels).
Metrics (Rows)	1	Numerical field defining the size/angle of each slice.

How to Configure a Half Doughnut

Select "Half Doughnut Pie" from the Chart Library.
Assign Data:
- Category to Slice/Color.
- Metric to Value/Angle.
Orientation:
- Edilitics allows you to orient the arc Upwards (like a rainbow/gauge) or Downwards.
Styling:
- Adjust Inner Radius for arc thickness.
- Place a summary metric (Total) at the bottom center of the arc for a "dashboard widget" look.

Feature Highlights

Gauge Simulation

Easily mimic a gauge chart by using specific sorting or coloring (e.g., Red-Yellow-Green) without the complexity of configuring a needle axis.

Space Optimization

The rendering engine automatically crops the unused transparent space, allowing you to stack widgets more tightly than full circular charts.

Total Summary Placement

The "flat" side of the half-doughnut is the perfect location for a large, bold summary number, integrating the detailed breakdown with the KPI.

Interactive Arcs

Like all Edilitics charts, hovering over a segment reveals detailed tooltips, and clicking can filter the rest of the dashboard.

Best Practices for Half Doughnut Charts

Practice	Why It Matters
Few Categories	Limit to 3-4 slices (e.g., High/Med/Low). Complex fragmentation is hard to read in a semi-circle.
Logical Order	Always sort ordinal data (Low -> High) to reinforce the "meter" metaphor.
Semantic Colors	Use meaningful colors (Red for danger, Green for good) if the data represents status or sentiment.
Center Alignment	Ensure the chart is horizontally centered in its container to maintain symmetry.

How Edilitics Is Different

Unlike standard tools that require CSS hacks or hiding half the data, Edilitics treats Half Doughnut as a first-class chart:

Native Support: No workarounds needed - Half Doughnut is a standard configuration option.
Space Optimization: The rendering engine automatically crops unused transparent space for tighter layouts.
Summary Integration: The flat side is perfect for displaying a large, bold summary number.
Governed Data: Segment values flow from validated datasets, ensuring accuracy.

This makes space-efficient gauge-like visualizations accessible to all users.

Half Doughnut Charts are the layout designer's best friend. They offer the breakdown detail of a pie chart with the compact, "at-a-glance" impact of a KPI card.

Need help? Email support@edilitics.com with your workspace, job ID, and context. We reply within one business day.

Half Doughnut Charts for Gauge-Like KPIs