# Is there any package to create bullet gauge graphs?

I am looking for a package to create bullet gauge graphs, but I couldn't find any.

A bullet graph looks like this:

and an ample description/specification can be found here

It is available in Mathematica 9 (see here)

Is it possible create this kind of graphs in a easy way with TeX (like Matehmatica 9 or similar)?

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in general: tikz is great –  Micha Jun 2 '13 at 18:03
Are you sure they are called ´bullet diagrams´? I'm not questioning your english, but rather the way to look for a package at CTAN(ctan.org) –  Mario S. E. Jun 2 '13 at 18:22
@MarioS.E., Yes, i´m suer, because the creator of this kind of graphs is Stephen Few, and the specifications (by the author) are: perceptualedge.com/articles/misc/Bullet_Graph_Design_Spec.pdf –  Mika Ike Jun 2 '13 at 19:11
@MikaIke to my knowledge there is no direct package in CTAN for dealing with bullet diagrams... but as mentioned as @Micha, the Tikz is very versatile and you should be able to replicate what you want. I think the samples you showed were made with Excel. You can always use them as figures in your LaTeX file –  Mario S. E. Jun 2 '13 at 19:22

This can be relatively easily achieved using PGFPlots. I've written a small macro that is called like this:

\bulletgauge[title={\bfseries{\large Revenue}\\1000 USD}]{275}{260}{300,250,150}


to create this:

The optional argument can be used to pass normal PGFPlots options to the axis environment used internally.

\documentclass[border=5mm]{standalone}
\usepackage{pgfplots, pgfplotstable}

\definecolor{ylgnbu1}{RGB}{237, 248, 177}
\definecolor{ylgnbu2}{RGB}{127, 205, 187}
\definecolor{ylgnbu3}{RGB}{44, 127, 184}

\pgfplotscreateplotcyclelist{bullet}{
{fill=ylgnbu1, draw=none},
{fill=ylgnbu2, draw=none},
{fill=ylgnbu3, draw=none},
}

Label;  Sublabel;   Measure;    CompMeasure; Range1; Range2; Range3
Revenue 2005 YTD;   USD;    260;    255;150;250;300
}\datatable

\newcommand{\bulletgauge}[4][]{
\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{axis}[
y=1.5ex,
xtick pos=left,
ytick=\empty,
xmin=0, xmax=300,
enlarge y limits={abs=0ex},
tick align=outside,
axis on top,
every axis title/.style={
at={(rel axis cs:0,0.5)},
anchor=east,
align=right,
xshift=-1em
},
#1
]
\pgfplotsinvokeforeach{#4}{
\pgfplotsset{cycle list name=bullet}
\addplot +[xbar, bar width=3ex] coordinates {(##1,0)};
}
\addplot [fill=black, xbar, bar width=1ex] coordinates {(#2,0)};
\addplot [mark=|, mark options={very thick}, mark size=1.25ex] coordinates {(#3,0)};
\end{axis}
\end{tikzpicture}
}

\begin{document}
\bulletgauge[title={\bfseries{\large Revenue}\\1000 USD}]{275}{260}{300,250,150}
\end{document}

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Jake. I admire your work. I think that comunity need your bullet guage package! :-) For me is enough, but i like your creation. –  Mika Ike Jun 3 '13 at 13:15
Really Fantastic. Yes :-)) You have created the solution. I would anime you to create a special package for this kind of graphs. It´s very usefull and each day it´s more popular and known. You have created the basic (and more dificult) graph, but.... like you are capable, I think that you would make well creating more options, and your own package. Mathematica offer to bullet gauges many features, as you can see: imageshack.us/a/img35/1061/snap2134.png For me it´s enough to see your creation, but ... I think that you can create a new and usefull package. –  Mika Ike Jun 4 '13 at 8:57
You have created the solution. I would anime you to create a special package for this kind of graphs. It´s very usefull and each day it´s more popular and known. Mathematica offer many and interesting bullet gauges, if you like to see. I think that it´s good add the possibility of any other bars and/or marks For me it´s enough to see your cretion, but ... I think that you can create a new and usefull package. –  Mika Ike Jun 9 '13 at 18:27