A Y variable with no X classification variables produces a single chart with a bar for each value of the Y variable. For an example, see Example of the Pareto Plot Platform.

A Y variable with one X classification variable produces a row of Pareto plots. There is a plot for each level of the X variable with bars for each Y level. These plots are referred to as the cells of a comparative Pareto plot. There is a cell for each level of the X (classification) variable. Because there is only one X variable, this is called a one-way comparative Pareto plot. For an example, see One-Way Comparative Pareto Plot Example.

A Y variable with two X variables produces rows and columns of Pareto plots. There is a row for each level of the first X variable and a column for each level of the second X variable. Because there are two X variables, this is called a two-way comparative Pareto plot. The rows have a Pareto plot for each value of the first X variable, as described previously. The upper left cell is called the key cell. Its bars are arranged in descending order. The bars in the other cells are in the same order as the key cell. You can reorder the rows and columns of cells. The cell that moves to the upper left corner becomes the new key cell and the bars in all other cells rearrange accordingly. For an example, see Two-Way Comparative Pareto Plot Example.

Each bar is the color for which the rows for that Y level are assigned in the associated data table. Otherwise, a single color is used for all of the bars whose Y levels do not have rows with an assigned color. If the rows for a Y level have different colors, the bar for that Y level is the color of the first row for that Y level in the data table.