（转）专家访谈：Jon Peltier——骨灰级的Excel图表高手
在老外的博客上，有时会看到他们对一些知名专家的Interview。前两天突发奇想，我是不是也可以这样做？
要访谈Excel图表专家，Jon Peltier 是首当其冲的人选了。Jon精通Excel，图表技巧更是出神入化、神乎其技。他的网站和博客（PTS blog）在Excel领域闻名遐迩，其博客以图表技巧为主，我在《数据分析人士必看的10个图表博客》中曾介绍过。这里有他本人的自我介绍。
我和Jon有不少邮件往来，应该算认识了。我用自己的蹩脚英语＋谷歌词典，给他写了封访谈的邮件，很快就收到了回复。我再用蹩脚英语＋揣摩猜测翻译成中文，就是这篇访谈了（大学时怎么没有学好英语？）。希望能让大家更多了解这位世界级的Excel图表专家。
1.I have introduced you as an expert/master/guru of Excel charts, but how would you like to introduce yourself to our Chinese readers?
1、EP：我曾把你作为一位图表大师介绍给读者们，你自己希望如何介绍自己呢？
Jon: I guess I could admit to being an authority in Excel. I know a lot about Excel charts, and the many articles I have written about Excel have made my web site and blog very popular.
我想我可以算是一个Excel权威吧，我精通Excel图表，我写的很多关于Excel的文章使我的网站和博客非常受欢迎。
I studied engineering in college, and first used computers in my schooling. I never studied computer science, but I have long used computers to control laboratory equipment, to collect data, and to perform analysis.
我在大学学的是工程，在学校第一次使用电脑。我没有学过计算机科学，但我一直使用电脑来控制实验设备、收集数据和执行分析。
I have always been active in data presentation. One of my best programs during my time in graduate school retrieved test data from files on tapes, asked the user in a series of questions how it should be plotted, made a small test plot on an 8-cm screen, and if the user approved, the graph was reproduced on a two-pen plotter on letter-size paper.
我一直很喜欢数据展示。我在研究生时最好的程序之一，是从磁带文件中获取实验数据，询问用户一系列如何作图的问题，然后在一个8厘米的屏幕上做一个小的草图，如果用户确认了，图表会被绘制在一个信封大小的纸上。
While working as a research scientist, I became familiar with Excel, because it was a tool that everyone had on their computers. I soon became the guy everyone went to with their questions.
工作后，作为一个研究人员，我开始熟悉Excel，因为它是每个人都有的工具。很快我就成为大家有问题就找的家伙。
I learned to program Excel after I became bored with doing the same repetitive tasks. Why should we work for the computer? It should work for us!
当我厌倦了反复做重复性的任务，我开始学习Excel编程。我们为什么要为计算机工作呢，它应该为我们工作！
Naturally I gravitated toward data analysis and presentation. I had a rare aptitude for the Excel charting mechanism. I could figure out how parts of it worked, and how to create effects that the Excel designers never envisioned.
很自然地，我被数据分析和展示所吸引。我对Excel作图机制有少见的天赋，我能想出它是如何工作的，如何创建Excel的设计者们从来不会想到的效果。
2.Your excel charting technology is so superior, some of it is too complex for average Excel users, do you really use them all in your work?
2、EP：你的Excel作图技巧太高超了，其中很多对普通的Excel用户来说太复杂了。你真的在实际工作中都用到它们吗？还是只是技术发烧而已？
Jon: Many of the tricks I have shared with my readers were developed as part of my own work. Perhaps even more were created to answer questions on the forums or in emails I've received.
我和读者们分享的很多技巧，都是作为工作的一部分开发出来的。也许更多的是为了回答论坛和邮件中的问题而建立的。
Some of my tricks are even too complicated for most business and engineering applications. They are visually effective but too hard to maintain. However, once I started writing programs to control the charts, I could overcome this difficulty.
我的有些技巧甚至对绝大部分业务和工程应用来说都太复杂了，它们在可视化上是有效的，但难于维护。但是，一旦我开始通过程序控制图表，我就可以解决这些困难。
3.How can you find the ways to create so many impossible charts with excel? Can you give us some advice to learn charting technology?
3、EP：你是如何找到这些方法来创建那些不可能的图表的呢？能否给大家一些学习作图技巧的建议？
Jon: You have to keep your eyes open, looking for clever techniques everywhere. You have to think differently, think of different ways to use common elements.
你必须擦亮眼睛，到处寻找聪明的技巧。你需要不同寻常地思考，思考普通图表元素的非常规用法。
Instead of thinking of an object as, for example, an error bar, think of it as a horizontal or vertical line. Ah, you need a vertical line there? Plot a hidden point, and add an error bar.
举例来说，你可以把误差线看作水平的或垂直的线。当你需要一个垂直线在某个地方，可以在那里绘制一个隐藏的点，然后添加误差线。
4.As editor of J-walk's book, do you have the plan to write your own excel book, especially excel charting book?
4、EP：作为J-walk的书的编辑，你有出版自己的excel图表书的计划吗？（注：J-walk就是那个被称为电子表格先生的，出了几十本excel的书）
Jon: Naturally I have thought about writing my own books. I have lots of good content, on my web site and blog, and also that I have not published. I have a few outlines ready to go, but I have been unable to write more than a chapter or so. It is so hard to find the time.
当然，我考虑过写自己的书的事情。我有很多好的内容，在我的网站上、博客上以及还没有发布的。我已有一些提纲准备好了，但还没有开始写，要找到时间太难了。
5. Can you talk something about your life without excel, without charts?
5、EP：说说你在Excel、图表之外的生活？
Jon: I'm married with three beautiful and intelligent daughters. I met my wife in college, and she now teaches math and science in 8th grade (13-14 year old kids). Two daughters are in college, and the third will be in college soon. I watch baseball when I have time, and I listen to many types of music.
我已经结婚了，有三个漂亮聪明的女儿。我在大学认识我的妻子，她现在教8年级的数学和科学。两个女儿已经上大学，另一个也即将上大学。我有时间会看棒球比赛，也会听各种类型的音乐。
6.Can you tell us something interesting you know about China? What would you say to your blog's Chinese readers?
6、EP：说说你知道的关于中国的事情？想对你博客的中国读者说些什么？
Jon: I've never been to China, but it's on my list of places to see. I've known many Chinese people, in school (roommates and classmates), at work, and among my neighbors. My daughter had many Chinese and Indian friends in high school, and they named her an "Honorary Asian". Restaurants serving Hunan and Szechuan cuisine are popular in the US; our favorite is less than a mile away.
我没到过中国，但它在我要去的地方之列。我认识很多中国朋友，在学校里、在工作中以及我的邻居中。我的女儿在高中有很多中国和印度朋友，他们称她为半个亚洲人了。湖南菜和四川菜在美国很流行,我们最喜欢的那个饭店离我们不到一里地。
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转载自：http://excelpro.blog.sohu.com/144252491.html
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