I work for a Fortune 500 Co. We produce an annual report with ~100 charts by hand. There is a major demand for:
• Links to data for automated update and reduction of human cut/paste errors
• Mirroring of Excel in terms of basic functioning and control over elements like trend lines, inverse graphs.
• No bugs, such as scales that go out of alignment upon refresh, causing rework.

This is a perfect candidate for a separate app. I think when it is framed as a separate app, the features are more robust. When it is framed as a part of illustrator the tendency is to limit function so as not to overwhelm the basic user. My suggestion is to create a new app, that is highly robust, then also update illustrator or even remove the charting function altogether, so people realize the two really should not be under the same roof anymore. The big sell is that you are freeing a ton of people and orgs their greatest resource "Time."

The diagram functions are ancient. Nevertheless many people are using them and they are waiting for an update for yeasr and years and years. What about the beta from CC 2015?

SOME things about the Illustrator graph tool are great – the ability to create infographic graph elements that can slide specifically. But the rest of the process is almost a specialisation to the point that my partner gets frustrated with the multiple iterations required sometimes to just complete one graph.

Can we just have a graph tool capable of what Excel did 10 years ago?

Can we just have a graph tool capable of what Excel did 10 years ago?

Echoing everyone else here for the graph tool to be completely overhauled! In addition to all the good suggestions, could you also make it possible to delete data from more than one cell at a time? I'd be okay with a separate app, without the need for the data or charts to be synced through Cloud Libraries—just stick to exporting to any desired format.

Concerning questions 1/2: I would prefer a separate Desktop App – to be flexible in every direction and Media… Most imporant is to have it data driven (database, CSV, excel, web cms etc.)

Any Update around Max' Project Lincoln???

Have been screaming for this also for years! Initially imagined a separate app approach as well. Need various ways to build charts (pie, bar, line, custom, etc.), apply effects, strokes, shapes, remain clean preferably in a vector state AND continue to be editable! Client changes are guaranteed throughout the production process -- so the ability to update the data and see it reflected in the design would be exciting.

My vote is for a separate tool. I think charting is complex enough and the needs of chart designers specialized enough to justify having its own program.

You might want to explore providing the data-entry portion of the app. or function as an editable, exportable, and printable table rather than a modal window. Importing or pasting data from, say, Excel goes without saying but being able to create tables in Illustrator and either format them as tables for use in illustrations or to use the data in them to generate the graphs strikes me as an approach with a lot of potential. It is much the way Excel works.

Additional comments

[1] There is an enormous market here and I have been perplexed that Adobe has left this function--poorly written code from the 1990s--unimproved for so long. This may be because those producing graphs form a small subset of Illustrator users. Perhaps this is an argument for a separate application.

[2] There is a sweet spot in the market for a graphing app. (or an improved, integrated function in Illustrator) from Adobe that takes advantage of the company's expertise with graphics, type and colour to distinguish the product from complex and expensive programmes designed to manipulate data but in which the quality of the output is a secondary consideration.

[3] Integration with SVG is important

[4] Access to the code for scripting and automation would be ideal.

[1] The resetting of the chart upon making changes and the awkward data entry are the chief drawbacks for me though the other points made above are spot on.

[2] I make up graphs (hundreds each year) in Illustrator, despite the frustration caused by the many defects of the graphing function, because I can place the graphs in InDesign and update is automatic when one uses Edit Original; and because it gives me access to the Adobe Type Engine. If you can build a separate, desktop app that retains those features, I would be happy to have it. But, having the other tools in Illustrator to enhance the graphs is also useful. I'm not keen on an app. in the cloud.

[3] In a separate app. the ability to place the graphs for print and export for web smoothly and easily is important. Integration with CC Libraries would be very useful.

[4] I will be happy to test a new app. or improved functionality in Illustrator.

There seems to be work enough on the main Illustrator app and nothing seems to have been done for several years on the graphing/charting function so my preference would be to see a separate app, with the ability to export in whatever format is best for use in Ai, Ps, Ae, Id or any other Adobe app.

As many of the other comments have stated, this functionality is WAY out of date now and really needs to be addressed.

Separate desktop app to allow integration into Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, AfterEffects, PremierPro. For those that do a lot of infographic posters, animated video, a separate app that had various forms of integration would seem like a very powerful too.

I don't really mind what program it's in, but I'd prefer it to not be cloud-based, as charts for many annual reports etc. are 'sensitive' and shouldn't be accessible through the cloud.

It has to support CMYK, Pantone colours, Style templates (to allow for setting of fonts/type sizes, chart area, primary/secondary colours, etc), and support more types of graphs/charts than it can at the moment. It has to be able to handle incoming data more easily.

90% of the Annual Reports and accounts that we do have charts in Excel supplied, and its a very lengthy and problematic process to import the data recreate the charts in the correct font, at the correct sizes, using the correct colours.

Keep in Illustrator, and also, once you've set up a style or theme for a chart, allow a way to copy style and paste on new chart.

At least the graph tool need to fully revamped. It lacks a lot of basic features and is not very stable. I get several crashes doing simple things. I think it should not be very hard.
For a more full featured and advanced graph/chart set of tools, I would not mind it is developed as Dimension, a separate application that can be integrated with Ai and ID. It may take shorter to build up, and many people do not use or need this kind of tool.
I understand not in cloud means data is not stored or handled though cloud libraries?

Keep charting within Illustrator.

As far as I can remember - back to 2003 - there have been NO improvements in the charting function. I may be wrong with the date, but it's not far off. I appeal to the AI team every year for this. Maybe we're finally getting some traction. Regarding Yogesh's question about a separate desktop app, that would be fine with me just as long as it WORKS. Here's my list if requests:

Allow use of "%" sign in data
Allow use of comma in data
Present comma when used in value axis
Present rounded "X.0" when used in data label (don't cut off ".0")
Add "show data label" option in "Type" options (like "add drop shadow)
Add right-click option to declare left column in data as "Categories." (Eliminate the need for quotes around numbers like years.)
Make the whole "design" process easier and more intuitive (templates?).
Preserve appearance when data is changed.
Make column sizing in the data sheet a "double-click" treatment.

Please address these and the other issues listed here.