Pop3D Charts — Pro · Overview · free base plugin v1.0.0

Pop3D Charts — Pro

Create polished, interactive charts directly in the WordPress block editor. Pro adds more layouts, more palettes, ready-made patterns and advanced styling to the free WordPress.org base plugin.

Native Gutenberg block 10 layouts with Pro 2D & real 3D views CSV · JSON · XLSX import Live editor preview EN · DE · FR · ES

Important: Pro works as an add-on. First install the free Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer plugin from WordPress.org, then upload and activate your purchased Pro ZIP. After that, you use one chart block in the editor.

Quick start

Install once, then work inside Gutenberg.

There is no shortcode workflow and no separate chart dashboard. You insert the block, add data, choose a layout, adjust the look and publish.

  1. Install the free base plugin. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New, search for Pop3D Charts or Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer, install and activate it.
  2. Upload Pro. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose your purchased Pro ZIP and activate it.
  3. Create a chart. Open a post or page, click +, search for Pop3D Charts – 2D/3D Data Visualizer and insert the block.
  4. Add data and publish. Enter rows manually, import a file, use a pattern, then adjust the sidebar settings.
What Pro adds

The free plugin is the engine. Pro gives you the expanded toolkit.

The free WordPress.org plugin remains usable on its own. Pro extends it with the full layout set, more visual styles and ready-made starting points.

10 chart layouts

Pro unlocks the full chart catalogue, including arc, grouped, wave, horizontal, radial, bubble and surface charts.

More design control

Use all preset palettes, gradient ramps, custom palettes, layout-specific label controls and advanced appearance options.

Ready-made patterns

Insert complete starter sections from Patterns → Interactive charts, then replace the sample data with your own.

Trend line over bars

Pro only, 3D: optional slim line along the bar tops (under Appearance). Available for straight, grouped, stacked and horizontal bar charts; grouped uses one line per series in that series’ bar color.

Simple split: Free includes three core layouts and five palettes. Pro adds seven more layouts, the full palette set, custom palette building and the full pattern library.

Chart layouts

Pick the shape that tells the story best.

LayoutBest forView
Arc barsHeadline numbers, striking KPI sections3D only
Straight columnsClassic category comparisons2D / 3D
Grouped columnsComparing several series per category2D / 3D
Stacked columnsComposition, totals and percentage stacks2D / 3D
Wave / lineTrends, series and annotated changes2D / 3D
Horizontal barsRankings and long labels2D / 3D
RadialGoals, progress and completion rings2D / 3D
Pie / DonutShares of a whole2D / 3D
Bubble packShowing many items by relative size2D / 3D
Surface / 3D heatmapGrids, height fields and dense matrix-style dataAlways 3D
Editor experience

Everything important lives in the block sidebar.

The editor preview updates while you work. Change data, layout, palette, labels, axes, background, legend or visitor controls without leaving the post editor.

  • Live preview while editing
  • Manual row editor with duplicate, reorder and delete actions
  • Title, subtitle, footnote and axis settings
  • Palette, custom colors, background and label controls
  • Legend, sorting, fullscreen, data table and PNG options
  • Separate max-height settings for desktop, tablet and mobile
Data import

Bring your own numbers without preparing a special file.

Type rows by hand, paste from Excel or Google Sheets, or import a file. The plugin looks for familiar column names and turns your data into chart rows automatically.

Ways to add data

  • Enter rows manually in the block sidebar
  • Paste spreadsheet rows from Excel or Google Sheets
  • Import CSV, JSON, XLSX or XLS files

Ways to export

  • Export chart rows as CSV or JSON
  • Export the current chart view as PNG
  • Optionally let visitors download a PNG on the live site

Easy template: Create one chart manually, then use Chart data → Export CSV. The exported file gives you the exact column names you can reuse for your own spreadsheet.

The columns you will usually use

You do not need every column. For most charts, start with value, headline and optional text for the tooltip.

ColumnWhat it doesUse it for
valueThe number that drives the chart.Required for most charts
headlineThe main label, such as a country, product, month or category.All chart types
unitA unit shown next to the value, such as %, or kWh.Optional
paragraphExtra text shown in the tooltip.Optional explanation
smallPrintA source note or footnote for the tooltip.Optional source line
colorA custom color for this row, for example #ff8800.Highlighting single items
groupKeyGroups rows into the same category or series.Grouped, stacked and wave charts
scatterX / scatterYPlaces a row inside a grid.Surface / 3D heatmap charts
annotation / annotationDescAdds a short callout to a data point.Wave charts

A simple CSV example

value;unit;headline;paragraph;smallPrint
42;%;North;Sales region Q1;Report 2024
31;%;South;Sales region Q1;Report 2024

Grouped, stacked and wave charts

Add groupKey when rows belong together. For example, use the same groupKey for all values from one quarter, one product group or one line series.

value;unit;headline;groupKey
80;%;Product A;2024-Q1
65;%;Product B;2024-Q1
72;%;Product A;2024-Q2
58;%;Product B;2024-Q2

Surface / 3D heatmap charts

Add scatterX and scatterY to place each value in a grid. The value controls the height and color intensity.

value;headline;scatterX;scatterY
10;Low;0;0
20;Mid;1;0
15;Mid;0;1
28;High;1;1

Flexible headers

The importer accepts simple variations in column names. For example, headline, title and label can all be used for the main label. paragraph, desc and description can all be used for tooltip text. Spaces, hyphens and letter case are handled flexibly.

Practical limits

Imports are designed for normal editorial and marketing charts. Very large files are limited to keep the browser responsive: roughly up to 1,000 rows, about 500 KB for pasted text and about 5 MB for Excel files.

On the live site

Visitors can explore the chart, not just look at it.

2D / 3D switch

Let visitors flip supported chart types between flat and spatial views.

Data table

Show the same numbers in a semantic table modal for clarity and accessibility.

Fullscreen

Open charts fullscreen for presentations, teaching or closer inspection.

Sorting

Optionally let visitors sort by value or label where the layout supports it.

PNG download

Enable chart image downloads when you want visitors to reuse or save the view.

Lazy loading

3D scenes initialise when they scroll into view, helping pages with several charts stay responsive.

Compatibility

Requirements and languages

  • WordPress 6.7 or newer
  • Tested up to WordPress 6.9
  • PHP 7.4 or newer
  • Built for the WordPress block editor
  • Bundled translations: English, German, French and Spanish
Accessibility

Designed to stay readable

  • Labelled chart region
  • Semantic HTML data table
  • Keyboard-friendly dialogs
  • Accessible labels for optional toolbar buttons
  • Live regions for loading and tooltip states
FAQ

Common questions

Do I need the free plugin?

Yes. Install the free WordPress.org plugin first. Pro extends it after activation.

Do I use a different block for Pro?

No. You keep using the same chart block. Pro simply adds more layouts, patterns and design options.

Does it use shortcodes?

No. Charts are created as native Gutenberg blocks.

Can I switch layouts later?

Yes. Your data remains in the block and you can try different chart layouts from the sidebar.

Can I use it on multilingual websites?

Yes. The interface includes English, German, French and Spanish. Other languages fall back to English.

Where do I get support?

Pro:
mail@clausernst.com

Free plugin (wordpress.org): Support tab on the plugin page.

Tip: If Pro options do not appear, make sure both plugins are active: the free base plugin and the Pro add-on.