An approach is provided in which the approach generates a parallel chart based on multiple records that includes a set of variable values corresponding to a set of variables. To generate the parallel chart, the approach arranges the set of variables on the parallel chart in a variable order based on at least one variable arrangement rule. The approach arranges an initial variable value order for each one of the set of variables, and computes a lucidity score based on the variable order and the initial variable value order of each of the set of variables. The lucidity score is a measurement of the clarity of the parallel chart. The approach adjusts the variable value order of at least one of the set of variables to increase the lucidity score and optimizes the clarity of the parallel chart based on the adjusted variable value order.