Excel Charts and Graphs

What is a worksheet chart? A chart is a graphical representation of data. Charts make the data in a worksheet easier to understand by providing a visual picture of the data.

Comparing chart types You can create a variety of charts in Excel, each working with specific types of data.

Chart types Column chart (bar graph): Uses bars to illustrate values in a worksheet, and shows relationships among categories. Line chart (line graph): Shows points connected by a line, and is ideal for illustrating trends over time.

Chart types Pie chart: Shows the relationship of a part to a whole. Each part is shown as a “slice” of the pie.

Creating charts Selecting Chart Data: Chart data, called the data source, is stored in a range of cells in the worksheet. When you select the data source, include the text you want to use as labels. You can chart more than one series of data. A data series is a group of related information in a column or row of a worksheet that is plotted on the chart.

Creating charts Selecting a Chart Type: The next step is to select the type of chart you want to create, such as a column chart, a pie chart, or a line chart. Each type of chart has a variety of subtypes you can choose from. The chart types are available on the Insert tab in the Charts group.

Creating charts Choosing the Chart Location: After you select a chart type and style, the chart is inserted as an embedded chart in the center of the worksheet. You can also choose to move the chart to a chart sheet, which is a separate sheet in the workbook that stores a chart.

Troubleshooting tip Embedded charts are useful when you want to print a chart next to the data the chart illustrates. When a chart will be displayed or printed without the data used to create the chart, a separate chart sheet is usually more appropriate. A chart, whether embedded in a worksheet or on a chart sheet, is considered part of a workbook. When you save the workbook, you also save the charts you have created.

Making a separate chart sheet You can choose to move the chart to a chart sheet, which is a separate sheet in the workbook that stores a chart. A chart sheet displays the chart without its data source. To move an embedded chart to a chart sheet, click the Design contextual tab under the Chart Tools on the Ribbon. The Move Chart dialog box appears, as shown below:

Design a chart Charts are made up of different parts, or elements. Selecting Chart Elements: The quickest way to select a chart element is to click it with the pointer. If you point to an element, a ScreenTip displays with its name. A selected chart element is surrounded by a selection box. After you select a chart element, you can modify it.

Chart elements

Chart layout Choosing a Chart Layout and Style: You can quickly change the look of any chart you created by applying a layout and style. A chart layout specifies which elements are included in a chart and where they are placed. A chart style formats the chart based on the colors, fonts, and effects associated with the workbook’s theme.

Chart styles

Arranging chart elements Arranging Chart Elements: You can create a specific look for a chart by specifying which chart elements appear in the chart and where they are located. For example, you can choose when and where to display the chart title, axis titles, legend, data labels, data table, axes, gridlines, and the plot area. Select the chart. Then, click the Layout tab under Chart Tools on the Ribbon. The Labels, Axes, and Background groups contain buttons for each element.