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| Displays data vertically in columns. Used to compare values across different categories. Most effective when they are limited to small numbers of categories. |
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| Compares values across categories using horizontal bars. The horizontal axis displays values & the vertical axis displays categories. This conveys the same type of information as a column chart, but more preferable when category names are long. Enables category names to appear in an easy to read format. |
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| Displays lines connecting data points to show trends over equal time periods. The category axis represents time & the value axis represents value. This enables a user to easily spot trends in the data since the line continues to the next data point. |
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| Shows each data point as a proportion to the whole series. displays as a circle or "pie" where the entire pie represents the total value of the data series. Each slice represents a single data point. The larger the slice, the larger percentage that data point contributes to the whole. Used when you want to convey percentage or market share. Pie charts represent a single data series only. |
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| Scatter Chart or XY Chart |
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| Shows a relationship between 2 variables using their X & Y coordinates. Excel plots one variable on the horizontal X axis & the other variable on the vertical Y axis. Often used to represent data in educational, scientific, & medical experiments. Essentially is the plotted values without any connecting line. This chart helps determine if a relationship exists between 2 different sets of numerical data. |
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| Is similar to a pie chart in that is shows the relationship of parts to a whole, but the chart can display more than one series of data & it has a hole in the middle. Like a clustered or stacked column chart, this chart plots multiple data series. Each ring represents a data series, with the outer ring receiving the most emphasis. Although the chart is able to display multiple data series, people often have difficulty interpreting it. |
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| Similar to the scatter chart, but it uses round bubbles instead of data point to represent a 3rd dimension. Similar to the Scatter chart, the chart doesn't contain a category axis. The horizontal & vertical axes are both value axes. The 3rde value determines the size of the bubbles where the larger the value, the larger the bubble. People often use bubble charts to depict financial data. |
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| When selecting a chart, Excel displays the Chart Tools contextual tab. It contains 3 tabs: Design, Layout & Format. The Chart Tools Design contextual tab contains options to modify the overall chart design. It can change the chart type, modify the data source, select a chart layout, select a chart style, & move the chart. |
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After creating the chart, you might want to change how the data are depicted by using another chart type.
Select the chart, then click the Design tab, then Click Change Chart Type in the Type group to open the Change Chart Type dialog box. Then Select the desired chart type & click ok. |
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| Changing the Data Source & Structure |
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| Excel displays the row labels in the first column. This can reverse how the chart presents the data. To reverse the data series, click Switch Row/Column in the Data group. |
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| Applying a Chart Layout & a Chart Style |
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Enables you to apply predefined layouts to a chart. It determines which chart elements appear in the chart area & how they are positioned within the chart area. These are useful when you are first learning about charts & chart elements or to create consistently laid out charts.
The Chart Styles group contains predefined styles that control the color of the chart area, plot area, and data series. Styles also affect the look of the data series, such as flat, 3-D or beveled. When choosing a chart style, make sure the style complements the chart data & is easy to read. |
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Excel creates charts on the same worksheet as the original dataset, but can be moved to its own chart sheet in the work. To move a chart
Select the chart to display the Chart Tools contextual tab, then click the Design tab, then Click Move Chart in the Location group to open the Move Chart dialog box. Then Click New Sheet to move the chart to its own sheet, or click Object in, click the Object arrow, select the worksheet to which you want to move the chart, then click ok. |
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| Just like printing any worksheet data, preview the chart in the Backstage view before you print to check margins, spacing, & page breaks to ensure a balanced printout. |
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| Inserting & Customizing a Sparkline |
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A small line, column, or win/loss chart contained in a single cell. the purpose of this is to present a condensed, simple, succinct visual illustration of data. Inserting these next to data helps your audience understand data quickly without having to look at a full scale chart.
Click the Insert tab, Click Line, Column, or Win/Loss in the Sparklines group. The Creat Sparklines dialog box opens, Type the cell references in the Data Range Box, or click the collapse button, select the range, then click the expand button. Enter or select the range where you want the sparkline to appear in the location Range box, then click ok. |
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| Selecting & Formatting Chart Elements |
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Charts include several elements, Chart area, plot area, data series, horizontal axis, vertical axis & the legend. To select an element, click it when you see the ScreenTip, or click Chart Elements arrow in the Current Selection group, then select the element from the list.
After selecting, it can be formatted & settings changed, like font settings./ |
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| The label that describes the entire chart. Chart titles should reflect the purpose of the chart. |
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| Are labels that describe the category & value axes. If the names on the category axis aren't self explanatory, you can add a label to describe it. |
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| A key that identifies the color, gradient, picture, texture or pattern assigned to each data series in a chart. This appears on the right side of the plot area. |
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| Are descriptive labels that show the exact value of the data points on the value axis. |
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Based on the data source values & structure, Excel determines the starting, incremental, & stopping values that display on the value axis when you create the chart.
Gridlines are horizontal or vertical lines that span across the chart to help people identify the values plotted by the visual elements, such as a column. |
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| A line that depicts trends or helps forecast future data. Commonly used in prediction. Click Trendline in the Analysis group, then select the type you want: Linear, Exponential, Linear Forcast, or 2 Period Moving Average. |
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