Excel 5. 95 97 & 2000 Applications Training Charts & Graphs
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Charts & Graphs.
What’s the Difference between a Chart & a Graph? The Words Chart & Graph mean the same thing in Excel. You may hear them used at different times to refer to the same thing.
How Hard Is It To Make A Chart?
In Excel, Charts are Just a few Mouse Clicks away. You get to choose what Data will be in Your Chart & how it will look. All of this is done using the Chart Wizard.
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Lets Make A Chart!
Charting is as Easy as 1, 2, 3. Well, Maybe add 4, 5 & 6 for good Measure. The First step is to Select the Data on Your Worksheet that You want included in Your Chart. You can Select as much or as little of Your Workbook Information as needed.
What If My Data Is Not Next To Each Other?
Excel gives You the ability to Select Cells or Columns of Data that are NOT NEXT to Each other by Pressing & Holding the Ctrl Key WHILE You are Selecting the Desired Data.
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Notice that the Information in Column E AND H was selected. The Mouse was Clicked & Dragged down Column E, Then the Mouse was Released & the Ctrl Key was depressed & Held while the while Clicking & Dragging the Data in Column H. This procedure can be repeated as MANY times as necessary to Select ALL the desired Data to include in Your Graph. DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE THE COLUMN LABELS WHEN SELECTING YOUR DATA! HINT! If You are Planning to use this Data for OTHER GRAPHS, You can Assign the Selected Data as a Range & Assign it a Name. With the Exception of Deciding What Type of Chart to use to Display Your Data, this is the Hardest Step in creating a Graph.
Now I’ve Selected My Data, How Do I Chart It?
For this step, we need to Call Up the Chart Wizard. Click on the Chart Wizard Button on the Standard Toolbar.
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The Chart Wizard is Now Active & Displays Step 1 of 4 Steps in Creating Your Chart. Click on the Basic Chart Type from the Selections in the Left Column. Next Select the Chart Sub-Type from the Column on the Right. If You want to See How Your Chart will Look, Click & Hold the Press and Hold to View Sample Button & Your Chart will be Displayed where the Chart Sub-Types are currently shown. When You have Selected the Chart Type that Best Displays Your Data, Click the Next Button to Move on to Step 2. Notice that the Back Button is NOT Available. This is because there is NO Previous Step to go Back to. However, when You are in Steps 2, 3 or 4, You will have the Option of Backing Up through the Previous Steps & Changing Your Selections.
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In Step 2 of the Chart Wizard, You can Review & Modify the Range(s) of Data that will be Included in Your Chart. You can Also Define the Order of the Data Series to be Displayed. Where we Selected Columns, Excel assumed we Wanted our Data Displayed in Column Format. If You Change the Series Order, You will see the Sample Chart shown in the Sample Window of Step 2 Change to Reflect the Data in Row Order. REMEMBER! None of Your Selections are “LOCKED IN” Until You are Finished with the Chart Wizard! Once You are Satisfied with Your Choices, Click the Next Button to Move on to Step 3 of the Wizard.
Normally You will NOT have to Change the Selections on this Step UNLESS You wish to ADD More Data than You Highlighted Earlier or wish to have Your Data Displayed in a Different Series Order.
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Decisions, Decisions! So Many to Choose From!!! Step 3 of the Wizard gives You the Options of Changing how ALL Displayed Data will look. Each Tab of this Step Allows You to Change What & How it will Look in Your Finished Chart. You can Even show the Values of Each Item with the Data Labels Tab. Each Item You Change will be Displayed in the Sample Chart shown in this Step. EXPERIMENTATION is the Best Way to find out What Works for You. Now You have Selected ALL the Options You Desire to Show / Change in Your Chart, Click the Next Button to Move on to Step 4.
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Finally, Step 4 of 4! Here You tell Excel Where You want Your New Chart to be Located. You can Choose ANY EXISTING Worksheet in Your Workbook for Your Graph to be Located on OR Tell Excel that You want it on a NEW Worksheet. REMEMBER! The Chart You are about to Create is ONLY the Starting Point! You Can Change ANY Part of it at ANY TIME AFTER YOU CREATE IT! To Create Your Graph, Click the Finished Button. If Your Graph appears ON TOP of Your Data, Place the Mouse on the Line Around Your Graph. Click & Drag it to the Desired Position. You can Also Re-Size it to Your Liking at this time.
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Now I’ve Created It, How Do I Change Any Part Of It?
You can Change the “LOOK” of ANY Part of Your Graph. FIRST, You MUST Select the Graph You want to Change Something on. To Select the Graph, Just Click on it. Once Selected, You can Change ANY Part of it by Pointing to the Item You want to Change & Double Clicking on it. You will see a Selection Screen with ALL POSSIBLE Options for the Item in Your Graph You Double Clicked on. In this Example, the Chart Title was Double Clicked on. Notice the Title Bar in the Window Reads Format Chart Title. Only those Items that could be used to Change the way the Chart Title Looks will be Available. Page 8
Remember! ALL Items In Your Chart Can Be Changed!
Be Creative! Remember, Your Imagination & Creativity are the ONLY LIMITS when You Create a Chart / Graph. Remember, You can ALWAYS go back & Change ANYTHING Later!
How Do I Print My Chart?
First, Select the Desired Chart by Clicking on it. Next Click the File Option from the Menu Line. Select the Print Command from the Options Menu. Notice that in the Print What Box, the Selected Chart Option is the Current Selection. Now Click the OK Button & Get Your Chart from the Printer. NOTICE, Your Chart has been Re-Sized to BEST Fit the Paper You are Printing on. Page 9