Creating Charts (Graphs) in Excel
§ The first step in creating a graph is to enter the information in number format in an Excel worksheet. o Tip: Be sure to enter all labeling information (column headings or row headings) in one cell only. After the information is entered, select (highlight) the range of cells that you wish to represent in a graph. Next, click on the Chart Wizard button on the standard toolbar. § The chart wizard dialog box will appear – on the first step of four.
§
§
§ §
o On this screen you will select the type of chart to use by clicking on it in the Chart Type list box. o You will then choose the specific type of chart you wish to create by choosing a chart sub-type on the right side of the screen. o NOTE – there is always a default chart sub-type selected – so if you want to use the default, highlighted chart, there is no need to click on it again! When you have made your selections regarding chart type, click on the NEXT button at the bottom of the screen. The dialog box for step 2 of the chart wizard will appear: o Here you can click in the option buttons to change the series from columns to rows – it will illustrate in the preview what effect it will have on the chart. o The series tab will allow you to make specifications for each series of information you are charting – example – Mathematics or Social Studies.
§
Click on the Next button to continue.
§ §
The dialog box for the third step of the chart wizard will be brought up: This screen contains many chart options that you can modify to change the way the chart looks when finished.
§
Remember, it always shows you a preview of what the chart will look like after each change – so you can experiment and then change the settings back without affecting the final chart! I would recommend that you always add the chart title and any axis labels you might want. o Tip: the X-axis is usually on the bottom; the Y is the one on the left side! When you finish selecting your chart options, click on the Next button. The dialog box for the 4th and final step of the chart wizard will appear: In this step, the only decision you need to make is where you want to put the chart: § As a new sheet: this means that the chart will be on a separate sheet and will fill up the entire sheet. As object in: this means that the chart will be place somewhere in the same worksheet as the data you typed in. It can then be moved or sized.
§ § § §
§
Example of a chart as an object in the same worksheet
When the chart is selected, colored boxes indicate what information is being represented in the chart.
You can click on each section of the chart to select just that section. You can then double click on the section to format it.
Click and drag on the white space to move the entire chart.
Click and drag on any chart object to move it.
Double click on almost any part of a chart to format it: Axis, legend, gridlines, titles, etc.
Example of a chart created in a new sheet
If you print from here – it will print the chart only unless you tell it otherwise. Click on the Chart Wizard tool to back into it and change the existing chart.
Click on these tabs to view the chart or the original worksheet.
It works exactly like a chart that is part of a worksheet – you can double click on any chart object to format it.