5.11 Working with graphs and charts

5.11.1 Creating Chart using chart wizard

You can create either an embedded chart or a chart sheet. 

1.   Select the cells that contain the data that you want to appear in the chart.

2.   If you want the column and row labels to appear in the chart, include the cells that contain them in the selection.

3.   Click Chart Wizard. Follow the instructions in the Chart Wizard.

Tips

•       You can create a chart from pivot table report, called a PivotChart report that allows you to display different views of data.

•       You can create a chart from non-adjacent selection of cells.

•       If your worksheet has multiple levels of row and column labels, your chart can also display those levels. When you create the chart, include the row and column labels for each level in your selection. To preserve the hierarchy when you add data to the chart, change the cell range used to create.

5.11.1.1 Steps To Create Embedded Chart

Combination charts   

A combination chart uses two or more chart types to emphasize that the chart contains different kinds of information. The chart in the example above shows one data series (Projected) as a column chart type and the other (Actual) as a line. To create this kind of overlay effect, select a custom chart type in Step 1 of the Chart Wizard. How to create a chart . This example uses the Line – Column chart type. You can change an existing chart to a combination chart by selecting the data series you want to change and then changing the chart type for that series.

Secondary axis   

When the range of values for different data series varies widely, or when you have mixed types of data, you can plot one or more data series on a secondary value (y) axis. The scale of the secondary axis reflects the values for the associated series. The chart in the example above shows the number of homes sold on the left y-axis and the average price on the right y-axis.

5.11.1.2 Steps To Create Separate Charts On A Chart Sheet

1.       Click the embedded chart you want to see in its own window.

2.       On the View menu, click Chart Window. 

5.11.2 Sizing And Moving Charts

1.       Click the tab for the chart sheet.

2.       To zoom in or out of a chart sheet, click Zoom on the View menu, and then click the option you want.

To size the chart sheet so that it fills the entire workbook window, click Sized with Window on the View menu. When a chart sheet is sized with the window, you cannot zoom in or out of it. 

Moving and resizing chart item by using mouse In most charts, you can use the mouse to resize and move the chart area, the plot area, and the legend. Microsoft Excel automatically sizes titles to accommodate their text. You can move titles with the mouse but you cannot resize them.

1.   Click the chart item you want to move or resize.

2.   To move an item, point to the item, and then drag it to another location. To resize an item, point to a sizing handle. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, drag the sizing handle until the item is the size you want. 

Notes

•       You can also use the mouse to pull out slices in pie and doughnut charts and to move or resize the data markets.

•       In a PivotChart report, you cannot move or resize the legend, axes titles, chart titles or plot area by using the mouse.

5.11.3 Updating & changing the Charts types

Changing value in a chart

The values in a chart are linked to the worksheet from which the chart is created. The chart is updated when you change the data on the worksheet. 

1.       Open the worksheet that contains the data plotted in the chart.

2.       In the cell that contains the value you want to change, type a new value.

3.       Press ENTER. 

Change chart labels, titles, and other text

Most chart text — such as category axis labels, data series names, legend text, and data labels — is linked to the cells on the worksheet used to create the chart. If you edit the text of these items on the chart, they are no longer linked to the worksheet cells. To change the text of these items and maintain links to worksheet cells, edit the text on the worksheet.

Change category axis labels

1.       To change category axis labels on the worksheet, click the cell that contains the label name you want to change, type the new name, and then press ENTER.

2.       To change category axis labels on the chart, click the chart, and then click Source Data on the Chart menu. In the Category axis labels box on the Series tab, specify the worksheet range you want to use as category axis labels. You can also type the labels you want to use, separated by commas, for example:

Division A, Division B, Division C

If you type the label text in the Category axis labels box, the category axis text is no longer linked to a worksheet cell.

Change data series names or legend text

1.       To change legend text or data series names on the worksheet, click the cell that contains the data series name you want to change, type the new name, and then press ENTER.

2.      To change legend text or data series names on the chart, click the chart, and then click Source Data on the Chart menu. On the Series tab, click the data series names you want to change. In the Name box, specify the worksheet cell you want to use as the legend text or data series name. You can also type the name you want to use.

If you type a name in the Name box, the legend text or data series name is no longer linked to a worksheet cell.

Change data labels

1.       To change data labels on the worksheet, click the cell that contains the information you want to change, type the new text or value, and then press ENTER.

2.       To change data labels on the chart, click once on the data label you want to change to select the data labels for the entire series, and then click again to select the individual data label. Type the new text or value, and then press ENTER.

If you change the data label text on the chart, it is no longer linked to a worksheet cell.

Edit chart and axis titles

1.       Click the title you want to change.

2.       Type the new text you want.

3.       Press ENTER.

Change the default chart type
The default chart type for Microsoft Excel is a column chart, unless you are creating a PivotChart report, in which case the default chart type is a stacked column chart. If you routinely create a different type of chart, such as a line chart, you can change the default chart type. If you already have a chart that has the chart type, items, and formatting you want, you can use that chart as the default chart type.

1.       To activate the Chart menu, click a chart.

2.       On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.

3.       On the Standard Types or Custom Types tab, click the chart type you want.

4.       The Custom Types tab lists the current default chart, the built-in custom chart types, and any custom chart types you've added. You can create a chart with the chart type, items, and formatting you want and then save it as a custom chart type.

5.       Click Set As Default Chart, and then click Yes.

6.       To close the dialog box without changing the chart type of the current chart, click Cancel.

7.       To close the dialog box and change the chart type of the current chart, click OK.

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