If you have a chart with a lot of data, it can often be helpful to have a visual representation of that data. As expected, Excel has robust display features, making it easy to create powerful charts and tables How to Create Powerful Charts and Tables in Microsoft Excel How to Create Powerful Charts and Tables in Microsoft Excel A good chart can make the difference between expressing your point or leaving everyone dozing. We show you how to create powerful charts in Microsoft Excel that engage and inform your audience. Read More You can even use Excel to create auto-updating charts How to Create Auto-Updating Excel Charts in 3 Easy Steps How to Create Auto-Updating Excel Charts in 3 Easy Steps We'll show you how to make your Excel charts update automatically. Just add new data and watch it automatically appear on your chart. It is fast and easy. Read more !
If you want to play around with it but don't have data to start with, you can always use sample data available at dummies.com.
Once you have entered your data into Excel, you can create a chart using all the available data by selecting it with the keyboard shortcut. Ctrl + A . You can also create a chart using just a selection of the data by selecting the cells that contain those numbers.
How to create a chart or graph in Excel
- Once you have selected the cells that contain the data you want to use, go to the Insert tab and you should see a Letters section. Now you have two options:
- Click Recommended Graphics to get an idea of what Excel thinks is best for the type of data you've compiled.
- Or click on the specific type of chart you want to use:Column/Bar Chart, Pie Chart, Line Chart, Hierarchy Chart, Scatter Chart, and more. (See our guide on how to select the right chart for your data 8 Types of Excel Charts and Graphs and When to Use Them 8 Types of Excel Charts and Graphs and When to Use Them Charts are easier to understand than text and numbers. Charts are a great way to visualize numbers. We show you how to create charts in Microsoft Excel and when to best use type. Read More.)
- Click the type of chart you want to use and Excel will instantly transform your data into a visual representation.
- You can now customize the chart to appear the way you want:
- Click the More to determine which of these elements will appear on your chart:Chart Title, Data Labels (that is, the actual numbers in your Excel chart), Axis Titles, Gridlines, the Legend, and more, depending on the type of chart you have chosen.
- Click the Style Button (brush) to select the style and color of your letter. On the Style tab, you can choose from predefined themes that make changes to the overall appearance of your chart. In the color tab, you can choose from the existing color schemes.
- Click the Filter to selectively choose which values, or data, to appear on your chart.
- Excel charts are “living” elements. This means that if you make a change to the selected data, the changes will be instantly visible in the table.
- By right-clicking on the chart, you can switch to a different chart or chart type, add data calls, and more..
You can also copy and paste your chart into other Microsoft products like Word, or design programs like Adobe Photoshop, if you want to create a more elaborate chart.
What kind of charts do you create with Excel? Is there any other program you prefer to use for graphs or charts? Let us know in the comments.
