Creating Charts in Excel

You can create a chart in Excel using the data from an existing Excel worksheet. However, before you create your chart, you will need to do a little planning.

• Consider what type of chart you want to create. Excel has 14 different chart types, but not all data is appropriate for every chart.
• As you create your worksheet, consider what data you want highlighted in your chart and try to build a worksheet that allows you to easily copy that data into the chart.
• How do you want to present your chart? Do you want to store the chart in Excel or as part of another Microsoft application such as PowerPoint?

The more you plan ahead, the easier it will be for you to create your chart.

Creating the Chart

Single Series

A series is simply the columns or rows of values that you select to be plotted in the chart. In the example below, we selected a single series, Bob's totals, to create our chart.

• Build a worksheet that has rows and columns of information that can be used in a chart.

  

• Select the range of cells containing the data you want plotted in the chart.
  If the data is not next to the text you want to use as chart labels, use the Ctrl key to select the separate ranges. The example below shows how you would select the cell ranges for a pie chart that would show the number of each M & M color in Bob's bag.

  

• Click on Insert > Chart, or click on the Chart Wizard button.

  

• Select a Chart type in the Chart Wizard.
• Select a Chart sub-type. We selected a standard pie chart.
• Click on Next.

  

• The Chart Source Data dialog box will appear.
  This dialog box shows a preview of the chart and demonstrates what data is being used to create the chart. In this case, the data range is cells B4 through G4.

  

• The Chart Source Data dialog box will appear.
  
• Click on Next.
• Select the Titles tab.
• Type in a name for your chart.
  We chose Bob's M&M's.

  

• Click on the Legend tab.
  This section lets you decide whether or not you want to display your chart's legend. If you chose to display the legend, it also allows you to chose where you want the legend displayed. We chose NOT to display our legend.

  

• Click on the Data Labels tab.
  This section allows you to choose how you want to have your data labeled. We chose to show the values of each section of our pie.
• Click on Next.

  

• Select where you want to place your sheet.
  We chose to place our chart on a separate sheet and titled that sheet "Bob's M&M's."
• Click on Finish.

  

• Excel will complete the chart and store it as a separate sheet in your workbook.
• As a precaution, save your work.