CREATING CHARTS IN
EXCEL
Computer Technology
Chart Terminology

The picture below is a column chart with the parts
labeled.
Chart Title
1,000,000
Regional Sales Production
900,000
Y - axis
800,000
Sales Amount
700,000
600,000
Northwest
500,000
Southwest
Northeast
400,000
Southeast
300,000
Legend
200,000
100,000
0
1st Qtr.
2nd Qtr.
3rd Qtr.
Quarter
4th Qtr.
X - axis
Chart Terminology

The main parts of a chart you will need to know are the
following:
Chart Title – states purpose of the chart’s content; should be
specific
 Data Marker – graphic object (bar, column, slice, etc.)
representing an individual data point (value)
 Legend – Key that identifies what data markers represent
 X-axis – usually the horizontal frame of the chart
 Y-axis – usually the vertical frame of the chart; typically
shows quantities.

Chart Types

Charts you will do in this class
 Bar
– shows individual figures at a specific time or
shows variations between components but not in
relationship to the whole.
 Column – Compares separate items as they vary over
time.
 Line – shows trends and change over time at even
intervals. Emphasizes rate of change.
 Pie – shows proportions and relationships of parts of
the whole.
Creating charts

Open Chart #1 (from my website)
 Save
as classperiod_lastname_firstname_Chart 1 in
Spreadsheets Folder.
 Create a footer with your name, chart 1, and class
period.
Column Chart



Highlight A1:E5 (the entire spreadsheet)
Click Insert, Select Column, then 3-D clustered
column
Make sure chart is selected. The ribbon will have a
new tab – Chart Tools;
 On
Design ribbon of Chart Tools click move chart (on
far right side)
 Select New Sheet and
then OK.
Column Chart (continued)




Your Chart will now be displayed on a new sheet.
Click Sheet 1 (on bottom) – Spreadsheet is still there.
Click back on Chart1.
Create a footer – because the chart is on a new sheet
you need to create a new header.


Insert, Header & Footer, Custom Footer. Type name, Chart
1, class period. Click ok twice.
When you return to your chart you will not be able to
see your footer -- to view go to print preview. You
need to check all charts in print preview before you
print – charts without typed names will NOT be
accepted.
Customizing Column Chart

In Chart Tools, click Layout, Click Chart Title, then
Centered Overlay Title.
 Type

Click Axis titles, select primary horizontal axis,
Select Title Below Axis.
 Type

the title – Sales Production
– Quarter
Click Axis titles, select primary vertical axis, select
Vertical Title.
 Type
- Amount
Customizing Column Chart (continued)


Click Legend – you can move the legend to
different places – overlay right, at the top, bottom,
etc. You may move it to a place of your choice.
Click Data Labels – Select Show – this puts the
number values with the data marker.
Bar Chart




We will now create a bar chart using the same
spreadsheet.
Click on Sheet 1 (you should now be able to see
original spreadsheet – Select (highlight) A1:E2
Hold down ctrl on keyboard and also select A4:E4
You should now have 3 rows selected.
Insert, Bar, Clustered bar in 3-D (Similar chart to
first one but this one compares only 2 regions
instead of all 4)
Bar Chart (continued)




Click on Chart and move it right underneath
spreadsheet. Click at the top of the chart and
drag.
Unselect chart – click anywhere in Spreadsheet
Go to Print Preview – the preview should show both
the spreadsheet and the chart. If it does not exit
print preview and click off the chart. Then check
print preview again.
When you need to print both the spreadsheet and
chart on one page this is how you do it.
Bar Chart – should look like example
below
Line Chart





Save Chart #1 again.
Open Chart #2 (from my website)
Create a footer with your name, chart #2 and class
period
Save as Chart 2 in Spreadsheets folder.
Select A2:H4
 Insert,
Line, Line with Markers
Line Chart (continued)





Move chart to New Sheet – Chart Tools, Design,
Move Chart, Click as New Sheet, OK.
Create a footer with your name, Chart 2, class
Period.
Chart Title (Centered Overlay) – Population
Comparison (Chart Tools, Layout, Chart Title)
Horizontal Axis – Decade
Vertical Axis (vertical) – Total Population
Line Chart (continued)



Legend – Overlay Legend at the Right
Data Labels – Below
Data Table – Show Data Table with Legend Keys
Line Chart – Should look like below
Line Chart (continued)


Change Chart Type – Chart Tools, Design, Change
Chart Type (top left)
Select Line
Line Chart (continued)

Difference between Line and Line with markers –
 Line
 Line
with Markers (these are called markers)
Line Chart (continued)




Change Line Chart back to Line with Markers
Chart Tools, Design, Change Chart Type, Line with
Markers
Print Chart – go to Print Preview make sure you
have a header.
Turn in.