LESSON 3: PRESENTING AND CHARTING EXCEL DATA

I. CREATING CHART
A chart is a visual representation of worksheet data. It is used to enhance and simplify the analysis of numerical data in worksheet because it clearly shows the relationship between data. In MS Excel, charts are taken as objects that can be edited, formatted, and deleted without affecting the spreadsheet.

Charts contain titles, labels, legends and data series:

A chart title describes what is charted. A data series is composed of related data to be plotted on the chart. A legend contains labels which identify the different data series. Data labels are used to identify each value in the data series. The plot area is the part of the chart that shows data.

Chart Title Chart Area Data Series

Legend

Grid Line

Values Axis

Category Axis

Bar Chart

COMMON TYPES OF CHART

May contain several series of data wherein each bar represents a value. The bar height is proportional to the value it represents. Bar charts are useful for comparing the changes between values. Bar Charts are of two types vertical and horizontal In MS Excel, a vertical bar chart is also called a column chart

Line Chart

Can include several data series with each line representing a series. Each value in a series is identified as a point on the line. Line charts are helpful for displaying the difference of data over time.

Pie Chart Can include only one series of data. Pie charts are effective for representing data which is a percentage of a whole. Each value in a series is presented as a slice. The size of the slice differs with its percentage of the series total.

Hands on Drill: How to create and modify charts