Microsoft Excel 2016: Charts & Graphs Tech Help Today

Note: This handout was prepared for use with Excel 2016 for Windows. The descriptions here may not correspond
well with other versions of Excel, as the Charts feature of Excel has changed markedly over the past few years.

Charts & Graphs Chart Tools Tabs Add Data Labels

When you create or select a Instead of using a Legend, you
Purpose of a Chart: chart, a set of tabs appears: can apply Data Labels directly
• Conveys numeric data • Design to data points.
efficiently and dramatically • Format • Click the Chart Elements
o Especially effective for Older versions of Excel also button
comparisons had a Layout tab • Click the arrow to the right
• Adds visual appeal to of Data Labels
documents and reports Chart Buttons
• Choose: More Options…
This set of buttons
Main Types: • Adjust settings as desired
appears at the right of
• Column Charts a selected chart Add an Annotation
• Pie Charts • Chart Elements • Click the Insert tab
• Line Charts • Chart Styles • Click: Illustrations
• Bar Charts • Chart Filters • Click: Shapes
• Scatter Charts • Click a suitable shape
Special Types Procedures • Click and drag to create the
• Hierarchy Charts Move to New Sheet shape at a desired location
• Statistic Charts Moves a chart to its own and size
• Waterfall Charts worksheet • Type to add text to the shape
• Combo Charts • Click the Design tab Format the Plot Area
• Surface Charts • Click: Move Chart • Click the Plot Area to select
• Map Charts • Click option button: New it
Chart Parts sheet • Click the Format tab
• Enter name of sheet • Click: Shape Fill
• Chart Area: the whole chart
• Chart Title Switch Rows & Columns • Choose a suitable option
• Vertical (Value) Axis Moves row labels to the Legend Format a Data Series
• Plot Area: where data points and column labels to the • Click a Data Point (column,
are displayed Horizontal Axis or vice versa. bar, or point) to select a Data
• Major Gridlines • Click the Design tab Series
• Data Series: a set of Data • Click: Switch Row/Column • Click the Format tab
Points (columns or bars)
Add a Chart Title • Click: Shape Fill
• Data Point: a single point
• Click the Chart Elements • Choose a suitable option
• Legend: shows which color
matches a given label button Format a Data Point
• Horizontal (Category) Axis • Check: Chart Title • Click a Data Point (column,
• Type the title bar, or point) to select a Data
General Procedure • Press Enter Series
• Select data, including labels
Add Axis Labels • Click the Data Point again to
o Include details or totals,
• Click the Chart Elements select only that point
but not both
• Click the Format tab
• Click Insert tab button
• Check: Axis Titles • Click: Shape Fill
• Choose chart type
• Click one of the Axis Title • Choose a suitable option
• Adjust chart style
• Add/delete elements boxes
• Add annotations • Enter a suitable title
• Format elements

Rich Malloy – 203-862-9411 – Malloy@TechHelpToday.com