Chapter 3 - Charts Flashcards
Chapter 2 summary
Decide which chart type to create
Choose a chart type that will present the data in a way that communicates the message effectively to your audience. Column charts compare categorical data, bar charts compare categorical data horizontally, line charts illustrate trends over time, and pie charts show proportions to the whole. Variations of each major chart type are called subtypes.
Create a chart.
The first step in creating a chart is to identify and select the range of cells that will be used as the data source. Be careful to select similar data series to avoid distorting the chart. After selecting the data source, click the desired chart type on the Insert tab. Excel inserts charts on the same worksheet as the data. You can move the chart and adjust the size of the chart area. When you create a chart or select an existing chart, Excel displays the Chart Tools contextual tab with three tabs: Design, Layout, and Format.
Change the chart type.
You can change a chart to a different chart type if you believe a different chart type will represent the data better.
Change the data source and structure.
You can add or remove data from the data source to change the data in the chart. The Select Data Source dialog box enables you to modify the ranges used for the data series. Excel usually places the first column of data as the category axis and the first row of data as the legend, but you can switch the row and column layout. The Design tab contains options for changing the data source and structure.
Apply a chart layout and a chart style.
You can apply a chart layout to control what chart elements are included and where they are positioned within the chart area. You can apply a chart style, which determines formatting, such as the background color and the data series color. The Design tab contains options for selecting the chart layout and chart style.
Move a chart.
You can position a chart on the same worksheet as the data source, or you can move the chart to its own sheet. The Move Chart dialog box enables you to select a new sheet and name the new chart sheet at the same time. The chart sheet will then contain a full-sized chart and no data. You can also move a chart to an existing worksheet. When you do this, the chart is an embedded object on that sheet, and the sheet may contain other data.
Print charts.
You can print a chart with or without its corresponding data source. To print a chart with its data series, the chart needs to be on the same worksheet as the data source. To ensure both the data and the chart print, make sure the chart is not selected. If the chart is on its own sheet or if you select the chart on a worksheet containing other data, the chart will print as a full-sized chart.
Insert and customize a sparkline.
A sparkline is a miniature chart in one cell representing a single data series. It gives a quick visual of the data to aid in comprehension. You can customize sparklines by changing the data source, location, and style. In addition, you can display markers, such as High Point, and change the line or marker color.
Select and format chart elements.
Because each chart element is an individual object in the chart area, you can select and format each element separately. The Format dialog boxes enable you to apply fill colors, select border colors, and apply other settings. For the value axis, you can format values and specify the number of decimal places to display. For basic formatting, such as font color, use the options in the Font group on the Home tab.
Customize chart labels.
The Labels group on the Layout tab enables you to add or remove chart elements: chart title, axis titles, legend, data labels, and a data table. The chart title should clearly describe the data and purpose of the chart. Include axis titles when you need to clarify the values on the value axis or the categories on the category axis. Customize the legend when you want to change its position within the chart area or hide the legend. Display data labels to provide exact values for data points in one or more data series; however, be careful the data labels do not overlap. If a chart is contained on a chart sheet, you might want to show the data table that contains the values used from the data source.
Format the axes and gridlines.
The Axes group on the Layout tab enables you to control the horizontal and vertical axes. You can select the minimum, maximum, and increments on the value axis, and you can display both major and minor gridlines to help your audience read across the plot area.
Add a trendline.
A trendline is a line that depicts trends. Trendlines are used to help make predictions or forecasts based on the current dataset. Excel enables you to select different types of trendlines based on the type of statistical analysis you want to perform.
