Buzz
Instead of dealing with complicated tables, you might prefer leveraging existing data tables and creating charts in Excel. This makes it easy to track and compare information. Excel offers a variety of chart types, including column charts, line charts, area charts, scatter plots, radar charts, and more. You can freely choose the chart type that suits your data.
Here is a tutorial on creating professional charts in Excel. Feel free to explore and enhance your data visualization skills.
Creating Charts in Excel
Step 1: Highlight the data regions you want to include in the chart, including the column data headers. On the menu bar, choose Insert, then select the chart type in the Charts section, or opt for Recommended Charts.
Step 2: Here, you can explore more chart types under the All Charts tab. Each chart type comes in both 2D and 3D options:
Column (column chart), Line (line chart), Pie (pie chart with or without cutouts), Bar (horizontal bar chart), Area (area chart), XY (scatter plot), Stock (stock chart), Surface (surface chart), Radar (spider web chart), ...
Choose the chart type that suits your representation purpose, and once selected, click OK to finalize the chart.
1. Move the Chart
Hold down the left mouse button on the chart area and drag it to the position where you want to relocate it.
2. Resize the Chart
Click on the chart, then place the mouse cursor on the resize handles (handles at the four corners and middle of the four edges of the chart). An arrow icon will appear; press and hold while adjusting the size accordingly.
3. Adding a Title to the Chart
If your chart already includes a Chart Title, place the mouse cursor over it and input the desired title. You can adjust font, font size, style, and color in the Font section of the Home tab.
If your chart lacks a Chart Title, select the chart -> Design -> Add Chart Element -> Chart Title -> choose the title position.
Alternatively, you can directly click the plus icon on the right side of the chart and check the box next to Chart Title.
To choose the position for Chart Title, click the black triangle icon next to Chart Title. Then, enter the chart name in the Chart Title section on the chart.
4. Adjusting Chart Axes
Simply double-click on the vertical or horizontal axis of the chart, and Excel will display the editing section on the right for you to customize.
5. Show/Hide Chart Elements
Click on the + icon on the right side of the chart. Here, you'll find various elements: Axes (information on the chart's vertical and horizontal axes), Axis Titles (titles for the vertical and horizontal axes), Data Labels (data labels), Gridlines (vertical and horizontal gridlines on the chart), Legend (explanations for elements on the chart). To display a specific element, check the box next to it. To hide an element, uncheck the box.
To change the type or position of any element, click on the black triangle icon next to its name and choose the desired options for that element.
6. Change the layout of the chart
Select Chart -> Design -> Quick Layout -> choose the layout type for the chart.
7. Altering Chart Styles
In the Design tab, choose the chart style under Chart Styles. To explore more chart styles, click on the More icon.
Here, you'll find a plethora of chart style options to choose from.
8. Customize Chart Colors
To modify the chart colors, select chart -> Design -> Change Colors -> choose a color scheme for the chart.
9. Altering Chart Shapes
Choose a shape within the chart -> Format -> select a predefined shape style under Shape Styles, fill the shape with color in Shape Fill, outline the shape in Shape Outline, and apply effects to the shape in Shape Effects.
10. Modifying Data in the Chart
Select chart -> Design -> Select Data.
In the Select Data Source dialog, change data in both Legend Entries and Horizontal Axis Labels by selecting Edit and choosing the data range again.
To swap rows and columns in the chart, choose Switch Row/Column, then press OK to close Select Data Source.
11. Print the chart
If you only want to print the chart, select it and press Ctrl + P. If you want to print both the data and the chart, position the cursor outside the chart and press the Ctrl + P key combination. The Print window will appear, allowing you to preview and customize print settings.
12. Delete the Chart
Select the chart and press the Delete key.
Above are detailed instructions on how to professionally draw charts in Excel. I hope this article proves helpful to you. Wish you success!
