1. Introduction to Computer Applications West Virginia University
Excel: Charts
Introduction to Computer Applications
West Virginia University

2. Topics Covered Create and format a column chart
Create and format a pie chart
Create and format a line chart
Use a trendline
Insert a sparkline

3. About Excel charts Types of charts Display data
Easier to understand data.
View relationship between data.
Types of charts

4. Create a chart (1)
Select the range of cells according to the instructions
If the range of cells are non-contiguous, keep the Ctrl key pressed on your keyboard, and then select the non-contiguous cells (Cells A3 through A54 and cells G3 through G54 in this example).
View the Insert ribbon. In Charts section, click the “See All Charts” arrow at the right bottom corner.

5. Create a chart (2)
In the Insert Chart dialog box, click All Charts tab.
Click the chart type on the left side as required in the instructions (Column in this example).
After clicking the specific chart type, you have different choices for that type of chart at the top of the dialog box. Click the chart needed (Clustered Column in this example).
Click OK.

6. Create a chart (3)
In the Insert Chart dialog box, click All Charts tab.
Click the chart type on the left side as required in the instructions (Column in this example).
After clicking the specific chart type, you have different choices for that type of chart at the top of the dialog box. Click the chart needed (Clustered Column in this example).
Click OK. The chart will be inserted into the sheet where you select the cells by default.

7. Move chart (1)
If you want to position the chart on the same sheet to cover a range of cells (C57 through L77 in this example):
Click on the chart in white space
Drag the chart to the target position
Resize it to cover that range of cells

8. Move chart (2) If you want to move the chart to different sheet:
Right-click on the chart in white space
Click Move Chart…
In the Move Chart dialog box, check New Sheet
Enter the name for the new sheet
Click OK.

9. Format chart: specify chart title
Double-click the chart title
Rename it as required according to the instructions

10. Format chart: specify the axis titles
Click inside of the chart, and then you can see Chart Elements button at the right top corner
Check Axis Titles.
Double-click horizontal axis tile, and rename it
Double-click vertical axis title, and rename it

11. Format chart: format the vertical axis values
Right-click inside of the vertical axis, and then click Format Axis…
On the right panel, click Number under Axis Options, choose the number format as required according to the instructions (currency with two decimal places in this example).
Close the formatting panel.

12. Format pie chart: add data labels
Click inside of the chart, and then click Chart Elements button at the right top corner
Check Data Labels, and click the right arrow behind Data Labels to expand the options. Click More Options to open the Label Options panel.
Check Label Contains according to the instructions (Category Name and Value in this example)
Close the formatting panel.

13. Format pie chart: remove legend
Right-click inside of the legend.
Click Delete to remove the legend.

14. Format pie chart: format secondary pie
Right-click inside of the pie chart.
Click Format Data Series to open the Series Options panel.
Change Split Series By to the option as required in the instructions (Percentage value in this example)
If Percentage value is chosen, change Values less than to the percentage stated in the instructions (2% in this example)
Close the formatting panel

15. Add a trendline
Click inside of the chart, and then click Chart Elements button at the right top corner.
From the chart elements, check Trendline.

16. Choose the best trendline
Right-click on the dashed trendline.
Click Format Trendline to open the Trendline Options panel.
Scroll down and check Display R-squared value on chart (R-squared value range from 0 to 1, with 1 representing a perfect fit between the data and the linedrawn through them, and 0 representing no correlation between the data and the line).
Choose the trendline with an R-squared value close to 1

17. Project trendline forward
Open the Trendline Options panel.
In Forecast acrea, enter the number of periods you want to forward (5 in this example)

18. Insert a Sparkline
Select the data ranges (columns C through G in this example)
View the Insert ribbon. Click Line from Sparklines section.
Select the Location Range.
Click OK.