MS-Excel / General Formatting

Insert Chart

  1. Select the data you want to plot in the chart.
  2. Choose Insert> Charts, and then select the arrow beneath the chart style you want: Excel can create many different chart types; each compares data in a different manner.

    Insert Chart

    Some of the most commonly used chart types include the following:

    Column:
    Column charts compare values to categories using a series of vertical columns to illustrate the series.

    Colum Charts

    Bar:
    Bar charts, like column charts, compare values to categories, but use a series of horizontal bars to illustrate the series.

    Bar Charts

    Line:
    Line charts are similar to bar charts but use dots to represent the data points and lines to connect the data points.

    Line Charts

    Pie:
    This chart compares parts to a whole. Usually a pie chart only has one data series.

    Pie Chart

    Area:
    Area charts display the trend of each value, usually over a specified period of time.

    Area Charts

    X-Y Scatter:
    These charts include two value axes, one showing a set of numerical data along the x-axis and the other showing data along the y-axis.

    X-Y Scatter Charts

    Surface:
    Shows trends in values in a continuous curve.

    Surface

    Doughnut:
    Displays data similarly to a pie chart; it compares parts to a whole, but contains multiple series.

    Doughnut

    Stock:
    Stock charts are usually (but not exclusively) used to illustrate the fluctuation of stock prices. In a stock chart, the data order is very important and usually the row headings are High, Low, and Close; or Open, High, Low, and Close.

    Stock charts

    Radar:
    Displays changes in values relative to a center point by comparing the cumulative values of multiple data series.

    Radar charts

    Bubble:
    These charts are similar to scatter charts, but compare three sets of values by displaying a series of circles.

    Bubble charts

    Cylinder, Cone, and Pyramid:
    Excel uses these three chart types to create a column or bar chart using three-dimensional cylindrical, conical, or pyramid shapes.

    Cylinder, Cone and Pyramid Charts

  3. Choose a chart subtype. Depending on the chart type, some chart subtypes show the data series next to each other; others show the data elements stacked on top of each other. Some charts are two-dimensional, and others are three-dimensional. Excel creates the chart on the worksheet where your data resides.

    Charts

How you can change the chart location to its own sheet. But just in case you don't like your changes, make sure to save your worksheet, which also saves your chart, before modifying chart attributes.

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