Graphs and Charts

Introduction:

In Microsoft Excel, charts are used to make a graphical representation of any set of data. It can be
hard to discern patterns or relationships that exist within basic tables of numerical entries. Excel's
powerful charting tools help create a more meaningful representations of your data by making it
easy to build professional looking charts such as the one displayed below.

What Are Graphs and Charts in Excel?

 A chart is a graphic representation of your worksheet data.

Using charts to represent worksheet data often creates a better understanding of your data rather
than simply presenting the numbers in a spreadsheet. They are also a great way to add branding to
your presentations.

Charts and graphs elevate your data by providing an easy-to-understand visualization of numeric
values. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they are slightly different.

 Graphs are the most basic way to represent data visually, and typically display data
point values over a duration of time.

Charts are a bit more complex, as they allow you to compare pieces of a data set relative to the
other data in that set. Charts are also considered more visual than graphs, since they often take a
different shape than a generic x- and y-axis.

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Charts Group:

We can find the Charts group under the INSERT tab on the Ribbon.

The Charts group on the Ribbon looks as follows –

The Charts group is formatted in such a way that −

 Types of charts are displayed.

 The subgroups are clubbed together.

 It helps you find a chart suitable to your data with the button Recommended Charts.

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Chart Tools

When you click on a chart, a new tab Chart Tools is displayed on the ribbon. There are two tabs
under CHART TOOLS −

 DESIGN

 FORMAT

Elements of a Chart:

The figure below shows a chart with the basic elements labeled. It also shows us the data that was
used to create the chart, which will help us to identify what we will need to select in our
spreadsheet to create a meaningful chart. Notice the Total Column and Row were not selected to
prevent the Chart from being out of proportion.

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Identifying Chart Objects

 Chart Area— is the whole chart.

 Gridlines—are the vertical and/or horizontal lines that are useful in guiding the eye to
more easily identify the value associated with each series.
 Plot Area—the area of the chart where the values are graphed.
 Legend—is the color key for the value series. By default this would be the row labels.
 Category Axis - A horizontal axis (also known as x axis) —if the series is by rows it
will display the column labels. If the series is by column, the row labels will be displayed.
 Value Axis - A vertical axis (also known as y axis)—displays the range of values
plotted.
 Value Series—data in the default column chart are plotted by row in column bars called
"series".
 Wall—appears in chart types such as columns and bar charts. It is the area behind the
columns and bars.
 Floor—is connected to the wall in 3-D charts.
 Chart Elements button—This allows you to quick add or remove Chart Elements.
 Chart Styles and Colors button— Allows you quick access to the pre-built styles and
color schemes.
 Filter Chart button— Allows you to filter the chart without having to redefine the data
set.

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Creating Charts with Insert Chart

To create charts using the Insert Chart tab, follow the steps given below.
Step 1 − Select the data.
Step 2 − Click the Insert tab on the Ribbon.
Step 3 − Click the Insert Column Chart on the Ribbon.
Step 4 − Move through the Column Chart options to see the previews.
Step 5 − Click Clustered Column. The chart will be displayed in your worksheet.
Step 6 − Give a meaningful title to the chart by editing Chart Title.

The 2-D column, 3-D Column chart options are displayed. Further, More Column Charts…
option is also displayed.

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Excel Charts – Types

Excel provides you different types of charts that suit your purpose. Based on the type of data, you
can create a chart. You can also change the chart type later.

Excel offers the following major chart types −

 Column Chart
 Line Chart
 Pie Chart
 Doughnut Chart
 Bar Chart
 Area Chart
 XY (Scatter) Chart
 Bubble Chart
 Stock Chart
 Surface Chart
 Radar Chart
 Combo Chart
Each of these chart types have sub-types.

Column Chart

A Column Chart typically displays the categories along the horizontal (category) axis and values
along the vertical (value) axis. To create a column chart, arrange the data in columns or rows on
the worksheet.

A column chart has the following sub-types −

 Clustered Column.

 Stacked Column.

 100% Stacked Column.

 3-D Clustered Column.

 3-D Stacked Column.

 3-D 100% Stacked Column.

 3-D Column.

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Line Chart

Line charts can show continuous data over time on an evenly scaled Axis. Therefore, they are
ideal for showing trends in data at equal intervals, such as months, quarters or years.

In a Line chart −

 Category data is distributed evenly along the horizontal axis.

 Value data is distributed evenly along the vertical axis.

To create a Line chart, arrange the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.

A Line chart has the following sub-types –

 Line

 Stacked Line

 100% Stacked Line

 Line with Markers

 Stacked Line with Markers

 100% Stacked Line with Markers

 3-D Line

Pie Chart

Pie charts show the size of items in one data series, proportional to the sum of the items. The data
points in a pie chart are shown as a percentage of the whole pie. To create a Pie Chart, arrange the
data in one column or row on the worksheet.

A Pie Chart has the following sub-types −

 Pie

 3-D Pie

 Pie of Pie

 Bar of Pie

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Doughnut Chart

A Doughnut chart shows the relationship of parts to a whole. It is similar to a Pie Chart with the
only difference that a Doughnut Chart can contain more than one data series, whereas, a Pie Chart
can contain only one data series.

A Doughnut Chart contains rings and each ring representing one data series. To create a Doughnut
Chart, arrange the data in columns or rows on a worksheet.

Bar Chart

Bar Charts illustrate comparisons among individual items. In a Bar Chart, the categories are
organized along the vertical axis and the values are organized along the horizontal axis. To create
a Bar Chart, arrange the data in columns or rows on the Worksheet.

A Bar Chart has the following sub-types −

 Clustered Bar

 Stacked Bar

 100% Stacked Bar

 3-D Clustered Bar

 3-D Stacked Bar

 3-D 100% Stacked Bar

Area Chart

Area Charts can be used to plot the change over time and draw attention to the total value across a
trend. By showing the sum of the plotted values, an area chart also shows the relationship of parts
to a whole. To create an Area Chart, arrange the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.

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An Area Chart has the following sub-types −

 Area

 Stacked Area

 100% Stacked Area

 3-D Area

 3-D Stacked Area

 3-D 100% Stacked Area

XY (Scatter) Chart

XY (Scatter) charts are typically used for showing and comparing numeric values, like scientific,
statistical, and engineering data.

A Scatter chart has two Value Axes −

 Horizontal (x) Value Axis

 Vertical (y) Value Axis

It combines x and y values into single data points and displays them in irregular intervals, or
clusters. To create a Scatter chart, arrange the data in columns and rows on the worksheet.

Place the x values in one row or column, and then enter the corresponding y values in the adjacent
rows or columns.

A Scatter chart has the following sub-types −

 Scatter

 Scatter with Smooth Lines and Markers

 Scatter with Smooth Lines

 Scatter with Straight Lines and Markers

 Scatter with Straight Lines

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Bubble Chart

A Bubble chart is like a Scatter chart with an additional third column to specify the size of the
bubbles it shows to represent the data points in the data series.

A Bubble chart has the following sub-types −

 Bubble

 Bubble with 3-D effect

Stock Chart

As the name implies, Stock charts can show fluctuations in stock prices. However, a Stock chart
can also be used to show fluctuations in other data, such as daily rainfall or annual temperatures.

To create a Stock chart, arrange the data in columns or rows in a specific order on the worksheet.
For example, to create a simple high-low-close Stock chart, arrange your data with High, Low,
and Close entered as Column headings, in that order.

A Stock chart has the following sub-types −

 High-Low-Close

 Open-High-Low-Close

 Volume-High-Low-Close

 Volume-Open-High-Low-Close

Surface Chart

A Surface chart is useful when you want to find the optimum combinations between two sets of
data. As in a topographic map, colors and patterns indicate areas that are in the same range of
values.

To create a Surface chart −

 Ensure that both the categories and the data series are numeric values.

 Arrange the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.

A Surface chart has the following sub-types −

 3-D Surface

 Wireframe 3-D Surface

 Contour

 Wireframe Contour
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Radar Chart

Radar charts compare the aggregate values of several data series. To create a Radar chart, arrange
the data in columns or rows on the worksheet.

A Radar chart has the following sub-types −

 Radar

 Radar with Markers

 Filled Radar

Combo Chart

Combo charts combine two or more chart types to make the data easy to understand, especially
when the data is widely varied. It is shown with a secondary axis and is even easier to read. To
create a Combo chart, arrange the data in columns and rows on the worksheet.

A Combo chart has the following sub-types −

 Clustered Column – Line

 Clustered Column – Line on Secondary Axis

 Stacked Area – Clustered Column

 Custom Combination

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