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How To Create A Simple Run Chart

This document provides instructions for creating a simple run chart in Microsoft Excel 2010. It describes how to enter data into columns A and B, select the data in column B to create a line chart, and then modify the chart to display the data in column A on the x-axis. It also explains how to calculate and display the median value on the chart by adding a third column of data and adjusting the chart selection. Formatting options for the chart axes are also covered.

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Wage quality
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views

How To Create A Simple Run Chart

This document provides instructions for creating a simple run chart in Microsoft Excel 2010. It describes how to enter data into columns A and B, select the data in column B to create a line chart, and then modify the chart to display the data in column A on the x-axis. It also explains how to calculate and display the median value on the chart by adding a third column of data and adjusting the chart selection. Formatting options for the chart axes are also covered.

Uploaded by

Wage quality
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How  to  create  a  simple  run  chart  (using  Microsoft  Excel  2010):  
 
Open  a  new  workbook/  worksheet;  
 
In  cell  A1,  enter  the  name  of  the  value  you  wish  to  plot  on  your  x-­‐axis  (e.g.  Time  /  Date  /  Interval);  
 
In  cell  B1,  enter  the  name  of  the  value  you  wish  to  plot  on  your  y-­‐axis  (e.g.  Frequency  /  Number  /  %);  
 
Enter  your  data  for  columns  A  and  B  in  the  rows  below,  e.g.:  

XX  

 
Highlight  all  of  the  completed  cells  in  column  B  only,  then  click  on  the  ‘Insert’  tab  across  the  top  of  
the  formatting  ribbon  and  click  on  the  ‘Line’  chart  option  from  the  ‘Charts’  section.  Select  the  basic  
‘Line’  chart  option  (top  left)  from  the  drop-­‐down  menu  which  appears;  
 
This  should  produce  a  simple  line  chart  from  the  data  you  have  entered  in  column  B;  
 
You  now  need  to  add  column  A  to  the  x-­‐axis  on  your  chart:  
 
Right-­‐click  on  the  chart  you  have  created  and  click  ‘Select  Data…’,  click  on  ‘Edit’  under  ‘Horizontal  
(Category)  Axis  Labels’  and  highlight  (click  and  drag  over)  all  of  the  completed  cells  in  column  A  
except  cell  A1;  
 
Click  ‘OK’  and  ‘OK’  again  to  bring  you  back  to  your  worksheet  and  chart  again  (hopefully  now  with  x-­‐
axis  values);  
 
You  should  now  have  a  simple  run  chart  with  data  from  your  first  two  columns.  You  can  format  the  
appearance  of  the  chart  by  clicking  on  the  chart  and  clicking  on  the  ‘Chart  Tools’  tabs  which  appear  
along  the  top  of  the  formatting  ribbon.  
 
To  add  a  median  line,  click  on  cell  C1  and  enter  ‘Median’.  In  cell  C2,  type:              =MEDIAN($B$2:$B$XX)  
 
in  the  formula  bar,  where  BXX  is  the  last  complete  cell  in  column  B  on  your  worksheet  (e.g.  B13  in  
the  above  example).    Click  enter  to  see  the  calculated  result  in  cell  C2,  then  click  on  cell  C2  again  and  
drag  the  dot  in  the  bottom  right-­‐hand  corner  of  the  cell  down  to  fill  column  C  against  all  the  
completed  values  in  column  B;  
 
NB  the  dollar  signs  signify  a  function  called  ‘absolute  referencing’,  which  allows  you  to  fill  column  C  
with  the  same  median  value;  if  you  enter  ‘=MEDIAN(B2:BXX)’,  when  you  fill  column  C,  each  value  
would  be  different  due  to  something  called  ‘relative  referencing’  (which  you  don’t  want!);  
 
Now  to  add  the  median  line  to  your  chart,  click  on  the  chart,  then  click  once  more  on  the  grey  frame  
outline  of  the  chart.  Column  B  should  appear  highlighted  in  blue.  Drag  the  blue  outline  to  include  the  
values  in  column  C  as  well  as  column  B.  Your  median  line  should  appear  on  the  chart.  
 

Example  run  chart  


100  
90  
80  
70  
60  
%   50  
40   %  
30  
20   Median  
10  
0  
May-­‐14  
Jun-­‐14  

Aug-­‐14  

Oct-­‐14  

Dec-­‐14  
Nov-­‐14  
Jan-­‐14  
Feb-­‐14  
Mar-­‐14  

Sep-­‐14  
Jul-­‐14  
Apr-­‐14  

Date  

 
To  get  the  data  points  to  start  and  finish  at  the  edge  of  the  x-­‐axis,  click  on  the  chart  and  then  the  
‘Layout’  tab  across  the  top  of  the  formatting  ribbon.    Select  ‘Axes’  >  ‘Primary  Horizontal  Axis’  >  
‘More  Primary  Horizontal  Axis  Otions…’,  then  click  the  ‘On  tick  marks’  option  under  ‘Position  Axis:’  at  
the  bottom  of  the  ‘Axis  Options’  page.  
 
To  adjust  the  scale  on  the  y-­‐axis,  follow  the  same  procedure  for  the  ‘Primary  Vertical  Axis’,  and  enter  
‘Fixed’  maximum  and  minimum  points  for  your  y-­‐axis  values.  
 
Click  here  for  a  template  of  the  example  data.    Good  luck!  

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