CREATING CHARTS AND

GRAPHS

Creating Charts and Graphs

Introduction
Charts and graphs can be powerful ways to convey information to the reader. LibreOffice
Calc offers a variety of different chart and graph formats for your data.
Using Calc, you can customize charts and graphs to a considerable extent. Many of these
options enable you to present your information in the best and clearest manner.
For readers who are interested in effective ways to present information graphically, two
excellent introductions to the topic are William S. Cleveland’s The elements of graphing data,
2nd edition, Hobart Press (1994) and Edward R. Tufte’s The Visual Display of Quantitative
Information, 2nd edition, Graphics Press (2001).

Chart Wizard
Calc uses a Chart Wizard to create charts or graphs from your spreadsheet data. After the chart
has been created as an object in your spreadsheet, you can then change the chart type, adjust
data ranges and the edit the chart using the functions available in the Chart Wizard. Each change
you make using is automatically reflected in the chart object placed onto your spreadsheet. This
is described in the following sections.

Creating charts and graphs

To demonstrate the process of creating charts and graphs in Calc, we will use example data
as shown in Figure 59 to create a chart.

Figure 59: Example data for creating a chart

Select the cells containing the data to be included in the chart by highlighting (Figure
59). The selection does not need to be in a single block as in Figure 59; you can also
choose individual cells or groups of cells (columns or rows). See Chapter 1 Introducing
Calc for more information about selecting cells and ranges of cells.

Go to Insert > Chart on the main menu bar, or click the Chart icon on the Standard
toolbar to open the Chart Wizard dialog (Figure 60). A sample chart is created using the
selected data and is placed onto the spreadsheet as an object (Figure 61).

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Figure 60: Chart Wizard dialog – selecting chart type

Figure 61: Example chart automatically created using Chart Wizard

If you want to plot any unconnected rows or columns of data, select the first data
Note series, then hold down the Ctrl key and select the next series. The two data series you
are selecting must be in separate columns or rows. Otherwise Calc will assume that
you are adding to the same data series.

Before opening the Chart Wizard, place the cursor or select a cell anywhere in the
Tip area of the data. The Chart Wizard will then guess the range of the data to create a
sample chart. Just be careful that you have not included the title of your chart when you
make your selection.

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Selecting chart type
Calc offers a choice of ten basic chart types and the options available vary according to the type
of chart you select.
The initial chart created using the Chart Wizard is a normal column chart and by default it is a 2D
chart. This is highlighted with a surrounding border in the preview box in Figure 60 and the chart
name is shown below the preview.
To change the chart type:
Select the type of chart from the list in Choose a chart type (Figure 60).
Select a chart icon in the preview box and check to see if it is the chart type you
require. For more information on chart types, see “Gallery of chart types” on page 108.
For Column, Bar, Pie or Area chart types only and if you want to use a 3D chart, select the
checkbox 3D Look and select the type of 3D view for your chart (Realistic or Simple).
Select the options you want to use for your chart. The options available are dependent
of the type of chart selected.
Click Next>> to move onto the next step in creating an example chart and make
changes to the data range and axes labels (Figure 62).
If you are satisfied with your chart, click Finish to close the Chart Wizard and create
an example chart object on your spreadsheet.

To demonstrate the process of creating charts using the following sections, please
Note leave the chart type as 2D column normal.

Figure 62: Chart Wizard dialog – selecting data range

Data range and axes labels

In the Data Range step of the Chart Wizard (Figure 62), you can manually correct any mistakes
you have made in selecting the data for your chart, how your chart is plotted and how to label your
chart.
If necessary, change the rows and columns used as data for your chart by editing the
cell references in the Data range text box.

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 Select whether to plot chart data by using either rows or columns as the data series. This
is useful if you use a chart type such as Donut or Pie to display your data.
Select whether to use the first row, or first column, or both, as labels for the axes of
the chart.
Click Next>> to move onto the next step in creating an example chart and make
changes to the data series (Figure 63).
If you are satisfied with your chart, click Finish to close the Chart Wizard and create
an example chart object on your spreadsheet.

A data range may consist of more than one region in a spreadsheet, for
example "$Sheet1.A1:A5;$Sheet1.D1:D5" is also a valid data range.
Note If you want a data range of multiple cell areas that are not next to each other, enter
the first range, then manually add a semicolon at the end of the text box, then enter
the other ranges. Use a semicolon as delimiter between ranges.

Figure 63: Chart Wizard dialog – selecting data series

Data series
On the Data Series page of the Chart Wizard (Figure 63) you can change the source range of all
data series separately, including their labels. You can also change the range of the categories
and remove unnecessary data series or add data series from other cells.
Each named data series has its ranges and its individual Y-values listed. This is useful if you have
very specific requirements for data in your chart, as you can include or leave out these ranges.
In the Data series list box you see a list of all data series in the current chart.
To organize the data series, select an entry in the Data series list.
Click Add to add another data series below the selected entry. The new data series has
the same type as the selected entry.
Click Remove to remove the selected entry from the Data series list.
Use the Up and Down buttons to move the selected entry in the list up or down. This
does not change the order in the data source table, but changes only the arrangement in
the chart.

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 To change the cell reference that is used to name a data series, select an entry in the
Data series list and edit the cell reference in the Range for Name text box.
To change the cell reference that is to give a category in a data series, select an entry
in the Data series list and edit the cell reference in the Categories text box.
Click Next>> to move onto the next step in creating an example chart and make
changes to the chart elements (Figure 65).
If you are satisfied with your chart, click Finish to close the Chart Wizard and create
an example chart object on your spreadsheet.

Figure 64: Chart elements

Chart elements
The chart elements for 2D and 3D charts are shown in Figure 64.
The chart wall contains the graphic of the chart displaying the data.
The chart area is the area surrounding the chart graphic.
The chart floor is only available for 3D charts.
The chart title and subtitle, chart legend, axes labels and axes names are in the chart
area and can be added when using the Chart Wizard to create a chart.
On the Chart Elements page (Figure 65), you can add or change the titles, axes names and grids.
Use a title that draws the attention of viewers to the purpose of the chart and what you want them
to see. Figure 64 shows the various chart elements that can be placed onto a chart.
Enter a title and subtitle you want to use in the Title and Subtitle text boxes. For
example, a better title for this example chart might be The Performance of Motor and
Other Rental Boats.
Enter a name you want to use in the X axis and Y axis text boxes, for example, Thousands
for the Y axis. The Z axis text box is only active if you are creating a 3D chart.
Select the Display legend checkbox and where you want the legend displayed on
your chart – Left, Right, Top or Bottom.
In Display grids, select the X axis or Y axis checkboxes to display a grid on your chart. The
Z axis checkbox is only active if you are creating a 3D chart. Grid lines are not available for
pie charts.

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 Click Finish to close the Chart Wizard and create an example chart object on
your spreadsheet.

Figure 65: Chart Wizard dialog – selecting and changing chart elements

Clicking Finish closes the Chart Wizard, but the chart is still in edit mode and you
Note can still modify it. Click outside the chart in any cell or a data series to complete
the chart creation.

Editing charts and graphs

After you have created a chart, you may find that data has changed or you would like to improve
the look of the chart. Calc provides tools for changing the chart type, chart elements, data
ranges, fonts, colors, and many other options, and this is described in the following sections.

Changing chart type

You can change the chart type at any time.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.

Go to Format > Chart Type on the main menu bar, or click the Chart Type icon on the
Formatting toolbar, or right-click on the chart and select Chart Type from the context menu
to open the Chart Type dialog. This is similar to the Chart Wizard dialog shown in Figure 60
on page 84.
Select a replacement chart type you want to use. For more information, see
“Selecting chart type” on page 84.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

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Editing data ranges or data series
If the data range or data series has changed in your spreadsheet, you can edit them in your chart.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > Data Ranges on the main menu bar, or right-click on the chart and select
Data Ranges from the context menu to open the Data Ranges dialog. This dialog has
similar pages to the Chart Wizard dialogs shown in Figure 62 on page 84 and Figure 63
on page 85.
To edit the data range used for the chart, click on the Data Range tab. For
more information, see “Data range and axes labels” on page 84.
To edit the data series used for the chart, click on the Data Series tab. For
more information, see “Data series” on page 85.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Basic editing of chart elements

Basic editing of the title, subtitle and axes names in your chart is as follows. For more
advanced editing, see the following sections.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Insert > Titles on the main menu bar, or right-click in the chart area and select
Insert Titles from the context menu to open the Titles dialog. This dialog is similar to the
Chart Wizard dialog shown in Figure 65 on page 87.
Edit the text shown in the various text boxes.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Adding or removing chart elements

Titles, subtitles and axes names

Adding a title, subtitle or axes names to your chart is the same procedure as given in “Basic
editing of chart elements” above. To remove a title, subtitle or axes names from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Open the Titles dialog as above and delete the text from the various text boxes.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Legends
To add a legend to your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Insert > Legend on the main menu bar to open the Legend dialog. This dialog is
similar to the Display legend section on the Chart Wizard dialog shown in Figure 65 on
page 87.
Select the Display legend checkbox and where you want the legend displayed on
your chart – Left, Right, Top or Bottom.

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 Click OK to close the dialog.
Alternatively, right-click in the chart area and select Insert Legend from the context
menu to insert a legend in the default position on the right side of the chart.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To remove a legend from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Insert > Legend on the main menu bar to open the Legend dialog.
Deselect the Display legend checkbox.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Alternatively, right-click in the chart area and select Delete Legend from the context menu.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Axes
To add an axis to your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Insert > Axes on the main menu bar, or right-click on the chart and select
Insert/Delete Axes from the context menu to open the Axes dialog (Figure 66).
Select the axes checkboxes that you want to use on your chart. The Z axis checkbox is
only active if you are creating a 3D chart.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To remove an axis from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Open the Axes dialog as above and deselect the checkboxes for the axes you want
to remove.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Figure 66: Axes dialog

Grids
The visible grid lines can help to estimate the data values in the chart. The distance of the
grid lines corresponds to the interval settings in the Scale tab of the axis properties.

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Grid lines are not available for pie charts.
To add a grid to your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Insert > Grids on the main menu bar to open the Grids dialog. This is the
same dialog as the Axes dialog (Figure 66), but it is titled Grids.
Select the grid checkboxes that you want to use on your chart. The Z axis checkbox is
only active if you are creating a 3D chart.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To remove a grid from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Open the Grids dialog as above and deselect the checkboxes for the grids you want
to remove.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

Data labels
Data labels put information about each data point on the chart. They can be very useful for
presenting detailed information, but you need to be careful not to create a chart that is too
cluttered to read.

Figure 67: Data Labels dialog

The text for data labels is taken from the spreadsheet data and it cannot be changed
Note here. If the text needs to be abbreviated, or if it did not label your graph as you
were expecting, you need to change it in the original data table.

To add data labels to your chart:

Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.

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 Select the data series on your chart that you want to label. If you do not select a
data series, then all data series on your chart will be labelled.
Go to Insert > Data Labels on the menu bar to open the Data Labels dialog (Figure 67).
Select the options that you want to use for data labels. The options available for data
labels are explained below.
Click OK to close the dialog.
Alternatively, right-click on the selected data series and select Insert Data Labels from
the context menu. This method uses the default setting for the data labels.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To remove data labels from you chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the data labels on your chart that you want to remove.
Go to Insert > Data Labels on the menu bar, or right-click on the data labels and select
Format Data Labels from the context menu to open the Data Labels dialog (Figure 67).
Make sure Data Labels page is selected in the dialog and deselect all the options for
the data labels that you want to remove.
Click OK to close the dialog and remove the data labels.
Alternatively, right-click on the data series and select Delete Data Labels from the
context menu.
Repeat the above steps to remove more data labels because you can only remove
one data series at a time.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
The options available for data labels in the Data Labels dialog are as follows.
Show value as number – displays the numeric values of the data points. When
selected, this option activates the Number format button.
Number format – opens the Number Format dialog, where you can select the number
format. This dialog is very similar to the one for formatting numbers in cells, see Chapter
2 Entering, Editing, and Formatting Data for more information.
Show value as percentage – displays the percentage value of the data points in
each column. When selected, this option activates the Percentage format button.
Percentage format – opens the Number Format dialog, where you can select the
percentage format. This dialog is very similar to the one for formatting numbers in cells,
see Chapter 2 Entering, Editing, and Formatting Data for more information.
Show category – shows the data point text labels.
Show legend key – displays the legend icons next to each data point label.
Separator – selects the separator between multiple text strings for the same object (if
at least two options above are selected).
Placement – selects the placement of data labels relative to the objects.
Rotate Text – click in the dial to set the text orientation for the data labels or enter
the rotation angle for the data labels.
Text Direction – specify the text direction for a paragraph that uses Complex Text
Layout (CTL). This feature is only available if CTL support is enabled.

Trend lines
When you have a scattered grouping of points in a graph, you may want to show the relationship
of the points by using a trend line. Calc has a good selection of regression types you can use for

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trend lines: linear, logarithm, exponential, and power. Choose the type that comes closest
to passing through all of the points.
Trend lines can be added to all 2D chart types except for pie and stock charts. If a data series is
selected, a trend line is inserted for that data series only. If no data series are selected, trend
lines are inserted for all data series.
When inserted, trend lines are automatically shown in the chart legend.

Figure 68: Trend Lines dialog

To insert trend lines to your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the data series on your chart that you want to use to insert trend lines. If you do
not select a data series, then trend lines for all data series on your chart will be inserted.
To insert trend lines for all data series, go to Insert > Trend Lines on the main menu bar
to open the Trend Lines dialog (Figure 68).
To insert a trend line for a single data series, select a data series then go to Insert > Trend
Lines on the main menu bar, or right-click on the data series and select Insert Trend Line from
the context menu to open the Trend Lines dialog for the selected data series.

The dialog to insert a trend line for a single data series is similar to the dialog for all
Note data series (Figure 68), but has a second page called Line where you can select
the formatting for the trend line (style, color, width, and transparency).

Select the type of trend line that you want to insert – Linear, Logarithmic, Exponential,
or Power.
To show the equation or coefficient of determination used to calculate the trend lines,
select the options Show equation and/or Show coefficient of determination (R2).
Click OK to close the dialog and the trend lines are placed onto your chart.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

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 When inserted, a trend line has the same color as the corresponding data series. To
Note change the trend line properties, right-click on the trend line and select Format
Trend Line on the context menu to open the Line page of the Trend Lines dialog.

To show the equation or the coefficient of determination and the equation after a trend line has
been inserted, right-click on the trend line and select Insert Trend Line Equation or Insert R 2
and Trend Line Equation from the context menu. For more information on the equations, see the
topic Trend Lines in the LibreOffice Calc Help.
When you select a trend line, the information for the trend line is shown in the Status Bar, which
is normally located at the bottom of the spreadsheet.
To delete trend lines from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
To delete all trend lines, go to Insert > Trend Lines on the main menu bar to open
the Trend Lines dialog and select None then click OK.
To delete a single trend line, right-click on the data series and select Delete Trend
line from the context menu.

Mean value lines

Mean value lines are special trend lines that show the mean value and can only be used in 2D
charts. If a data series is selected, a mean value line is inserted for that data series only. If no
data series are selected, mean value lines are inserted for all data series.
When you insert mean value lines into your chart, Calc calculates the average of each selected
data series and places a colored line at the correct level in the chart. The colored line uses the
same color as that used for the data series.
To insert mean value lines on your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the data series on your chart that you want to use to insert mean value lines. If
you do not select a data series, then mean value lines for all data series on your chart will
be inserted.
To insert mean value lines for all data series, go to Insert > Mean Value Lines on the
main menu bar.
To insert a mean value line for a single data series, select a data series then go to Insert >
Mean Value Lines on the main menu bar, or right-click on the data series and select Insert
Mean Value Line from the context menu.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To delete mean value lines from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the mean value line you want to delete and press the Delete key, or right-click on
the data series and select Delete Mean Value Line from the context menu.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.

X or Y error bars
Use the X and Y error bars to display error bars for 2D charts only. If a data series is selected, an
X or Y error bar is inserted for that data series only. If no data series are selected, X or Y error
bars are inserted for all data series.

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If you are presenting data that has a known possibility of error, such as social surveys using a
particular sampling method, or you want to show the measuring accuracy of the tool you used,
you may want to show error bars on the chart.
To insert error bars to your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.

Figure 69: Error Bars dialog

Select the data series on your chart that you want to use to insert error bars. If you do
not select a data series, then error bars for all data series on your chart will be inserted.
To insert error bars for all data series, go to Insert > X Error Bars or Insert > Y Error
Bars on the main menu bar to open the Error Bars dialog (Figure 69).
To insert error bars for a single data series, select a data series then go to Insert > X
Error Bars or Insert > Y Error Bars on the main menu bar, or right-click on the data
series and select Insert X Error Bars or Insert Y Error Bars from the context menu to
open the Error Bars dialog.
Select the required options in Error Category, Error Indicator or Parameters to use for
the error bars. More information on the options for error bars is given below.
Click OK to close the dialog and insert the error bars onto your chart.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
To delete error bars from your chart:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
To delete error bars for all data series, go to Insert > X Error Bars or Insert > Y Error
Bars on the main menu bar to open the Error Bars dialog (Figure 69) and select None in
Error Category.
Click OK to close the dialog and delete the error bars from your chart.
To delete error bars from a single data series, right-click on the data series and
select Delete X Error Bars or Delete Y Error Bars from the context menu.
Click outside the chart to leave edit mode.
Several options are provided on the X or Y Error Bars dialog. You can select only one error
category at a time. You can also select whether the error indicator shows both positive and
negative errors, or only positive or only negative.

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 Constant value – you can have separate positive and negative values.
Percentage – choose the error as a percentage of the data points.
The drop-down list has four options as follows:
– Standard error
– Variance – shows error calculated on variance
– Standard deviation – shows error calculated on standard deviation
– Error margin – you designate the error
Cell Range – calculates the error based on cell ranges you select. The Parameters
section at the bottom of the dialog changes to allow selection of the cell ranges.

Formatting charts and graphs

Calc provides many options for formatting and fine-tuning the appearance of your charts. To
enter formatting mode for your chart:

Selecting chart elements

Depending on the purpose of your document, for example a screen presentation or a printed
document for a black and white publication, you might wish to have more detailed control over
the different chart elements to give you what you need.
To select a chart element:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the chart element that you want to format and the chart element will be highlighted
with selection squares or a border of square selection handles. Each chart element has
its own formatting options and these are explained below.
Go to Format on the main menu bar and select the relevant option, or right-click to display a
context menu relevant to the selected element to open the relevant formatting dialog.

If your chart has many elements, it is recommended to turn on tooltips in Tools >
Note Options > LibreOffice > General. When you hover a cursor over an element, Calc will
display the element name which will making it easier in selecting the correct element.
The name of the selected element also appears in the Status Bar.

Formatting options
Format Selection – opens a dialog where you can specify the area fill, borders,
transparency, characters, fonts, and other attributes of the selected element on the chart.
Position and Size – opens the Position and Size dialog (see “Position and Size dialog”
on page 106).
Arrangement – provides two options: Bring Forward and Send Backward, of which only
one may be active for some items. Use these options to arrange overlapping data series.
Title – formats the titles for the chart and chart axes.
Legend – formats how the legend appears and positioned on the chart
Axis – formats the lines that create the chart as well as the font of the text that appears
on both the X and Y axes.

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 Grid – formats the lines that create a grid for the chart.
Chart Wall, Chart Floor, or Chart Area – formats how the chart wall, chart floor and
chart area appear on your chart. Note that the chart floor is available for 3D charts.
Chart Type – changes what type of chart is displayed and whether it is 2D or 3D
chart. Note that only column, bar, pie and area charts can be displayed as a 3D chart.
Data Ranges – explained in “Data range and axes labels” on page 84 and “Editing
data ranges or data series” on page 88.
3D View – formats 3D charts and is only available for 3D charts (see page 97).

Moving chart elements

You may wish to move or resize individual elements of a chart, independent of other chart
elements. For example, you may wish to reposition the legend from its default position on the right
of the chart to below the chart. Pie charts also allow moving of individual wedges of the pie as well
as exploding the entire pie. However, you cannot move an individual point or data series.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Move the cursor over the chart element you want to move, then click and drag to move
the element. If the element is already selected, then the cursor changes to the move icon
(normally a small hand), then click and drag to move the element.
Release the mouse button when the element is in the desired position.

If your chart is a 3D chart, then round selection handles appear when a 3D chart
element is selected. These round selection handles control the 3D angle of the
Note element. You cannot resize or reposition the element while the round selection
handles are showing. Use Shift+Click to get the square selection handles and
you can now resize and reposition your 3D chart graphic.

Changing chart area background

The chart area is the area surrounding the chart graphic, including the main title, subtitle
and legend.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > Chart Area on the main menu bar or right-click in the chart area and select
Format Chart Area from the context menu to open the Chart Area dialog (Figure 70).
Select the desired formatting from the Borders, Area and Transparency pages.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.

Changing chart graphic background

The Chart Wall is the area that contains the chart graphic.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > Chart Wall on the main menu bar or right-click in the chart area and
select Format Chart Area from the context menu to open the Chart Wall dialog. This
dialog is similar to the Chart Area dialog in Figure 70.
Select the desired formatting from the Borders, Area and Transparency pages.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.

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 Figure 70: Chart Area dialog

Changing colors
If you want to modify the color scheme from the default, or you want to add extra chart colors for
charts in all your documents, go to Tools > Options > Charts > Default Colors top make the
changes. Changes made in this dialog affect the default chart colors for any chart you make in
the future. See the Getting Started Guide for more information on changing colors.

3D charts
The 3D View dialog (Figure 71) has three pages:
Perspective – where you can change the perspective of the chart.
Appearance – Select whether to use a simple or realistic scheme for your 3D chart.
Illumination – controls the light source that illuminates your 3D chart and where
the shadows will fall.

Figure 71: 3D View dialog – Perspective page

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Rotation and perspective
To rotate a 3D chart or change its perspective view:
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > 3D View on the main menu bar or right-click in the chart area and
select 3D View from the context menu to open the 3D View dialog (Figure 71).
Click on the Perspective tab to open the page.
Enter the required settings for Right angled axes and Perspective.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.
Some hints for using the Perspective page:
Set all angles to 0 for a front view of the chart. Pie charts and donut charts are shown
as circles.
With Right-angled axes enabled, you can rotate the chart contents only in the X and
Y direction; that is, parallel to the chart borders.
An X value of 90, with Y and Z set to 0, provides a view from the top of the chart. With X
set to –90, the view is from the bottom of the chart.
Rotation is applied in the following order: X-axis first, then Y-axis, and Z-axis last.
When shading is enabled and you rotate a chart, the lights are rotated as if they are fixed
to the chart.
The rotation axes always relate to the page, not to the axes of the chart. This is
different from some other chart programs.
Select the Perspective option to view the chart in central perspective as through a
camera lens instead of using a parallel projection. Set the focus length with the spin
button or type a number in the box. 100% gives a perspective view where a far edge in
the chart looks approximately half as big as a near edge.

Rotating 3D charts interactively

In addition to using the Perspective page of the 3D View dialog to rotate 3D charts, you can
also rotate 3D charts interactively.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the Chart Wall and round selection handles appear.
Hover the mouse cursor over a corner handle and the cursor changes to a rotation icon.
Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the direction you want. A dashed outline
of the chart is visible while you drag to help you see how the result will look.
Release the mouse button when satisfied.

Appearance
Use the Appearance page to modify some aspects of the appearance of a 3D chart.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > 3D View on the main menu bar or right-click in the chart area and
select 3D View from the context menu to open the 3D View dialog (Figure 72).
Click on the Appearance tab to open the page.
Select a scheme from the Scheme drop down list box – Realistic (default) or Simple.
When you select a scheme, the options and the light sources are set accordingly.

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 Figure 72: 3D View dialog – Appearance page
If necessary, select or deselect a combination of Shading, Object borders, or Rounded
edges that is not given by the Realistic or Simple schemes to create a Custom scheme.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.
Some hints for the Appearance page. Depending on the scheme selected, not all options
are available.
Select Shading to use the Gouraud method for rendering the surface. Otherwise, a flat
method is used. The flat method sets a single color and brightness for each polygon.
The edges are visible, soft gradients and spot lights are not possible. The Gouraud
method applies gradients for a smoother, more realistic look. See the Draw Guide for
more information on the use of shading.
Select Object borders to draw lines along the edges.
Select Rounded edges to smooth the edges of box shapes.

Illumination
Use the Illumination page (Figure 73) to set the light sources for the 3D view. See the
Draw Guide for more information on setting the illumination.

Figure 73: 3D View dialog – Illumination page

Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > 3D View on the main menu bar or right-click in the chart area and
select 3D View from the context menu to open the 3D View dialog (Figure 73).
Click on the Illumination tab to open the page.

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 Click any of the eight buttons to switch a directed light source on or off. By default, the
second light source is switched on. It is the first of seven normal, uniform light sources.
The first light source projects a specular light with highlights.
For the selected light source, select a color from the drop down list just below the eight light
source buttons. Note that the brightness values of all lights are added together, so use dark
colors when you enable multiple lights.
Each light source always points at the middle of the object initially. If necessary, change the
position of the light source by moving the vertical and/or horizontal sliders to set position of
the selected light source.
Check the small preview on the dialog to see the effect of repositioning the light source.
Click the button in the bottom right corner of the preview to switch the internal
illumination model between a sphere and a cube.
Select the ambient light using the Ambient light drop down list to define the ambient
light which shines with a uniform intensity from all directions.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.

Grids
You can divide the axes into sections by assigning gridlines to them. This allows you to get a
better overview of the chart, especially if you are working with large charts. The Y axis major grid
is activated by default.
Use the Grid dialog to set the formatting options for the lines used as grids in your chart by
selecting line style, color, width and transparency. The dialog is similar to the Line page in
the Chart Area dialog shown in Figure 70 on page 97.

Axes
Sometimes you need to have a special scale for one of the axes of your chart, or you need smaller grid
intervals, or you want to change the formatting of the labels on the axis. After highlighting the axis you
wish to change, right-click and choose one of the items from the context menu.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Go to Format > Y Axis or X Axis on the main menu bar and select the axis you want to
format, or right-click in on the chart the axis you want to format and select Format Axis
from the context menu to open the Axis dialog (Figure 74). The options available in the
dialog depend on which axis was selected, type of axis used, type of chart and whether
the chart is 2D or 3D.

Figure 74: Y Axis dialog – Scale page

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 Click on the tab of the page where you to make changes using the available options.
The options for each page are explained below.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.

Scale
You can enter values for subdividing axes on the Scale page (Figure 74).
Reverse direction – defines where the lower and the higher values are displayed at the
axis. Deselect this option to use a mathematical direction. That means for Cartesian
coordinate systems that the X-axis shows the lower values on the left and the Y-axis
shows the lower values at the bottom. For polar coordinate systems, the mathematical
angle axis direction is counterclockwise and the radial axis is from inner to outer.
Logarithmic scale – specifies that you want the axis to be subdivided logarithmically.
Use this option if you are working with values that differ sharply from each other. You can
use logarithmic scaling to make the grid lines of the axis equidistant but have values that
may increase or decrease.
Minimum – defines the minimum value for the beginning of the axis. Automatic must
be deselected to set this option manually.
Maximum – defines the maximum value for the end of the axis. Automatic must
be deselected to set this option manually.
Major interval – defines the interval for the main division of the axes. The main
interval cannot be larger than the value area. Automatic must be deselected to set this
option manually.
Minor interval count – defines the interval for the subdivision of the axes. Automatic
must be deselected to set this option manually.
Automatic – you must first deselect this option to modify the values. Disable this option
if you are working with fixed values, as it does not permit automatic scaling.
Type – for some types of axes, you can select to format an axis as text or date, or to
detect the type automatically. For a data axis type, you can set the following options.
– Minimum and maximum value to be shown on the ends of the scale.
– Resolution can be set to show days, months, or years as interval steps.
– Major interval can be set to show a certain number of days, months, or years.
– Minor interval can be set to show a certain number of days, months, or years.

Figure 75: Y Axis dialog – Positioning page

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Positioning
The Positioning page (Figure 75) controls the positioning of the axis.
Axis line – select where Cross other axis at from the drop down list – Start, End, or at
a specified Value.
Labels – select where Place labels: is set from the drop down list – Near axis, Near
axis (other side), Outside start, or Outside end.
Interval marks
– Major – specifies whether the marks are to be on the inner or outer side of the axis. It is
possible to combine both: you will then see marks on both sides. Inner – specifies that
marks are placed on the inner side of the axis. Outer – specifies that marks are placed
on the outer side of the axis.
– Minor – defines the marking dashes between the axis marks. It is possible to activate
both fields. This will result in a marking line running from the outside to the inside.
– Inner – specifies that minor interval marks are placed on the inner side of the axis.
– Outer – specifies that minor interval marks are placed on the outer side of the axis.
– Place marks – select where to place the marks from the drop down list – At labels, At
axis, or At axis and labels.

Line
Use the Line page to set the formatting options for the axis line by selecting line style, color, width, and
transparency. The dialog is similar to the Chart Area dialog shown in Figure 70 on page 97.

Figure 76: Y Axis dialog – Label page

Label
On the Label page (Figure 76), you can decide whether to show or hide the labels, how to
handle them when they will not all fit neatly into one row (for example, if the words are too long),
and whether to have them at an angle to the axis.

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 Show labels – specifies whether to show or hide the axis labels.
Order – the options on this page are only available for a 2D chart. In this area, you
can define the alignment of the number labels on the X or Y axis.
– Tile – arranges numbers on the axis side by side.
– Stagger odd – staggers numbers on the axis, even numbers lower than odd numbers.
– Stagger even – stagger numbers on the axes, odd numbers lower than even numbers.
– Automatic – automatically arranges numbers on the axis.

Problems may arise in displaying labels if the size of your chart is too small. You can
Note avoid this by either enlarging the view or decreasing the font size.

Text flow – determines the text flow of the axis label.

– Overlap – specifies that text in axis labels may overlap other axis labels. This can be
especially useful if there is a lack of space.
– Break – allows a text break.
Text direction – defines the text direction of labels.
– ABCD wheel – click and drag the indicator on the wheel defines the variable text
orientation. The characters "ABCD" on the wheel correspond to the new setting.
– Vertically stacked – assigns vertical text orientation for labels. If you define a vertical
X-axis label, the text may be cut off by the line of the x-axis.
– Degrees – manually enter the orientation angle for the labels.
– Text direction – specify the text direction for any text that uses complex text layout
(CTL) and is only available if Enhanced language support is enabled In Tools >
Options > Language Settings.

Numbers
Use the Numbers page to set the attributes for any numbers used on the axis. This page is very
similar to the one for formatting numbers in cells; see Chapter 2 Entering, Editing, and
Formatting Data for more information.

Font and Font Effects

Use the Font and Font Effects pages to set the attributes for fonts and the type of font effects
used for axis labels. These pages are very similar to the ones for fonts and font effects in cells;
see Chapter 2 Entering, Editing, and Formatting Data for more information.

Asian Typography
Sets the Asian typographic options for axis labels and is only available if Enhanced
language support is enabled In Tools > Options > Language Settings.
Apply list of forbidden characters to the beginning and end of line – prevents the
characters in the list from starting or ending a line. The characters are relocated to either
the previous or the next line. To edit the list of restricted characters, go to Tools >
Options > Language Settings > Asian Layout.
Allow hanging punctuation – prevents commas and periods from breaking the line.
Instead, these characters are added to the end of the line, even in the page margin.
Apply spacing between Asian, Latin and Complex text – inserts a space
between Asian, Latin and complex characters.

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Hierarchical axis labels
Multiple columns of categories can be displayed in a hierarchical manner at the axis on your
chart. Hierarchical axes labels are created automatically if the first columns (or rows) contain data
that is text. An example of hierarchical labels is shown in Figure 77 where the first column
indicates the quarters and the second column shows the months.

Figure 77: Example of hierarchical axes labels

Figure 78: Data Series dialog – Line page

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Selecting and formatting symbols
In line and scatter charts the symbols representing the points can be changed to a different
symbol or color through the object properties dialog.
Select the chart by double-clicking on it to enter edit mode. The chart should now
be surrounded by a gray border.
Select the data series you want to change.
Go to Format > Format Selection on the main menu bar or right-click and select Format
Data Series from the context menu to open the Data Series dialog (Figure 78).
Open the Line page of the Data Series dialog by clicking on its tab.
In the Icon section, open the drop-down list and select an option for your symbol from No
symbol, Automatic, From file, Gallery or Symbols. A preview of your selection is shown in
the preview box at the bottom of the dialog.
– From file opens a file browser so you can select a file to use for your symbol.
– Gallery opens a list showing the available graphics you can select for your symbol.
– Symbols opens a list showing the available symbols you can select.
Enter the Width and the Height you want to use for your new symbol.
Select Keep ratio if you want the width and height of your symbol to maintain its ratio.

Adding drawing objects to charts

As in the other LibreOffice components, you can use the Drawing toolbar to add shapes such as
lines, rectangles, circles, text objects, or more complex shapes such as symbols or block
arrows. Use these additional shapes to add explanatory notes and highlight points on your chart,
for example. For more information on using the Drawing toolbar and drawing shapes, see the
Draw Guide.

Resizing and moving the chart

You can resize or move all elements of a chart at the same time, in two ways: interactively, or by
using the Position and Size dialog. You can use a combination of both methods: interactive for
a quick and easy change, then the Position and Size dialog for precise sizing and positioning.

Interactively
To resize a chart interactively:
Click once on the chart to select it and square selection handles appear around the
border of the chart.
To increase or decrease the size of the chart, click and drag one of the markers. The
cursor indicates the direction in which you can increase or decrease the chart size.
To move a chart interactively:
Click once on the chart to select it and square selection handles appear around the
border of the chart.
Hover the cursor anywhere over the chart until it changes to a move cursor
(shape depends on computer setup).
Click and drag the chart to its new location.
Release the mouse button when the chart is in the required position.

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Position and Size dialog
To resize or move a chart using the Position and Size dialog:
Click once on the chart to select it and square selection handles appear around the
border of the chart.
Right-click and select Position and Size from the context menu to open the Position
and Size dialog (Figure 79).
Select the options you want to use ion the Position and Size, Rotation and Slant & corner
Radius pages on this dialog.
Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.
Position and size of a chart are coordinated relative to a fixed point (the base point) and, by
default, this base point is located at the upper left of a chart. You can temporarily change this
base point to make positioning or sizing of a chart simpler. Click one of the points in Base point
corresponding to the location you want to use for either Position or Size. When you click OK and
close this dialog, Calc resets the base point to the default position.

Figure 79: Position and Size dialog

Position and Size

The options available on the Position and Size page (Figure 79) are as follows:
Position – specify the location of the selected object on the page.
– Position X – enter the horizontal distance that you want to move the object relative to
the base point selected in the grid.
– Position Y – enter the vertical distance that you want to move the object relative to the
base point selected in the grid.
– Base point – select a base point in the grid, and then enter the amount that you want to
shift the object relative to the base point that you selected in the Position Y and
Position X boxes. The base points correspond to the selection handles on an object.
Size – specify the amount by which you want to resize the selected object with respect
to the selected base point.
– Width – enter a width for the selected object.

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 – Height – enter a height for the selected object.
– Keep ratio – maintains proportions between width and height when you resize the
selected object.
– Base point – select a base point in the grid and then enter the new size dimensions for
the selected object in the Width and Height boxes.
Protect – prevents changes to the position or the size of the selected object.
– Position – prevents you from moving the object.
– Size – prevents you from resizing the object.
Adapt – specifies if the size should be adjusted to fit the size of entered text.
– Fit width to text – expands the width of the object to the width of the text, if the object is
smaller than the text.
– Fit height to text – expands the height of the object to the height of the text, if the object
is smaller than the text.

Rotation
The options for the Rotation page (Figure 80) are as follows:
Pivot point – the selected object is rotated around a pivot point that you specify. The
default pivot point is at the center of the object. If you set a pivot point too far outside of
the object boundaries, the object could be rotated off of the page.
– Position X – enter the horizontal distance from the left edge of the page to the pivot
point.
– Position Y – enter the vertical distance from the top edge of the page to the pivot point.
– Default settings – select where you want to place the pivot point on the object. The
default setting is the center of the object.
Rotation angle – specify the number of degrees that you want to rotate the
selected object, or click in the rotation wheel.
– Angle – enter the number of degrees that you want to rotate the selected object.
– Default settings – click and drag the indicator to specify the rotation angle in degrees.
The number of degrees rotated is shown in the Angle box.

Figure 80: Position and Size dialog – Rotation page

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Slant & Corner Radius
The options for the Slant & Corner Radius page (Figure 81) are as follows:
Corner Radius – you can only round the corners of a rectangular object.
– Radius – enter the radius of the circle that you want to use to round the corners.
Slant – slants the selected object along an axis that you specify.
– Angle – enter the angle of the slant axis.

Figure 81: Position and Size dialog – Slant & Corner Radius page

Exporting charts
You can export a chart as a graphic that you can use in other documents.
Click once on the chart to select it. Square selection handles appear around the border
of the chart.
Right-click on the selected chart and select Export as graphic from the context menu.
In the Graphics Export dialog that opens, type a name for the graphic file, select the
location where you want to save the file, and select the graphic format you want to use.
Click Save and your chart will be exported as a graphic to the location you specified
and the format you specified.

Gallery of chart types

It is important to remember that while your data can be presented with a number of different
charts, the message you want to convey to your audience should determine what type of chart you
use. The following sections present examples of the chart types that Calc provides, with some
notes on the purpose of each chart type.

Column charts
Column charts are commonly used for data that shows trends over time. They are best for charts
that have a relatively small number of data points. It is the default chart type provided by Calc, as
it is one of the most useful charts and the easiest to understand. If you have a large time series, a
line chart would be better suited.
A column chart shows vertical bars, with the height of each bar being proportional to its value.
The X-axis shows categories and the Y-axis shows the value for each category.
Normal – this subtype shows all data values belonging to a category next to each other.
The main focus is on the individual absolute values, compared to every other value.
Stacked – this subtype shows the data values of each category on top of each other. The
main focus is the overall category value and the individual contribution of each value
within its category.

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 Percent – this subtype shows the relative percentage of each data value with regard to the
total of its category. The main focus is the relative contribution of each value to the category
total.
You can enable a 3D view of the data values. A realistic 3D chart tries to give the best 3D
look while a simple 3D chart tries to mimic the chart view of other products.
For 3D charts, you can select the shape of each data value from Box, Cylinder, Cone,
and Pyramid.

Bar charts
A bar chart shows horizontal bars. The length of each bar is proportional to its value. The Y-axis
shows categories and the X -axis shows the value for each category. The subtypes for bar charts
are the same as for column charts, given above.
Bar charts are excellent for giving an immediate visual impact for data comparison in cases when
time is not an important factor, for example, when comparing the popularity of a few products in a
marketplace. In the examples below:
The first chart is achieved by using the chart wizard with Insert > Grids, deselecting y-
axis, and using Insert > Mean Value Lines.
The second chart is a 3D chart created with a simple border and the 3D chart area
twisted around.
The third chart is an attempt to get rid of the legend and put labels showing the names
of the companies on the axis instead. We also changed the colors to a hatch pattern.

Figure 82: Bar chart examples

Pie charts
A pie chart shows values as circular sectors of the total circle. The length of the arc, or the area
of each sector, is proportional to its value.
Pie – this subtype shows sectors as colored areas of the total pie, for one data column
only. In the created chart, you can click and drag any sector to separate that sector
from the remaining pie or to join it back.
Exploded pie – this subtype shows the sectors already separated from each other.
You can click and drag any sector to move it along a radial from the pie center.
Donut – this subtype can show multiple data columns. Each data column is shown as
one donut shape with a hole inside, where the next data column can be shown. You can
click and drag an outer sector to move it along a radial from the donut center.

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 Exploded donut – this subtype shows the outer sectors already separated from the
remaining donut. You can click and drag an outer sector to move it along a radial from
the donut's center.
Pie charts are excellent when you need to compare proportions. For example, comparisons of
departmental spending: what the department spent on different items or what different
departments spent. They work best with smaller numbers of values, about half a dozen; more than
this and the visual impact begins to fade.
As the Chart Wizard guesses the series that you wish to include in your pie chart, you might need
to adjust this initially on the Data Ranges page of the Wizard if you know you want a pie chart, or
by using the Format > Data Ranges > Data Series dialog.
You can do some interesting things with a pie chart, especially if you make it into a 3D chart. It
can then be tilted, given shadows, and generally turned into a work of art. Just do not clutter it so
much that your message is lost, and be careful that tilting does not distort the relative size of the
segments.
You can choose in the Chart Wizard to explode the pie chart, but this is an all or nothing option. If
your aim is to accentuate one piece of the pie, you can separate out one piece by carefully
highlighting it after you have finished with the Chart Wizard, and dragging it out of the group.
When you do this you might need to enlarge the chart area again to regain the original size of the
pieces.

Figure 83: Pie chart examples

The effects achieved in Figure 83 are explained below.
2D pie chart with one part of the pie exploded: Select Insert > Legend and deselect the
Display legend box. Select Insert > Data Labels and select Show value as number. Then
carefully select the piece you wish to highlight, move the cursor to the edge of the piece
and click (the piece will have highlight squares to mark it), and then drag it out from the
rest of the pieces. The pieces will decrease in size, so you need to highlight the chart wall
and drag it at a corner to increase the size.
3D pie chart with realistic schema and illumination: Select Format > 3D view >
Illumination where you can change the direction of the light, the color of the ambient
light, and the depth of the shade. Also adjusted is the 3D angle of the disc in the
Perspective dialog on the same set of tabs.
The chart updates as you make changes, so you can immediately see the effects.
If you want to separate out one of the pieces, click on it carefully; you should see a wire
frame highlight. Drag it out with the mouse and then, if necessary, increase the size of
the chart wall.
3D pie chart with different fill effects in each portion of the pie: Select Insert > Data
labels and select Show value as percentage. Then carefully select each of the pieces so
that it has a wire frame highlight and right-click to get the object properties dialog; choose
the Area tab. For one we selected a bitmap, for another a gradient and for the third we
used the Transparency tab and adjusted the transparency to 50%.

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 Donut charts shown in Figure 84 are subtypes of the pie chart. To create one, select Pie
in the Chart Wizard dialog, and select the third or fourth type of pie chart. For more
variety, use a 3D Look.

Figure 84: Donut chart examples

Area charts
An area chart shows values as points on the Y-axis and the X-axis shows categories. The Y
values of each data series are connected by a line and the area between lines is filled with a color.
The focus of an area chart is to emphasize the changes from one category to the next.
Normal – this subtype plots all values as absolute Y values. It first plots the area of the
last column in the data range, then the next to last, and so on, and finally the first column
of data is drawn. Thus, if the values in the first column are higher than other values, the
last drawn area will hide the other areas.
Stacked – this subtypes plots values cumulatively stacked on each other. It ensures that
all values are visible, and no data set is hidden by others. However, the Y values no longer
represent absolute values, except for the last column which is drawn at the bottom of the
stacked areas.
Percent – this subtype plots values cumulatively stacked on each other and scaled
as percentage of the category total.
An area chart is a version of a line or column graph. It may be useful where you wish to emphasize
volume of change. Area charts have a greater visual impact than a line chart, but the data you use
will make a difference.

Figure 85: Area chart examples – the good, the bad, and the ugly

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As shown in Figure 85, an area chart is sometimes tricky to use. This may be one good reason to
use transparency values in an area chart. After setting up the basic chart using the Chart Wizard,
do this:
Right-click on the Y axis and select Delete Major Grid from the context menu. As the data
overlaps, some of it is missing behind the first data series, as shown in the example on the
left. This is not what you want. A better solution is shown in the center example.
After deselecting the Y axis grid, right-click on each data series in turn and select Format
Data Series. On the Transparency tab, set Transparency to 50%. The transparency makes
it easy to see the data hidden behind the first data series. Now, right-click on the X axis
and select Format Axis. On the Label tab, select Tile in the Order section and set the Text
orientation to 55 degrees. This places the long labels at an angle.
To create the example on the right, after doing the steps above, right-click and select
Chart Type. Select the 3D Look option and select Realistic from the drop-down list. We
also twisted the chart area around and gave the chart wall a picture of the sky. As you can
see, the legend turns into labels on the z-axis. Overall, although it is visually more
appealing, it is more difficult to see the point you are trying to make with the data.
Other ways of visualizing the same data series are represented by the stacked area chart or the
percentage stacked area chart (Figure 86). In the first, each number of each series is added to the
others so that it shows an overall volume, but not a comparison of the data. The percentage
stacked chart shows each value in the series as a part of the whole. For example in June all three
values are added together and that number represents 100%. The individual values are a
percentage of that. Many charts have varieties which have this option.

Figure 86: Examples of stacked and percentage stacked area charts

Line charts
A line chart is a time series with a progression. It is ideal for raw data and useful for charts with
plentiful data that show trends or changes over time where you want to emphasize continuity.
On line charts, the X-axis is ideal to represent time series data.
A line chart shows values as points on the Y-axis and the X-axis shows categories. The Y values
of each data series can be connected by a line.
Points only – this subtype plots only points.
Points and lines – this subtype plots points and connects points of the same data
series by a line.
Lines only – this subtype plots only lines.
3D lines – this subtype connects points of the same data series by a 3D line.

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Select Stack series to arrange the points for Y values cumulative above each other. The Y values
no longer represent absolute values, except for the first column which is drawn at the bottom of the
stacked points. If you select Percent, the Y values are scaled as percentage of the category total.
Select Smooth lines to draw curves through the points instead of straight lines. Click
Properties for a dialog to change the curve properties.
Things to do with lines: thicken them, make them 3D, smooth the contours, just use points.
However, 3D lines can confuse the viewer, so just using a thicker line often works better.

Figure 87: Line chart examples

Scatter or XY charts

XY (Scatter)
An XY chart in its basic form is based on one data series consisting of a name, a list of X-
values, and a list of Y-values. Each value pair (X & Y) is shown as a point in a coordinate
system. The name of the data series is associated with the Y-values and shown in the legend.
When creating an XY chart refer to the following example tasks. Your XY chart may have
more than one data series.
Scale the X-axis.
Generate a parameter curve, for example a spiral.
Draw the graph of a function.
Explore the statistical association of quantitative variables

XY chart variants
You can select an XY chart variant on the first page of the Chart Wizard, or by choosing Format
> Chart Type for a chart in edit mode.
The chart is created with default settings. After the chart is finished, you can edit its properties to
change the appearance. Line styles and icons can be changed on the Line page of the data
series properties dialog.
Double-click any data point to open the Data Series dialog. In this dialog, you can change
many properties of the data series.
For 2D charts, you can select Insert > Y Error Bars to enable the display of error bars.
You can enable the display of mean value lines and trend lines using commands on the
Insert menu.

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 Points only – each data point is shown by an icon. Calc uses default icons with
different forms and colors for each data series. The default colors are set in Tools >
Options > Charts > Default Colors.
Lines Only – this variant draws straight lines from one data point to the next. The data
points are not shown by icons. The drawing order is the same as the order in the data
series. Mark Sort by X Values to draw the lines in the order of the X values. This
sorting applies only to the chart, not to the data in the table.
Points and Lines – this variant shows points and lines at the same time.
3D Lines – the lines are shown like tapes. The data points are not shown by icons. In
the finished chart select 3D View to set properties like illumination and angle of view.
Smooth Lines
– Mark Smooth Lines to draw curves instead of straight line segments.
– Click Properties to set details for the curves.
– Cubic Spline interpolates your data points with polynomials of degree 3. The
transitions between the polynomial pieces are smooth, having the same slope
and curvature.
– The Resolution determines how many line segments are calculated to draw a piece of
polynomial between two data points. You can see the intermediate points if you click
any data point.
– B-Spline uses a parametric, interpolating B-spline curve. Those curves are built
piecewise from polynomials. The Degree of polynomials sets the degree of
these polynomials.

Example of XY chart
Scatter charts are great for visualizing data that you have not had time to analyze and they may
be the best for data when you have a constant value against which to compare the data; for
example, weather data, reactions under different acidity levels, conditions at altitude, or any data
which matches two series of numeric data. In contrast to line charts, the X-axis are the left to right
labels, which usually indicate a time series.

Figure 88: XY (Scatter) chart example

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Scatter charts may surprise those unfamiliar with how they work. While constructing the
chart, if you choose Data Range > Data series in rows, the first row of data represents the
X-axis. The rest of the rows of data are then compared against the first row data.
Figure 88 shows a comparison of three currencies with the Japanese Yen. Even though
the table presents the monthly series, the chart does not. In fact the Japanese Yen
does not appear; it is merely used as the constant series that all the other data series
are compared against.

Bubble charts
A bubble chart is a specific variation of a scatter chart in which the data points are replaced with
bubbles showing the relations of three variables. Bubble charts are often used to present financial
data or social/demographic data. It shows the relations of three variables in two dimensions. Two
variables are used for the position on the X-axis and Y-axis, while the third is shown as the
relative size of each bubble. One or more data series can be included in a single chart.
The data series dialog for a bubble chart has an entry to define the data range for the bubbles and
their sizes.
It is sometimes easier to build a bubble chart manually in the data range entry section of the chart
wizard. In the example chart shown in Figure 89, the range including the dates and the three
series was highlighted before starting the chart wizard. If you do not include the top row with the
dates, there is no way to include this data as a category later.
The names of the series were added manually, as were the ranges for the second and third series.
Each data series was highlighted and the data points added and formatted to be in the center of the
data point. In this case the number (which is the “dimension”) was deselected and category (the year)
selected. The data points are formatted using the transparency tab with a radial gradient.

Figure 89: Bubble chart example

If the data series for X-axis contains text, an order number will be displayed in the
Note labels of this axis. Otherwise, the data of the series will be used for the X-axis,
which can lead to irregularly arranged bubbles.

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Net charts
A net chart is similar to a polar or radar chart and displays data values as points connected
by some lines in a grid net that resembles a spider net or a radar tube display.
For each row of chart data, a radial is shown on which the data is plotted. All data values
are shown with the same scale, so all data values should have about the same magnitude.
A net chart is useful for comparing data that are not time series, but show different circumstances,
such as variables in a scientific experiment or direction. The poles of the net chart are equivalent
to the Y-axes of other charts. Generally, between three and eight axes are best; any more and this
type of chart becomes confusing. Before and after values can be plotted on the same chart, or
perhaps expected and real results, so that differences can be compared.

Figure 90: Net chart examples

Figure 91: Example of filled net or radar chart

Figure 90 shows example of two types of net charts:
The left example is a plain net chart without grids and with just points, no lines.
The right example is a net chart with lines, points and grid. Axes colors and labels
changed. Chart area color = gradient. Points changed to 3D ones.
Other varieties of net chart show the data series as stacked numbers or stacked percentages.
The series can also be filled with a color as shown in Figure 91. Partial transparency is often best
for showing all the series.

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Stock charts
A stock chart illustrates the market trend for stock and shares by giving opening price, bottom
price, top price and closing price. The transaction volume can also be shown and the X-axis
can represent a time series.
When you set up a stock chart in the Chart Wizard, the Data Series dialog is very important. The
data should be arranged as shown in the example table below because you need to tell it which
series is for the opening price, closing price, high and low price of the stock, and so on.
Transaction Low (bottom
Opening price High (top price) Closing price
volume price)
Monday 2500 20 15 25 17
Tuesday 3500 32 22 37 30
Wednesday 1000 15 15 17 17
Thursday 2200 40 30 47 35
Friday 4600 27 20 32 31

The open, low, high, and closing values of a row build together one data unit in the chart. A stock
price data series consists of several rows containing such data units. The column containing the
transaction volume builds an optional second data series.
Depending on the chosen variant, you may not need all columns.

Stock chart variants

Select a stock chart type on the first page of the Chart wizard and then select one of the
four variants.
Type 1 – based on low and high column, Type 1 shows the distance between bottom
price (low) and top price (high) by a vertical line. Based on the low, high, and close
columns, Type 1 shows an additional horizontal mark for the closing price.
Type 2 – based on the open, low, high, and close columns, Type 2 generates the
traditional candle stick chart. Type 2 draws the vertical line between the bottom and top
price and adds a rectangle in front, which visualizes the range between the opening and
closing price. If you click on the rectangle, you see more information in the status bar. Calc
uses different fill colors for rising values (the opening price is lower than the closing price)
and falling values.
Type 3 – based on the volume, low, high, and close columns, Type 3 draws a chart
like Type 1 with additional columns for the transaction volume.
Type 4 – based on all five data columns (volume, open, low, high, and close), Type
4 combines a chart of Type 2 with a column chart for the transaction volume.

If measurement for transaction volume is in units, a second Y axis is introduced in

Note chart Type 3 and Type 4. The price axis is shown on the right side and the
volume axis on the left side.

Setting data source

You can select or alter a data range on the second page of the Chart wizard or in the Data
Range dialog. For fine tuning use the Data Series dialog.

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To specify a data range do one of the following:
Enter the data range in the text box.
An example data range would be "$Sheet1.$B$3:$B$14". Note that a data range
may consist of more than one region in a spreadsheet, for example
"$Sheet1.A1:A5;$Sheet1.D1:D5" is also a valid data range.
If the syntax is not correct, Calc shows the text in red.
Click Select data range to minimize the dialog, then drag to select the data range. When
you release the mouse, the data are entered. Click Select data range again to add a data
range. In the input field of the minimized dialog, click after the entry and type a semicolon.
Then drag to select the next range.
Click one of the options for data series in rows or in columns.
Your stock chart data are in columns, if the information in a row belongs to the same candle stick.

Organize data series

In the data series area on the left side of the dialog, you can organize the data series of the actual
chart. A stock chart has at least one data series containing the prices. It might have a second data
series for transaction volume.
If you have more than one price data series, use the Up and Down arrow buttons to order
them. The order determines the arrangement in the chart. Do the same for volume data series.
You cannot switch price and volume data series.
To remove a data series, select the data series in the list and click Remove.
To add a data series, select one of the existing data series and click Add. You get an empty
entry below the selected one, which has the same type. If you have no price data series or no
volume data series, you must first select a range for these series in the Data Range dialog.

Setting data ranges

In the Data Ranges dialog you can set or change the data range of each component of
the selected data series.
The upper list shows the role name of the components and the current values. When you
have selected a role, you can change the value in the text box below the list. The label shows
the selected role.
Enter the range into the text box or click on Select data range to minimize the dialog and select
the range with the mouse.
Select Open Values, Close Values, High Values, and Low Values in any order. Specify only the
ranges for those roles which you need for the chosen variant of the stock chart. The ranges
need not be next to each other in the table.

Legend
The legend displays the labels from the first row or column or from the special range that you
have set in the Data Series dialog. If your chart does not contain labels, the legend displays text
like "Row 1, Row 2, ...", or "Column A, Column B, ..." according to the row number or column letter
of the chart data.
The legend shows the value from the range, which you entered in the Range for Name field in
the Data Range dialog. The default entry is the column header of the closing price column.
Select one of the position options. When the chart is finished, you can specify other positions
using the Format menu.

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Column and line charts
A column and line chart is a combination of two other chart types. It is useful for combining two
distinct but related data series, for example sales over time (column) and the profit margin
trends (line).
Columns and Lines – the rectangles of the column data series are drawn side by side
so that you can easily compare their values.
Stacked Columns and Lines – the rectangles of the column data series are drawn
stacked above each other, so that the height of a column visualizes the sum of the
data values.
The example chart in Figure 92 has manufacturing cost and profit data for two products over a
period of time (six months in 2007) . To create this chart, first highlight the table of data and start
the Chart Wizard. Choose the Column and Line chart type with two lines and the data series in
rows. Then give it a title to highlight the aspect you want to show. The lines are different colors at
this stage and do not reflect the product relationships. When you finish with the Chart Wizard,
highlight the chart, click on the line, right-click and select Format Data Series.
There are a few things to change: The colors should match the products. So both Ark
Manufacturing and profit are blue and Prall is red. The lines need to be more noticeable, so
make the lines thicker by increasing the width to 0.08.
For the background, highlight the chart wall, right-click and select Format Wall. On the Area
page, change the drop-down box to show Gradient. Choose one of the preset gradient patterns
and make it lighter by going to the Transparency tab and making the gradient 50% transparent.
To make the chart look cleaner without the grid, go to Insert > Grids and deselect the X-
axis option.

Figure 92: Column and line chart example

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Source: - Libre Office Calc Guide: Version 4.1
https://documentation.libreoffice.org/assets/Uploads/Documentation/en/CG4.1/CG41CalcGuideLO.pdf

Creating Charts and Graphs