Welcome

Instructions for screen readers: After you go through the tip sheets in this tutorial, you'll learn how to quickly master chart elements. The
instructions for each sheet start in cell A1, and each subsequent step is in cell A2, A3, and so on.
The instructions will indicate which cells to navigate to for use of a feature, or further reading.
To start, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN.

Ten tips for charts

After going through these ten charting tips, you'll
be faster and more efficient than ever before.

Let's go
>
Go back to top by pressing CTRL+HOME. To start the tour, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN.
Tip #1: Press ALT+F1 to quickly make a chart.
Tip #1: Press ALT+F1 to quickly make a chart.
1) There's data in cells B12 to C16. Navigate anywhere within that range.
2) Press ALT+F1 (make sure your F-Lock key is on). If you're using a laptop, try ALT+FN+F1.
3) Excel creates a simple chart
Click anywhere insidefor you. Press ALT+F1 (make Excel creates a simple
4) 1
Press the data
ALT+JC+C below,
to activate 2 Chart
fromthe Change sure your
Type F-Lock
dialog,key
and 3TAB chart
isuse your for you.
and Arrow keys to pick an other chart that inter
BONUS TIPcell B12 to C16. on). If you're using a
Don't like the default chart type for ALT+F1? On the
laptop, tryDesign tab, click Change Chart Type, then right-click the chart you like be
ALT+FN+F1.
To continue with this tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN. To go to the previous sheet, press 1,200
CTRL+PAGE UP.
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial
1,000

800
Salesperson Amount sold
Kelly 500 600
Dave 800
Brian 1,000 400
Sally 200
200

0
A

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 chart.

Now change it to another BONUS TIP

4 chart
ys to pick an other typethat
of chart. On the
interests Design
you. Don't like the default chart type for
tab, click Change Chart Type, ALT+F1? On the Design tab, click
en right-click the chart
andyou like
pick better,chart
another and choose
that Set as Default Chart.
Change Chart Type, then right-click
0
CTRL+PAGE UP. interests you. the chart you like better, and choose
Set as Default Chart.
0

0
Amount sold

Next
Tip #2: Select specific columns, before creating a chart.
Tip #2: Select specific columns, before creating a chart
1) Press Ctrl+G to activate the Go To dialog.
2) Enter B2:B16, D12:D16 to select the Salesperson and Commission columns, but exclude the Sales column.
3) Press ALT+F1 (make
Click and dragsure
to your F-Lock keyPress
is on).and
If you're using a laptop, tryPress
hold CTRL, ALT+FN+F1.
ALT+F1 (make
1 B16 2 and drag to select 3
4) Excel creates a chart based only on the Salesperson and Commission columns. Ityour
select cells B12 to sure F-Lockthe
excluded keySales 4 from the chart.
is column
(from Salesperson cells D12 to D16 on). If you're using a
To continue withtothis
down tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE
Sally). DOWN. To
(Commission go to
down tothe previouslaptop,
sheet, press
try CTRL+PAGE UP.
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial $10). Now let go of ALT+FN+F1.
the CTRL key.

Salesperson Sales Commission

Kelly $500 $25
Dave $800 $40
Brian $1,000 $50
Sally $200 $10

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ating a chart.

Excel creates a chart based

4 from
ales column onlythe
onchart.
the Salesperson and
Commission columns. It
excluded the Sales column
from the chart.

Next
Tip #3: Use a table with a chart.
Tip #3: Use a table with a chart.
1) There is chart data in cells C13 to E16. Navigate to any cell within that range, then press CTRL+T to convert the range to a ta
2) In cell F13, type Mar, and then press Enter. The table automatically expands to include the new column.
3) Type someClicknumbers
inside thefordata
each salespersonInincell
theF13,
March
typecolumn,
Mar, in cells E14Type
to E16.
some numbers for Notice the cha
1 below. Go to the Insert 2 and then press Enter. 3
4) Notice the chart legend now has an entry for Mar, as well as the bars. That's the salesperson
each advantage ofinusing 4 with
the a table hasaan entryAn
chart: fo
tab, click Table, and The table automatically March column. as the bars. Th
To continue with
then thisOK.
click tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE
expandsDOWN. To go the
to include to the previous sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP. advantage of u
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial new column. with a chart: A
columns or row
reflected in th
automatically.

Salesperson Jan Feb Brian

Kelly 400 500
Dave 200 800 Dave
Brian 234 1000
Kelly

0 200 400 600 800 1000

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convert the range to a table.

Notice the chart legend now

hasaan
g a table with entryAny
chart: for new
Mar,columns
as well or rows will be reflected in the chart automatically.
as the bars. That's the
advantage of using a table
with a chart: Any new
columns or rows will be
reflected in the chart
automatically.

Feb
Jan

600 800 1000 1200

Next
Tip #4: Quickly filter data from a chart.
Tip #4: Quickly filter data from a chart.
1) Let's say you don't want this chart to include Doris's data.
2) Press ALT+H+FD+P to launch the Selection Pane, then press Tab and Arrow keys to select Chart 4.
3) Press ALT+JC+E
Let's say to
youlaunch
don'tthe Select DataClick
Source
thedialog, and press TAB and Uncheck
chart below, Arrow key until and
Doris, you get to the Series
Theyou want
chart now to
1 want this chart to 2 and then click the 3 then click the Apply
4) The chart now excludes Doris' data (you can repeat the previous steps to bring the data back if you want). 4 Doris's data (y
include Doris's data. Filters button to the button at the bottom the box for Do
To continue with this tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN.
right of To go to the previousof
the chart: sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP.
the checkboxes. data back if yo
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial

1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr

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Salesperson Jan Feb Mar Apr
Kelly 800 500 850 123
Dave 200 800 350 523
Brian 234 1000 450 574
Sally 350 550 150 234
Doris 440 142 645 988
to the Series
Theyou want
chart now toexcludes
exclude, in this case, Doris. Press CTRL+SHIFT+Down Arrow, then SPACEBAR to uncheck that item. Press Enter to
Doris's data (you can check
the box for Doris to bring the
data back if you want).

Kelly
Dave
Brian
Sally
Doris

Apr

Next
k that item. Press Enter to dismiss the pane.
narrower.
Press
SHIFT+Rig
ht Arrow
to make it
wider.
Tip #5: Use PivotCharts when your data isn't summarized.
Tip #5: Use PivotCharts when your data isn't summariz
Guess
1) In cells B13 to C18 below, "Apples" and "Oranges" are repeated in several rows. This is called unsummarized data. Unfortun
what
2) …but PivotCharts can handle this task! Navigate to any cell within range B13 to C18 in the table below. Then Press ALT+N+S
pressing
SHIFT+Up
3) Press TAB, Down
Below, Arrow,and
"Apples" then TAB to navigate to the Existing
...but PivotCharts canWorksheet > Location input box, type E13, and press Enter. Ex
Click Existing
4) 1
or Down are 2 handle unsummarized 3
Press ALT+JT, L to launch the PivotChart Fields pane. Focus will default to the Search textand
"Oranges" Worksheet, then
box. 4 anything, instead
Do not type
Arrow repeated in several data! Click inside the in the Location box,
does? rows. This is called data below. Then on the type E13. Click OK.
To continue with this tutorial,
unsummarized data.press CTRL+PAGE
InsertDOWN. To go to the previous sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP.
tab, click
Unfortunately,
Select to give us feedbackregular
on this tutorial PivotChart.
charts prefer the data
to be summarized...

Product Amount
Apples 500
Apples 800
Apples 800
Oranges 1000
Oranges 200

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Feedback
isn't summarized.
d unsummarized data. Unfortunately, regular charts prefer the data to be summarized…
able below. Then Press ALT+N+SZ+C (Insert > PIvotChart).
x, type E13, and press Enter.
On the Excel
right, will create a blank PivotTable
in the BONUS and chart
TIPfor you.
4 PivotChart Fields pane, click
x. Do not type anything, instead, press TAB once. NOTE: if Select theList
the Field chart. Nowlaunch, press ALT+JT, L again. Press your arrow keys to sel
doesn't
the Product and Amount press SHIFT+Left Arrow
checkboxes. The PivotChart several times. The chart
RL+PAGE UP. summarizes the data for you, gets narrower. Press
and charts it. SHIFT+Right Arrow to
make it wider. Guess
what pressing SHIFT+Up
or Down Arrow does?

Next
ess your arrow keys to select the Product field. Once selected, press SPACEBAR to add the Product field to the Rows area. Repeat for the A
ws area. Repeat for the Amount field, and Excel will automatically add it to the Values section. If you're not happy with the PivotChart's pl
y with the PivotChart's placement, you can press ALT+H+FD+P to launch the Selection pane. Then use the TAB key to select the PivotChart,
to select the PivotChart, and use your Arrow keys to move the chart wherever you want it.
in groups.
In the
example
below, the
rows for
fruits
Tip #6:are
Create multi-level labels
Tip #6: Create multi-level labels
grouped
1) Wouldn't this chart be better if it had another level of labels at the bottom, that organized the columns by either "Fruits" or
together,
2) Inso
and cell
areG14, type the word "Fruits." And in cell G17, type the word "Vegetables."
the rows
3) Press ALT+H+FD+P
Wouldn't this tochart
launchbethe Selection pane,
In cell then
G14, typeusethe
the TAB key to navigate to the
Select the chart
chart, andin question. Then press ALT+
for 1 better if it had 2 word "Fruits." And in 3 then on the Design 4 use the Arrow ke
4) With the dialog box open, use your Arrow keys to navigate to cell G14, then hold the SHIFT key down, and
vegetables another level of labels cell G17, type the tab, click Select Data.
. at the bottom, that word "Vegetables."
To continue with thisthe
organized tutorial,
columns press CTRL+PAGE DOWN. To go to the previous sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP.
by either
Select to give "Fruits"on
us feedback orthis tutorial
"Vegetables"?

Department

Apples Oranges Bananas Asparagus Broccoli

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Feedback
 the columns by either "Fruits" or "Vegetables"?

hart in question. Then

Withpress
the ALT+JC+E
dialog boxtoopen,
launch the Select Data Source dialog. TO KNOW
GOOD
4 drag to select cells G13 to I18
T key down, and use the Arrow keys to select cells G14 to I18, and press Enter.
This onlyNow the
works chartrows
if your has another level of labels for "Fruits" and "V
(from Department to 1,000). are already organized in
Click OK. Now the chart has groups. In the example
TRL+PAGE UP. another level of labels for below, the rows for fruits are
"Fruits" and "Vegetables." grouped together, and so are
the rows for vegetables.

Product Amount
Apples 500
Oranges 800
Bananas 800
Asparagus 600
Broccoli 1000

Next
evel of labels for "Fruits" and "Vegetables."
you
compare
the two
columns
with
different
Tip #7: Use a secondary axis to create a combo chart.
Tip #7: Use a secondary axis to create a combo chart.
chart
1) The chart below has two data series: Sales and Profit %. But we need Profit % to be represented by a horizontal line on the
elements:
2) Press ALT+H+FD+P to launch the selection pane, then use the TAB and Arrow keys to navigate to the chart in question. Next
columns
for Sales,TAB
3) Press Theuntil
chartthe Series
below Name section is
has selected,
Select thenbelow,
the chart arrow down once toOnthe
theProfit
right,%make
item.sure
Tab to the Chart type, and i
and1 a line two data series: Sales 2 and then on the Design 3 the Chart Type for
4)
forPress
ProfitEnter, and the Profit % will be plotted with a line. Now you can compare the two series. For example, sales were low o
and Profit %. But we tab, click Change Chart Profit % is set to Line,
%. need Profit % to be Type. Then click Combo and the Secondary Axis
To continue with this tutorial,
represented by a press CTRL+PAGEin theDOWN. To go to the previous checkbox
lower-left. sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP.
selected.
horizontal line on the
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial
chart, not a column.

$1,000 Date
$800 1-Jan
$600 2-Jan
Sales
Profit % $400 3-Jan
$200 4-Jan
$0 5-Jan
1/1 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/6 6-Jan

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asented
combo chart.
by a horizontal line on the chart, not a column.
gate to the chart in question. Next, press ALT+JC+C to launch the Change Chart Type dialog. Now, press Tab once, then Arrow down until
%make
item.sure
Tab to the Chart type,
Click OK,and
and ifthe
it'sProfit willchart, use yourWHY
not a%Line USEkey
Down Arrow A toSECONDARY
select Line. Press Tab again to select the Secondary A
eries. 4 sales
for For example, be plotted with a line. Now
were low on 1/3, but profit was great! AXIS?
to Line, you can compare the two When two columns contain different
ndary Axis series. For example, sales types of numbers, you'll want to use a
CTRL+PAGE
cted. UP. were low on 1/3, but profit secondary axis. In this example, the Sales
was great! column contains dollar amounts. But the
Profit % column contains percentages.
Because the two columns of data are so
different, using a combo chart with a
secondary axis lets you compare the two
columns with different chart elements:
Sales Profit % columns for Sales, and a line for Profit %.
$900 34%
$600 27%
$500 42%
$900 29%
$700 32%
$800 24%

Next
once, then Arrow down until you select Combo.
gain to select the Secondary Axis check box and use the SPACEBAR to check it.
Tip #8: Hook up a chart title to a cell.
Tip #8: Hook up a chart title to a cell.
1) The chart below is called "Chart Title." That's not very helpful, so let's change that.
2) Press ALT+H+FD+P top launch the Selection pane, then use your TAB and Arrow keys to navigate to the chart in question. Pr
3) Press F2The
to activate the Formula
chart below is Bar, andClick
typethe
='8'!G12.
Chart Title. Then type = and click
4) Press Enter. Now the chart title is "Week 1" — that's so much better. 3
1 called "Chart Title." 2 the green
And from now on,cellthe
that
chart title will always show wha
That's not very contains the text
To continue with this
helpful, tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN. To go to the previous "Week
so let's sheet, press
1." CTRL+PAGE UP.
Select to give us feedback
change that. on this tutorial

Chart Title
700 1000
600
Week 1
800
500 Date
400 600 1-Jan
300 400 2-Jan
200
200 3-Jan
100
0 0 4-Jan
1/1 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 5-Jan

Previous
Feedback
 avigate to the chart in question. Press Enter to select it, which will also select the current Chart Title text box.
Press Enter. Now the chart
4 always
he chart title will titleshow
is "Week 1" —
what's in that's
the cellsoH13. (Try it out by typing something else in the cell H13, and pressing Enter).
much better. And from now
CTRL+PAGE UP. on, the chart title will always
show what's in the green cell.
Try it out by typing something
else in the green cell, and
pressing Enter.

Attendance Food sales

599 900
201 400
459 500
234 900
622 900

Next
d pressing Enter).
Tip #9: Split off slices into a second pie
Tip #9: Split off slices into a second pie
1) We need to make a "pie of pie" chart, where the Kiwis, Grapes, and Pears are "split off" into their own pie.
2) Press ALT+H+FD+P top launch the Selection pane, then use your TAB and Arrow keys to navigate to the chart in question. N
3) Next, weWewant
needtotoformat
make the
a smaller pie's datathe
Click series,
chart,soand
press
thenALT+JA+E, Down
We'reArrow to Series
not done yet. "Amount", and press Enter.
1 "pie of pie" chart, 2 on the Design tab, click 3 Right-click the smaller
4) Now, press ALT+JA+M, followed by F6, then Tab until you reach the "Split Series By" option. Use the Down arrow key, and s
where the Kiwis, Change Chart Type. of the two pies, and
To continue with this
Grapes, andtutorial, press CTRL+PAGE
Pears are Then DOWN. To go
choose the Pietoofthe previous choose
sheet, press
Format CTRL+PAGE
Data UP.
Select to give us feedback on
"split off" into their this tutorial Pie button: Series.
own pie.

Product Amount
Plums Apples 2500
Apples Pears 30
Grapes 10
Oranges
Kiwis 15
Oranges 1800
Kiwis Grapes Pears Plums 1200

Previous
Feedback
nto their own pie.
avigate to the chart in question. Next, press ALT+JC+C to launch the Change Chart Type dialog. Pie will be selected, so you can press the Ta
Series "Amount", and Inpress Enter. Data Series pane
the Format
4 on the right, go to the
on. Use the Down arrow key, and select theSplit
Value option. Tab again to the "Values less than" option, enter 1000, then press Enter. When y
Series By menu, and choose
CTRL+PAGE UP. Value. Then type 1000 in the
Values less than box. When
you press Enter, the Kiwis,
Grapes, and Pears are split off
into their own pie, because
each of their amounts is less
than 1,000.

Next
elected, so you can press the Tab key twice, then Right Arrow to select the Pie of Pie option. Press enter to confirm your selection.

1000, then press Enter. When you press Enter, the Kiwis, Grapes, and Pears are split off into their own pie, because each of their amounts
m your selection.

e each of their amounts is less than 1000.

Tip #10: Hover over Chart Elements to get a preview.
Tip #10: Hover over Chart Elements to get a preview.
1) What would this chart look like with a legend? With data labels?
2) Press ALT+FD+P to launch the Selection pane, then use your Tab and Arrow keys to navigate to the chart in question.
3) Next, press
WhatALT+JC+L to activate
would this chart the Quick Layout
Click gallery.
the chart, andYou can use your Hover
Arrow over
keys any
to browse
of the between 12 different opti
4) 1 look
Press Enter like with a 2 then click Chart 3 options
to apply a selection, or press ESC to exit without making any changes. (don't select
WORTH EXPLORING
legend? With data Elements button to one yet), and Excel
Click the chart, and on the Design tab, hovering
labels? over a quick layout, color option,
the right: willor style will
preview thegive you a live preview. This give
To continue with this tutorial, press CTRL+PAGE DOWN. To go to the previous element sheet, press CTRL+PAGE UP.
for you.
Select to give us feedback on this tutorial
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr

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Salesperson Jan Feb Mar Apr
Kelly 800 1400 1100 1500
Dave 200 200 350 523
Brian 400 1000 600 800
get a preview.
ate to the chart in question.
o browse between 12When different
youoptions,
see one such as Chart Title on topWORTH
that you with a LegendEXPLORING
on the bottom.
4 like, click it to add the Click the chart, and on the
Design tab, hovering over a
element to the chart. quick layout, colorwithout
option,having
or
ll give you a live preview. This gives you a chance to see how something will look to actually apply it first.
CTRL+PAGE UP. style will give you a live preview.
This gives you a chance to see
how something will look
without having to actually apply
it first.

Apr

Next
apply it first.
Change
your
default
chart type
See this
topic
about
changing
your
Nice work.
default
Thanksmore
for checking out the chart tips! Now check out these other links to help make you even more productive:
Learn
chart type about charts
Take
for a look at this article for more details on creating charts.
ALT+F1.
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