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Charts allow you to present data entered into the worksheet in a visual format using a variety of graph types. Before you can make a chart you must first enter data into a worksheet. This page explains how you can create simple charts from the data. 

The The Chart Wizard takes you through the process of creating a chart by displaying a series of dialog boxes. The Chart Wizard is opened by clicking on one of these buttons in the Standard Toolbar ......... [chart wizard] or 



Basic Features.

Open a new Worksheet. 

  1. Enter the following data:
    • In B2 type "SIDE"
    • In C2 type "SURFACE"
    • In D2 type "VOLUME"
  2. Starting in B3, and using Autofill, create a column of numbers from 1 - 20 in the column labeled "Side"
  3. Starting in C3, enter the formula for calculating the SURFACE of a cube (6xA), each of whose sides is the length specified in column B3.
  4. Starting in D3, enter the formula for calculating the VOLUME of a cube (LXWXH), each of whose sides is the length specified in column B3.
  5. Using the Fill command, calculate the Surface and Volume of cubes with sides from 1 - 20 cm.
  6. Your Worksheet should now look like this.

Click on the chart icon . The Chart Wizard Tool Bar will appear on the screen. 

Create a graph of Side vs. Surface as follows:

  1. Select "X-Y Scatter", and click on the "Next" button.
  2. In the "Source Data" dialog box which opens, click on the "Series" tab.
  3. Click on "Add". Fill in the dialog box which opens as follows:
    • Name.   Type in  "SURFACE"
    • X values.  Type an "=" then drag the cursor over the cells from B3:B22.
    • Y values. Type an "=" then drag the cursor over the cells from C3:C22.

Create a graph of Side vs. Volume and as follows:

  1. Click on "Add". Fill in the dialog box which opens as follows:
    • Name.   Type in  "VOLUME"
    • X values.  Type an "=" then drag the cursor over the cells from B3:B22.
    • Y values. Type an "=" then drag the cursor over the cells from D3:D22.
  2. Click on the "Next" button.

In the "Chart Options" dialog box which opens:

  1. Click on the "Gridlines" tab. Under "Value (X) axis", click on the checkboxes for "major gridline" and "minor gridline".
  2. Click on the "Titles" tab. Enter "Surface and Volume of a Cube" for the Chart Title.
  3. Enter "Side" for the X axis.
  4. Click on the "OK" button.
  5. The Chart should look like this (without the Callouts!):

Double-click on one of the minor gridlines. In the "Format Gridlines" dialog box which opens, click on the "Patterns" tab. This will permit a selection of color and pattern for the minor gridlines. Select a medium grey.

Double-click on the numbers on the Y-axis scale. In the "Format Axis" dialog box which opens:

  1. Select the "Scale" tab. Set the major units to "2000"
  2. Set the Font to Geneva Italic Bold, 10 point.
  3. The chart should look like this.

Under the "Chart Options" menu, select "Add Trendline".  In the "Add Trendline" dialog box which appears, select "Surface" and "Power", as shown. Add a "Power" trendline to the plot of Volume. 

  1. Double-click on the filled box symbols of the "Volume" trendline. In the "Format Data Series" dialog box which appears: 
    • Select a light line weight.
    • Select orange for the line color.
    • set the marker style to a circle.
    • set the background color to "none".
    • set the size to 7 point.
  2. The chart should look like this.

The series and the chart can be extended easily. Click on the markers of a plot to select them. Excel will simultaneously select the columns and values which are plotted. 

  1. Fill down the values for the sides to 21-25 cm long.
  2. Use the handles to select the new cells.
  3. Excel now plots the values in the new cells as well.

Chart Location - Click As new sheet if the chart should be placed on a new, blank worksheet or select As object in if the chart should be embedded in an existing sheet and select the worksheet from the drop-down menu. 

  1. When you shake up a Vinagrette, the small droplets of oil coalesce into larger and larger droplets, and finally into a single layer. Why is this?
  2. The egg is the largest of all human cells. Why is this?
  3. "The Blob" was a 1958 horror movie classic. It launched the Hollywood careers of both Steve McQueen and Burt Bacharach. Why can there never really be a blob which eats Manhattan?



Other Features.
 

Resizing the Chart.  To resize the chart, click on its border and drag any of the nine black handles to change the size. Handles on the corners will resize the chart proportionally while handles along the lines will stretch the chart. 
Moving the Chart.  Select the border of the chart, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the chart to a new location. Elements within the chart such as the title and labels may also be moved within the chart. Click on the element to activate it, and use the mouse to drag the element to move it. 
Chart  Menu
  • Chart Type - Select the Chart. In the "Chart Type" menu, select the type of chart desired.
  • Source Data - Additional Data Series can be plotted on the same chart. 
    • Enter the values to be plotted in the worksheet. 
    • In the "Source Data" menu, select the "Series" tab.
    • Click on the "Add" button to add another series, and fill in the boxes as above.
  • Chart Options. Self Explanatory.


Format the X axis.  Double click on the X axis. The "Format Axis" dialog box appears.

  • Patterns -  Self-explanatory
  • Scale -  Self-explanatory
  • Font -  Self-explanatory
  • Number -  Self-explanatory
  • Alignment - This tab brings up the "Orientation" dialog box. The text can be angled upward or downward, either with the slider bar, or by typing the desired angle into the box.


 Copying the Chart to Microsoft Word

A finished chart can be copied into a Microsoft Word document. Select the chart and click Copy. Open the destination document in Word and click Paste.