This browser does not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's intended design. May we suggest that you upgrade your browser?

Microsoft Excel 2003/2004

Creating a Basic Chart

The Excel Charting Wizard makes it easy to create a basic chart. With a few clicks, Excel will create a basic chart you can edit and enhance to meet your needs.

return to topUsing the Chart Wizard

Sometimes the data in your worksheet may not fit the Excel basic chart criteria, or you may not want to spend time creating a summarizing section. Instead of creating the basic Excel chart, you can go through all four steps in the Chart Wizard and add several options to your chart immediately. By using the Chart Wizard, you can alter the chart type, add a title, and specify which direction Excel charts your data.

Using the Chart Wizard: Selecting Your Data

  1. Select the data to be charted
    NOTES:
    If you are using range names, refer to Using the Chart Wizard: Range Names.
    If you are selecting data from different areas of your worksheet, to select non-contiguous cells, hold down the [Ctrl] key for Windows or the [command] key for Macintosh while selecting the cells.

  2. On the Standard toolbar, click CHART WIZARDChart Wizard button
    The Chart Wizard - Step 1 of 4 - Chart Type dialog box appears.

  3. From the Chart type scroll box, select the appropriate chart type
    NOTES:
    For information on the various chart types, refer to Guidelines for Charting.
    To preview your information in any chart before you create it, click PRESS AND HOLD TO VIEW SAMPLE.

  4. Under Chart sub-type, select the appropriate sub-type and click NEXT
    The Chart Wizard - Step 2 of 4 - Chart Source Data dialog box appears.

  5. Select the Data Range tab

  6. For Series in, select Rows or Columns and click NEXT
    The Chart Wizard - Step 3 of 4 - Chart Options dialog box appears.

  7. Select the Legend tab

  8. To use a legend, select Show legend
    NOTE: For more information, refer to Working with Legends.
    HINT: If you are using a pie chart, use labels instead of a legend. For more information, refer to Adding Data Labels to Your Chart.

  9. To create a title for your chart, select the Titles tab

  10. In the Chart title text box, type the desired title

  11. In the appropriate text boxes, type the desired x- and y-axes labels and click NEXT
    The Chart Wizard - Step 4 of 4 - Chart Location dialog box appears.
    NOTE: For more information, refer to Working with Axes.

  12. To make your chart appear within the Excel sheet,
    1. Select As object in

    2. From the pull-down box, select the desired worksheet

    To make your chart appear as a separate sheet,
    1. Select As new sheet

    2. OPTIONAL: In the text box, type a name for the new worksheet

  13. Click FINISH
    The chart is created.
    NOTE: To enhance this chart, refer to Modifying a Chart.

Using the Chart Wizard: Range Names

NOTE: To create a range name for your data, refer to Working with Range Names.

  1. On the Standard toolbar, click CHART WIZARDChart Wizard button
    The Chart Wizard - Step 1 of 4 - Chart Type dialog box appears.

  2. From the Chart type scroll list, select the appropriate chart type
    NOTE: For information on the various chart types, refer to Guidelines for Charting.

  3. Under Chart sub-type, select the appropriate sub-type and click NEXT
    The Chart Wizard - Step 2 of 4 - Chart Source Data dialog box appears.

  4. Select the Data Range tab

  5. In the Data range text box, press [=] and type the range name
    EXAMPLE: To chart the clerk3 range, in the Data range text box, type =clerk3

  6. OPTIONAL: To complete the remaining Chart Wizard steps, follow steps 7-12 in Using the Chart Wizard: Selecting Your Data.

  7. Click FINISH
    The chart is created.
    NOTE: To enhance this chart, refer to Modifying a Chart.

return to topModifying a Chart

Once your chart is created, you can modify it to fit your needs or the evolving nature of your data. For more information, refer to the following documents:

return to topChanging the Chart Type

If the default chart type is not appropriate for the information you are charting, you can change it by using the Chart Type selection from the Chart menu.

  1. Select the chart

  2. From the Chart menu, select Chart Type...
    The Chart Type dialog box appears.

  3. From the Chart type scroll box, select the appropriate chart type
    NOTES:
    For information on the various chart types, refer to Guidelines for Charting.
    To preview your information in any chart before you create it, click PRESS AND HOLD TO VIEW SAMPLE.

  4. Under Chart sub-type, select the appropriate sub-type

  5. Click OK
    The chart type is changed.

return to topWorking with Ranges / Data Series

A data range/series identifies the information charted. For example, a data range may contain the enrollment, by school, for the current academic year. Another data range may contain the forecasted enrollment for the next academic year. If you need to delete or change the references to the cells containing the information, you will need to edit the data ranges/series.

Deleting a Data Series

  1. Select the chart

  2. Click the column, bar, line, or pie segment representing the data series to be deleted

  3. From the Chart menu, select Source Data...
    The Source Data dialog box appears.

  4. Select the Series tab

  5. From the Series scroll box, select the series to be deleted

  6. Click REMOVE

  7. Click OK
    The data series is deleted.

Adding a Data Series

  1. Select the chart

  2. From the Chart menu, select Add Data...
    The Add Data dialog box appears.

  3. In the Range text box, type the appropriate data range to be added
    NOTE: Be sure to include the cell containing the row or column label in the cell range.
    OR
    To select a cell range,
    1. Windows: Click COLLAPSE DIALOGCollapse Dialog button
      Macintosh: Click COLLAPSE DIALOGCollapse Dialog button
    2. Select the data range to be added

    3. Windows: Click RESTORE DIALOGRestore Dialog button
      Macintosh: Click EXAPAND DIALOGRestore Dialog button

  4. Click OK
    The data series is added.

return to topPositioning Your Chart

Moving Your Chart

The chart is an object on your worksheet. While your chart may be placed on top of some worksheet information, the information still exists. The chart can be moved anywhere on your worksheet.

  1. Select the chart

  2. Click and hold the mouse button

  3. Drag the chart to the appropriate location

  4. Release the mouse button

  5. To deselect the chart, click outside the chart

Resizing Your Chart

As you resize the chart, the chart elements are adjusted proportionally.

  1. Select the chart

  2. Click and hold one of the sizing handles

  3. Drag the handle inward or outward

  4. Release the mouse button

  5. To deselect the chart, click outside the chart

Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.