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 XP/X

Creating a Basic Chart

With the Excel Charting Wizard, creating a basic chart is made easier. With a few clicks, Excel will create a basic chart that you can edit and enhance to meet your needs.

This document covers:

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 you want to appear in a chart 
    NOTES:
    If you are using range names, refer to Using the Chart Wizard: Range Names. 
    Windows: If you are selecting data from different areas of your worksheet, you can add a block of data by holding down the [Shift] key while selecting the cells using your mouse. In addition you can use the [Ctrl] key to select cells individually.
    Macintosh: If you are selecting data from different areas of your worksheet, you can add and individual cell or a block of data by holding down the [Apple] key while selecting the cells using your mouse.

  2. From the Standard toolbar, click CHART WIZARD chart wizard button or Chart Wizard button
    The ChartWizard-Step 1 of 4-Chart Type dialog box appears.

  3. Under Chart type, select the appropriate chart type
    For information on some of the different chart types, refer to Guidelines for Charting

  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
    You may need to specify whether you would like to chart the row or column information. The sample chart will change accordingly.

  6. Click NEXT>
    The Chart Wizard-Step 3 of 4-Chart Options dialog box appears.

  7. Select the Legend tab

  8. If you would like a legend, select Show legend
    HINT: If you are using a pie chart, labels are recommended instead of a legend.

  9. Under Placement, select the appropriate option button corresponding with where you would like your legend

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

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

  12. In the appropriate boxes, type the desired x and y-axes labels and click NEXT>
    The Chart Wizard-Step 4 of 4-Chart Location dialog box appears.

  13. If you would like your chart to appear within the Excel sheet, select As object in

  14. If you would like your chart to appear as a separate sheet, select As new sheet

  15. Click FINISH

Using the Chart Wizard: Range Names

  1. Click CHART WIZARD chart wizard button or Chart Wizard button
    The Chart Wizard-Step 1 of 4-Chart Type dialog box appears.

  2. Select the appropriate chart type and click NEXT>
    The Chart Wizard Step 2 of 4-Chart Source Data dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Data Range tab

    1. In the Data range text box, press [=]

    2. After the =, type the range name
      EXAMPLE: To chart the clerk3 range, the Data range text box would look like this: =clerk3
      NOTE: To create a range name for your data, refer to the Recommended: Range Names section of Getting Ready to Chart.

  4. OPTIONAL: To use the remaining Chart Wizard steps, see 6-14 in Using the Chart Wizard

  5. Click FINISH
    The information that you selected appears in a chart on your screen. To enhance this chart, review the following charting options. 

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. Options include:

In addition to the options listed here, you can also double click on the chart element to be modified. This will call up the appropriate dialog box for you to make the necessary modifications. 

You can select two different sections of the chart. The Chart Area is everything seen on the chart, including the border. In order to perform many of the formatting options, you must first select your chart.

Selecting the Chart

To select the Chart Area:

  1. Click near the border
    The black fill handles appear when the chart is selected.

To select the Plot Area:

The Plot Area is only the pictures and figures on the chart, and is used mainly for formatting.

  1. Click near the chart
    A gray box with fill handles appears when it is selected.
    NOTE: For this document, it is necessary to select only the Chart Area.

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. Make sure the chart is selected
    (outer borders have the handles)

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

  3. Select the appropriate chart type and sub-type
    NOTE: You can preview your information in any chart before you create it. Just click PRESS AND HOLD TO VIEW SAMPLE. 

  4. Click OK

return to topWorking with Ranges/Data Series

A data range/series identifies the information that is 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 that contain the information, you will need to edit the data ranges/series.

Deleting a Data Series

  1. Select your chart

  2. Click the column, bar, line, or pie segment which contains the information you want to delete

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

  4. Select the Series tab

  5. Under Series, select the item you wish to delete

  6. Click REMOVE

  7. Click OK

Adding a Data Series

If the data will be inserted in the middle of the block of data:

  1. Select the entire row or column of the worksheet where you would like to add data

  2. From the Insert menu, select Rows or Columns, depending on where the data needs to go

  3. In the new row or column, type the data

If the data will be inserted in the beginning or end of a block of data, or somewhere else on the worksheet use the following option:

  1. Select your chart

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

  3. In the Add Data dialog box, type the appropriate cell range for the data range 
    Be sure to include the cell that contains the row or column label in the cell range.
    OR
    To select cell range,

    1. Click COLLAPSE DIALOG collapse dialog box buttonor Collapse Dialog button
    2. Select the data range
    3. Click RESTORE DIALOG restore dialog box buttonor Restore Dialog button

  4. Click OK
  5. Type the data in the new row or column

return to topPositioning Your Chart

Moving Your Chart

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

  1. Select your chart

  2. Click and hold the chart

  3. Drag the chart to the appropriate location

  4. Release the mouse button

  5. To deselect the chart, click elsewhere on the worksheet

Resizing Your Chart

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

  1. Select your chart

  2. Click and hold on one of the handles

  3. Drag the handle in or out to adjust the size of the chart

  4. Release the mouse button

  5. To deselect the chart, click elsewhere on the worksheet

Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.