Microsoft PowerPoint 2007
Charting Information
When presenting numerical information, charts are often more effective and efficient than text or lists of numbers. PowerPoint makes it easy to add and customize charts for use in your presentation.
Creating Charts
PowerPoint allows you to create and display charts of numeric information. You can enter information into an internal worksheet, and PowerPoint will generate a chart to appear on your slide.
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In the Normal view, from the Slides pane, select the slide to which you want to add a chart
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From the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click CHART
The Insert Chart dialog box appears.
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From the category list, select a category of chart
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From the gallery, select a chart type
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Click OK
The Insert Chart dialog box closes and Microsoft Excel opens in a split window, displaying a table with data and labels to be entered into the chart.
NOTE: For more information about entering information in Excel, refer to Getting Started with Excel: Entering Text and Getting Started with Excel: Entering Numbers. -
Type your data into the Excel worksheet
The chart in PowerPoint updates automatically as you enter data. -
When finished, to close Excel, click the
in the upper right corner
The chart is available in the selected slide.
Updating Chart Information
Once you have created a chart, you may want to update it by adding or deleting data. You can do this by switching to the worksheet you used to create the chart, changing values, and entering new data or deleting existing data. The chart is automatically updated, including the legend if you change the data labels.
Changing Chart Values
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Select the chart
The Design, Layout, and Format command tabs appear. -
From the Design tab, in the Data group, click EDIT DATA
Microsoft Excel opens in a split window, displaying a table with data and labels to be entered into the chart.
NOTE: For more information about entering information in Excel, refer to Getting Started with Excel: Entering Text and Getting Started with Excel: Entering Numbers. -
In the worksheet, select the cell you want to change and type the new value
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Press [Enter]
The chart is updated on the slide. -
When finished, to close Excel, click the
in the upper right corner
Adding Data
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Select the chart
The Design, Layout, and Format command tabs appear. -
From the Design tab, in the Data group, click EDIT DATA
Microsoft Excel opens in a split window, displaying a table with data and labels to be entered into the chart.
NOTE: For more information about entering information in Excel, refer to Getting Started with Excel: Entering Text and Getting Started with Excel: Entering Numbers. -
In the appropriate location, type the new data
HINT: If you type data in a new row or column adjacent to the table, it will automatically be included in the chart. -
Press [Enter]
The chart is updated on the slide. -
When finished, to close Excel, click the
in the upper right corner
Deleting Data
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Select the chart
The Design, Layout, and Format command tabs appear. -
From the Design tab, in the Data group, click EDIT DATA
Microsoft Excel opens in a split window, displaying a table with data and labels to be entered into the chart.
NOTE: For more information about entering information in Excel, refer to Getting Started with Excel: Entering Text and Getting Started with Excel: Entering Numbers. -
In the worksheet, select the values you wish to delete
HINT: If you want to delete an entire column or row, click on the appropriate column or row identifier. -
Press [Delete]
The chart is updated on the slide. -
When finished, to close Excel, click the
in the upper right corner
Customizing Chart Appearance
PowerPoint automatically assigns specific colors and layouts to the charts that you create. However, you can customize the appearance of your chart at any time. PowerPoint allows you to change the colors of chart elements, add or remove chart elements (e.g., gridlines, data labels, or error bars), or change the appearance of the entire chart.
To Apply Pre-Formatted Appearances to a Chart
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your chart, but do not want to individually change each element, PowerPoint provides you with preformatted styles (e.g., color schemes) and layouts (e.g., presence or absence of gridlines or data labels). This allows you to choose from a gallery of completely formatted chart appearances that may be more suitable for your project.
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Select the chart you would like to format
The Design, Layout, and Format command tabs appear. -
To change the layout of your chart, from the Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, select the desired layout
The new layout is applied to your chart.
HINT: For more options of chart layouts, click MORE
. -
To change the style of your chart, from the Design tab, in the Chart Styles group, select the desired style
The new style is applied to your chart.
HINT: For more options of chart styles, click MORE.
Adding and Removing Chart Elements
PowerPoint allows you to display many different elements (e.g., titles, gridlines, or specific data points) on your chart. You can add or remove elements from your chart at any time.
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Select the chart you would like to format
The Design, Layout, and Format command tabs appear. -
From the Layout tab, select the desired chart element » select the desired formatting
ButtonNameFunction
Chart Title Hides the title or allows you to set its position 
Axis Titles Rotates, moves, or hides the titles for the vertical and horizontal axes 
Legend Displays the legend in various positions around or on top of the chart, or hides the legend 
Data Labels Hides or displays value labels for each point, and allows you to select the position for the labels 
Chart Data Table Hides or displays a table summarizing the data displayed in your chart 
Axes Hides the axes or their labels, switches the axes, or changes the measurements displayed with each axis 
Chart Gridlines Shows or hides major and minor gridlines 
Plot Area Changes or removes the color behind the data on a two-dimensional chart 
Chart Wall Changes or removes the color on the vertical "walls" behind the data on a three-dimensional chart 
Chart Floor Changes or removes the color on the horizontal "floor" under the data on a three-dimensional chart 
3-D Rotation Opens the Format Chart Area dialog box, which allows you to change the angle from which a three-dimensional chart is viewed 
Trendline Shows a line that indicates the average course of the data 
Lines Hides or displays lines at data points which compare the data to other points or the axes, and clarify where each data point falls 
Up/Down Bars Hides or displays bars between the lowest and highest numbers at a given point on the graph 
Error Bars Hides or displays bars that indicate how much the data may vary from the displayed values, and allows you to set the amount of error
Changing Chart Types
You can change the chart type of your chart even once you have already applied formatting.
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Right click the chart you would like to change » select Change Chart Type...
The Change Chart Type dialog box appears. -
Select the desired new chart type
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Click OK
