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How to create and insert charts in Excel

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Diagrams and graphs: Excel gives you a hand
How to make a chart in Excel
Adapt your chart
Columns / Bars
Lines / Areas
Circle / Ring
Hierarchy
Dots / Balloons
Waterfall / Flow
Area / Network
Add or remove items
Modify your visual appearance

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How to create and insert charts in Excel

Graphics are used to represent abstract numbers visually. Using bars, circles and lines, you can compare data, highlight trends, and view facts. In Excel, this is often necessary, as the program often holds huge amounts of data. This was probably one of the reasons that led Microsoft to include different functions to present collections of numbers and data in a visually attractive way in its table calculation program. We show you how to insert charts into Excel quickly and easily..

Index
  1. Diagrams and graphs: Excel gives you a hand
    1. Columns / Bars
    2. Lines / Areas
    3. Circle / Ring
    4. Hierarchy
    5. Dots / Balloons
    6. Waterfall / Flow
    7. Area / Network
  2. How to make a chart in Excel
  3. Adapt your chart
    1. Add or remove items
    2. Modify your visual appearance

Diagrams and graphs: Excel gives you a hand

In Excel you can choose between different charts. The purpose of diagrams is to display selected values ​​in a way that is easy to understand, but not all types of diagrams are suitable for all types of values. While some indications are made using percentages and can therefore be represented particularly well in a pie chart, axis charts are better for time sequences.

Columns / Bars

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Simple table data can be represented very well with columns (vertical) and bars (horizontal). Thus, the different values ​​are compared visually.

Lines / Areas

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Sequences (temporal) are particularly well represented with lines.

Circle / Ring

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If you want to represent a distribution, pie or ring charts are especially suitable. In this case, the entire area represents 100 percent.

Hierarchy

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This area chart is especially useful for representing dependencies.

Dots / Balloons

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For large amounts of data, you can also use points (of the same or different colors) in a coordinate graph. Instead of dots you can also use balloons for a 3D effect graphic.

Waterfall / Flow

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Waterfall or flow charts mark changes especially well.

Area / Network

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If the values ​​depend on a mean value, it is recommended to display them on a network or area graph revolving around this point.

Apart from the standard diagrams we have mentioned, Excel also allows you to use graphics with slight modifications with respect to conventional diagrams. Graphics that simulate a three-dimensional effect are often very successful..

Notice

Excel also allows you to create PivotCharts . These graphs correspond to pivot tables and can be adapted just like their templates.

How to make a chart in Excel

To start, you need values ​​that you want to plot on a graph. You must enter this data in a table and label it correctly (this will save time, since Excel keeps the labeling of the table on the graph). Next, select the range of cells that you want to represent in the chart - they don't have to be neighboring areas. Using the? Ctrl? you can select several small areas if you wish..

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If you want to create a graph in Excel, the program suggests some types of graph.

Then switch to the "Insert" tab. There you can choose a chart template using the icons or let Excel make the decision for you. Click? Recommended Charts? and Excel will show you an overview of suitable charts (depending on the program), including a preview with their values. In the same window you can also consult an overview of all the types of charts available and select the one that suits you best.

Now you can move the graph to the desired location in the table. Using the option? Move graphic? in the tab? Design? From the chart tools, you can place your Excel chart in a new spreadsheet.

Adapt your chart

The first version created automatically by the program is unlikely to match your idea of ​​the graphic. Excel frees you from much of the work, but surely there are several points that you still need to adapt.

Add or remove items

A normal Excel diagram is made up of several elements. In the center appears the graph itself, the representation of the selected values, and next to it you will find more information :

  • Axis titles : this labeling provides information about the values ​​you are representing.
  • Chart Title : The title is a must-have so that others also know what is being rendered at a glance.
  • Data labels : to make it easier to recognize data, especially in large graphics, you can place labels directly on each of them.
  • Data table : you can display the corresponding table within the graph itself as a visual aid.
  • Error bars : To represent error ranges or standard deviations in rows of data, you can display error bars.
  • Legend : defines the different colors of the chart using the legend.
  • Trend line : you can also add trend lines to show the direction of development of the values.
  • Deviations pos./neg. - Use this element to show deviations between rows of data.

Items can be inserted into the chart in various ways. On the one hand, you can use the button? Add chart element? on the chart tools ribbon (under the? Layout? tab). You can also use the? Plus? that appears right next to the graph. In that menu, you can view items or delete them again .

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Select the elements of your diagram in a way that best fits your project.

In addition to adapting the elements, you can also adapt the data later. Once again, the Microsoft program offers you several options. On the one hand, Excel charts are dynamic, which means that if you modify the values ​​of the source table , the bars, lines or circles of the graph will also be modified.

On the other hand, you can also directly modify the selection of the values ​​within the graph. Using the filter (a funnel-shaped icon next to the graph) you can show or hide rows of data and categories. With a click on? Select data ?? you can choose multiple options to select the values. In the pop-up window you can adapt the data range, add rows of values ​​or swap columns and lines.

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You can tailor the data range of your diagram with precision.

Modify your visual appearance

You may also want to adapt your diagram design aside from functional elements . Very often, users not only create charts for themselves, but also to represent data collected and calculated by others. If, for example, you want to adapt the design to your corporate image, Excel offers you some possibilities.

You can choose between different templates and use the brush icon that appears on the side of the chart or on the ribbon, under the "Chart Design" tab, within the "Design Styles" section.

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Select the correct design from the templates or adapt individual details of the graphic.

There are still more options for adapting the graphic layout. In the tab? Format? you can make numerous adjustments. You can access more layout options by right-clicking on one of the elements in the chart and then choosing the appropriate formatting option. A sidebar will open allowing you to tailor even the most specific details . This way you can change the font, colors, borders, shadows and dimensions of all the elements.

Note

Do you want to work with Excel but do not have the application on your device? IONOS allows you to contract Microsoft 365 with all kinds of facilities to install it on your computer or use it in the browser.


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