How to Create Two Charts for Pivot Tables

Pivot tables capture a snapshot of large raw data. The software application tools reveal trends, averages and highlight key comparisons. When you add charts to pivot tables you can organize data so that business leaders can spot gaps in areas like annual salary, paid time off or interest rates, and they can correspondingly make prudent business decisions. Here's how to easily create two charts for pivot tables.

Instructions

Populate Data and Design Charts

1. Create raw data. Open a blank spreadsheet by clicking "Start" then "Microsoft Office Excel". Type a category label at the top of the columns you want to populate data in. For example, if you are creating a spreadsheet to capture and compare annual salaries for financial advisors, you could type "Midwest Region" in Column A and Row 1 (cell A1), "Southeast Region" in Cell B1 and "Northeast Region" in Cell C1. Next, fill in the data for each category on the spreadsheet. If you are tracking salaries, type in individual employee or department annual salaries in the rows below each regional column. Save the data by clicking "File" then "Save As" at the top of the application screen.

2. Build the pivot table. Click "Data." Select "Pivot Table and Pivot Chart Wizard." Click "Microsoft Office List or Database" to create a pivot table using an open Excel spreadsheet. If you want to create a pivot table using a closed Excel spreadsheet or data stored in another software application, select "External Data Source." For this exercise we are going to select "Microsoft Office List or Database." Click "Next." A window will pop up asking "Where is the data that you want to use." Left click on your mouse and highlight all of the data in the spreadsheet you just created. Click "Next." A window will pop up asking "Where do you want to put the Pivot Table Report." Choose "Existing Worksheet." This will allow you to see the pivot table on the same Excel worksheet that the raw data is located on. If you want to see the pivot table on a separate worksheet, Choose "New Worksheet." Click "Finish."

3. Design the charts. Click "Pivot Chart." Use the drop-down box at the bottom of the chart to select and deselect items you want to show or conceal on the chart. You can also drag items from the pivot table to and from the chart to edit or redesign the chart. Right click on your mouse and select "Chart Type" to choose from a variety of available chart templates including column, bar and pie charts. Return to the pivot table in the spreadsheet. Click "Pivot Chart" and the second chart will load. Give each pivot chart a unique name. Save and file your workbook that includes your raw data, pivot table and two pivot table charts.