How to Design a Chart in Excel

This article will explain how to design a graph in Microsoft Excel. Excel is a easy way to plot data points and then create a bar, line, or pie graph in minutes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Microsoft Excel Program

1. 
    
   Open up Microsoft Excel

   Open Microsoft Excel program. A new page should open up automatically, if not click on File and then new. File menu is located at the upper left of the screen.

2. Fill in your data. For example if you are creating a bar graph that is dived by months then you will label A-L for each month in a separate column (box). Place the number under each month. So for column A Row 1 should say January, column A row 2 will say 5 (or whatever your data point is).

3. Once you have filled in your data points, then it’s time to create your graph. You will need to highlight all your data. You do this by clicking in column A row 1 and holding down the mouse and move over until all your data is highlighted (shaded). Then click on Insert at the top of the screen and Chart.

4. 
    
   Decide on the Type of Graph

   Decide on which type of chart you want to create (e.g. Bar, Line, Pie, etc.) and click on it. Click on Next and follow the instructions to create a Chart Title, Category X and Y Title. Category X title is your bottom data and Category Y title is the side data. For example let’s say you are creating a graph for the amount of rainfall for January – December.
   Your Chart Title - Amount of Rainfall for the Year 2008
   Category X Title – Months
   Category Y Title - Amount of Rainfall in Inches

5. Click on the Legend Tab and you can choose where you legend is placed. Click on Next. Now bubble in as new sheet. (If you don’t the graph will be on the same page as your data you typed in).

6. Now you need to name the Legend series. At the top click on chart, then source data. Click on the series tab and put your cursor in the name block and type in there. For this graph you might say, “Rainfall for year 2008”. Your graph is now complete.

Tips & Warnings

• You can create more than one series. For example you might want to add average temperature for each month. So for Column A row 3 would be temperate averages.
• If you get stuck, click on Help.
• Make sure to save your graph.

Resources

• Deals & Coupons

[sbarry77]

on 10/14/2009 Great article with great instructions! Always have a hard time with excel. Thanks! 5*

[amysmarts]

on 10/10/2009 Great article on how to design a chart in Excel. This is very useful information. Thanks. 5*

[paulo55]

on 10/7/2009 Great article! Excellent information! 5*

[paulo55]

on 10/7/2009 Great article! Excellent information! 5*