How to Make an Area Chart in Google Docs

Google Docs is a free word processing utility from Google. It allows you to create and edit text documents, spreadsheets and presentations online. You do not have to download and install any software on your computer for this purpose. Google Docs also has advanced features that allow you to create different types of charts, including an area chart which plots variations in data values over time.

Instructions

1. Log in to your Google Docs account.

2. Click the "Create new" button on the Google Docs webpage, and then click "Spreadsheet."

3. Enter the data that you will use to create the area chart in the spreadsheet.

4. Click and hold the mouse cursor in the first cell in which you typed the data in the spreadsheet. Drag the cursor first horizontally and then vertically, highlighting all the cells in the spreadsheet in which you typed the data.

5. Click the "Insert" menu, and choose "Gadget."

6. Click "Charts" on the left-pane of the dialog box that opens.

7. Click the "Add to your spreadsheet" button below Area Chart on the right-pane.

8. Type a name for the area chart in the "Title" box (for example, AreaChart1) on the Gadgets Settings dialog box that opens and then click "Apply & Close." The area chart will be displayed in the spreadsheet.

References

• Google Docs Help: Gadgets: Area Chart

Resources

• Google: Google Docs Log In
• Google Docs Help: Creating, editing and deleting charts