This wikiHow teaches you how to create a data projection graph in Microsoft Excel. You can do this on both Windows and Mac computers.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Trend Analysis Using Windows
Step 1. Open an Excel workbook
Double-click the Excel workbook that contains your data.
If you don't have data you want to analyze in a spreadsheet, you need to open Excel and click Blank workbook (blank workbook) to open a new workbook. You can then enter data and create graphs.
Step 2. Select your chart
Click the chart type you want to set as a trendline.
If you haven't graphed your data yet, create one before continuing
Step 3. Click
It's the green button in the top right corner of the graph. A drop down menu will appear.
Step 4. Click the arrow to the right of the "Trendline" box
You may need to hover your mouse over the far right side of the " Trendline " box to bring up this arrow. Click to open a second menu.
Step 5. Select the trendline option
Depending on your preference, click one of the following options
- linear
- Exponential
- Linear Forecast
- Two Period Moving Average
- You can also click More Options… to bring up the advanced options panel after selecting the data you want to analyze.
Step 6. Select data to analyze
Click the name series data (for example Series 1) in the pop-up window. If you have already named the data, click the name of the corresponding data.
Step 7. Click OK
It's at the bottom of the pop-up window. This step adds a trend line to the chart.
If you click More Options… Previously, you would have the option of naming the trendline or changing the trendline persuasion on the right side of the window.
Step 8. Save your work
Press Ctrl+S to save changes. If you have never saved this document before, you will be asked to select a location and file name.
Method 2 of 2: Trend Analysis Using Mac
Step 1. Open an Excel workbook
Double-click the workbook document where the data is stored.
If you don't have data that you want to analyze in a spreadsheet, you'll be prompted to open Excel to create a new workbook. You can enter data and create graphs from it
Step 2. Select the data in the graph
Click the data set you want to analyze to select it.
If you've never graphed data before, create one before continuing
Step 3. Click the Chart Design label
It's at the top of the Excel window.
Step 4. Click Add Chart Element
This option is at the far left of the toolbar Chart Design. Click to open the drop down menu.
Step 5. Select Trendline
It's located at the bottom of the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will appear.
Step 6. Select the trendline option
Depending on your preference, click one of the following options in the pop-out menu:
- linear
- Exponential
- Linear Forecast
- Moving Average
- You can also click More Trendline Options to open a window with advanced options. (e.g. trendline name).
Step 7. Save changes
Press Command+Save, or click File (file), then click Save (save). If you have never saved this document before, you will be asked to choose a save location and a file name.
