This wikiHow teaches you how to create a graph or chart in Microsoft Excel. You can create graphs from existing data using Microsoft Excel, both Windows and Mac versions.
Step
Step 1. Open Microsoft Excel
This program is marked by a green square icon with a white “X” on it.
Step 2. Click Blank workbook
It's a white box in the upper-left corner of the program window.
Step 3. Select the type of chart or chart you want to create
There are three main types of charts that you can create through Excel, and each type is used for different types of data:
- “ Bar ” (bar graph) – This graph displays one or more data sets using vertical bars. This type of graph is suitable for displaying differences in data over a period of time, or comparing two similar data sets.
- “ Line ” (line graph) – This graph displays one or more data sets using horizontal lines. This type of chart is suitable for showing the development or decline of data over a certain period of time.
- “ Pie ” (circle graph) – This graph displays a data set as a fraction (of the whole data). This type of graph is suitable for showing the distribution of data visually.
Step 4. Add a graphic header (header)
The graph header is used to define the label for each data segment and must be placed in the top row of the spreadsheet. You can start adding heads to the B1 ”, then continue the work to the next box.
- For example, to create a “Number of Cats” data set and a “Maintenance Cost” data set, you need to type the Number of Cats in the “ B1" and Maintenance Costs in the box " C1 ”.
- Always clear the box" A1 ”.
Step 5. Add graphic labels
Labels that separate rows of data need to be added to the column " A ” (starting from box “ A2"). Aspects such as time (eg "Day 1", "Day 2", etc.) are commonly used as labels.
- For example, if you compare your personal budget with a friend's budget in a bar graph, you can label each column by week or month.
- You also need to add a label for each row of data.
Step 6. Enter the chart data
Starting from the box directly under the first header and to the right of the first label (usually the box B2 ”), enter the numbers you want to use as graph data.
You can press the Tab key after typing data in one column to enter data and switch to the box next to it if you need to enter data in several boxes (in the same row)
Step 7. Select the data for the graph to be created
Click and drag the cursor from the top left corner of the data set (e.g. the “box” A1 ”) towards the bottom right corner. Make sure you include the header row and label column.
Step 8. Click the Insert tab
This tab is at the top of the Excel window. After that, the toolbar will be displayed under the tab “ Insert ”.
Step 9. Choose a chart type
In the “Charts” section of the toolbar “ Insert ”, click the visual representation of the type of graphic you want to use. After that, a drop-down menu with various options will be displayed.
- Bar chart represented by a series of vertical bars.
- line graph represented by two or more curved lines.
- circle line represented by a circle that is divided into several pieces.
Step 10. Choose a graphic format
In the drop-down menu of the selected graph, click the version of the graph (e.g. “ 3D ”) that you want to use in the Excel document. After that, a graphic will be created on the document.
You can also hover over a format to see a preview of a graph that uses your data with that format
Step 11. Add a title to the chart
Double-click the "Chart Title" column at the top of the chart, then delete the "Chart Title" text and replace it with your own title. After that, click on an empty space on the chart.
On a Mac, you need to click on the tab “ Design ”, clicking “ Add Chart Element ", choose " Chart Title ”, click the placement location, then type the title text.
Step 12. Save your document
To save it:
- Windows - Click menu " File ", choose " Save As ", double click " This PC ”, select a storage location on the left side of the window, type the document name in the "File name" field, and click the " Save ”.
- Mac - Click menu " File ", choose " Save As… ”, enter the document name in the "Save As" field, select a storage location by clicking the "Where" box and selecting a storage folder, then click " Save ”.
Tips
- You can change the visual appearance of the graph on the " Design ”.
- If you don't want to choose a specific chart type, you can click the option “ Recommended Charts ”, then selects a chart from the Excel recommendation window.
