Creating a Column Chart
Now, we have seen the types of charts and its various components. Let’s create a column chart so Sean can get a clear overview of how the students have fared in the exam.
Lets see how we can create a column chart:
1. Reduce the Zoom factor to 50%. This will help you view and place your chart in the worksheet.
2. Drag and select the names of all students from John to Michael.
3. Without clicking anywhere else, press the CTRL Key, and drag and select the percentage marks of all students from J3 to J17.
NOTE: The Ctrl key helps you to select more than one column at a time.
1. Click Insert > Chart.
- The Chart Wizard starts and a dialog box opens.
- You can see that the Column chart type is displayed by default.
TIP: The type of chart you select depends upon the type of data selected and what you wish to analyze from your figures.
2. Click Next to open the Chart Source data dialog box.
3. Click on the Series tab.
4. In the Name text box, type: Marks as shown on the right.
5. Click the Next button to proceed to the next dialog box.
6. In the Titles tab, click inside the Chart Title text box.
7. Press the Backspace key once to delete the text Marks.
8. Now type: Second Terminal Examination Results - An Overview.
The Category X-axis and Value Y-axis text boxes in the titles tab can be used to add titles to a chart’s x-axis and y-axis respectively.
9. Click on the Next button to go to the chart location dialog box.
10. Click on the Finish button.
The column chart is inserted in your worksheet. However, you notice that the chat covers part of the worksheet data.
11. If the chart is not selected, then click in the white space inside the chart border. (Do this away from the text or other chart objects. Only click in the empty white space.)
The chart gets selected. Square-shaped selection handles appear around its border.
12. Drag the chart below the examination data. After you are satisfied with the chart placement, release the mouse button.
At this stage, you might notice two abnormalities with your chart. One, it might seem too small or too big, and two, not all students’ names might be shown along the x-axis. If this is the case, continue with step 10. If all names are clear, jump to step 11.
13. Select the chart sheet and drag the selection handle in its right corner diagonally outwards, so that the chart area increases.
As the chart size increases, you find that all names have now become visible.
Embedded Charts and Chart Sheets
An embedded chart is an object on a worksheet. When you want to display a chart along with its associated data, you can use an embedded chart. To display a chart by itself on a page, you can create a chart sheet as a separate sheet in a workbook. The corresponding data is stored on a different sheet in a workbook. Whether you use an embedded chart or a chart sheet, the chart data is automatically linked to the worksheet from which you created it. When the data in the worksheet changes, the chart gets updated to reflect these changes.
TIP: To change the chart type, click on the chart image to activate it and in Format > Chart Type, select the type of chart you want.
Activity: Change the column chart that you just created to a pie chart.
