2. Excel
Excel is a very powerful tool that can be used
to help interpret data and create charts to help
convey the data’s meaning visually.
*The provided images are an example, I recommend entering the data as
displayed in the images while going through the slideshow to help
reinforce the information provided.
**Play around at each step to see how it affects the chart.
3. Enter your data
• Although you can enter data either in rows or columns, it is
easier to do it in columns, mainly because when you hit enter,
it brings you to the column directly beneath the column you
just entered data in.
• Start each column with a heading, named for what the beneath
data represents.
4. Start your chart
• To start a chart, click the insert menu, then the Chart Button,
this will bring up the Chart wizard as shown in the image to
the right.
5. Step 1 - Chart type
• As you can see there are many different types of charts, the
type you choose will depend on the data you want to represent.
Each type gives a short description. For my data I’m
choosing the line graph with markers. Click the Next button.
6. Step 2 – Chart Source Data
Part 1
• The next window asks you to select your data. To do so, click the button
with the red arrow next to Data range. This will allow you to highlight the
desired data. This is the data that you want represented by the line itself,
Pressure in my case. After you have selected your data, hit the button with
the red arrow, which will bring you back to the Chart Source Data window.
7. Step 2 – Chart Source Data
Part 2
• You may want to change the name of each Series (the item each line of the
graph represents) when you are graphing multiple sets of data. To do so,
click the Series tab, click the desired series, then click the button with the
red arrow next to Name. Then select the cell with the correct name,
Pressure in this case. Finally, click the button with the red button, which
will return you to the Chart Source Data window.
8. Step 2 – Chart Source Data
Part 3
• The next step is to select your x-value data. Click the button
with red arrow next to Category (X) axis labels. Select the
data you wish to represent the x-axis, then click the button
with the red arrow to return to the Chart Source Data window
9. Step 3 – Chart Options
Titles
• The next window is the Chart Options Window. The first tab
is Titles, allowing you to name your chart, x-axis, and y-axis.
This is highly recommended.
10. Step 3 – Chart Options
Axes
• The next tab in the Chart Options window is Axes. This
allows you to determine if you want your axes to have a value
shown. Generally, you can skip this tab when creating chart.
11. Step 3 – Chart Options
Gridlines
• The next tab in the Chart Options window is Gridlines. This
allows you to add or remove gridlines. Minor gridlines are
rarely used as they add clutter, Major gridlines are much more
common. X-axis gridlines are not necessary when using
markers like my example uses
12. Step 3 – Chart Options
Legend
• The next tab in the Chart Options window is Legend. The
legend is used when you chart multiple data sets on the same
graph to show what each line represents, you can move the
legend to different parts of your chart. Because I only have
one line, I removed the legend from my chart.
13. Step 3 – Chart Options
Data Labels
• The next tab in the Chart Options window is Data labels. Data
labels lets you label the markers on your chart with
information. This is really unnecessary and adds clutter to
your chart. I would recommend against it.
14. Step 3 – Chart Options
Data Table
• The last tab in the Chart Options window is Data Table. Data
table lets you add a table under the x-axis that contains the
values. It also lets you add the legend keys to the table,
eliminating the need for a separate legend. After you’ve
finished this section, click the Next button.
15. Step 4 – Chart Location
• This step asks you where you want to place the chart. Because
people usually create charts to carry over to other programs
(mostly Word and PowerPoint) this step is unnecessary and
can be skipped at step 3 by clicking Finish instead of Next.
16. Moving you chart
• After you have hit the Finished button, the chart will appear in
your excel window. To move it to another program, click the
graph to select it, then right click, then click the Copy button.
Move to the other program and right click, then click the Paste
button.
