Starting the Chart Wizard

The Chart Wizard shows each step along the path from entering raw data to completing a professional-looking graph. You can transform numbers into graphs, illustrating the power of visually oriented information to strengthen presentations.

Note Verify your data range after you select your chart.

1. Open the Technology3 workbook you saved earlier.
2. Select the data in the workbook including the headings, as shown below, but not the main title or totals.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Standard toolbar, click the Chart Wizard button.
   
4. On the Standard Types tab, in Chart type, click Column.
5. In Chart sub-type, click Clustered column with a 3-D visual effect.
6. Click the Press and hold to view sample button to see a sample of your data in the clustered column 3-D format.
   It should look something like the image below.
7. Click Next twice.

Adding titles

8. With the Chart Wizard still open, on the Title tab, in Chart title, type Technology Challenge.
9. In the Value (Z) axis, type Number of Web Sites. (The Z-axis title is available but not the Y-axis, because the Y-axis extends "back into" the chart.)
10. Click the Gridlines tab to select type of lines to show on your graph.
11. In Category (X) axis, click Major gridlines, to see what they are, and click again to remove.
12. In Value (Z) axis, click Major gridlines.
13. To move the legend to the bottom, click Bottom on the Legend tab.
14. On the Data Labels tab, click Show value, Show label, and then None.
15. On the Data Table tab, click the Show data table option to see a table, and click again to remove the table.
16. Click Next for Chart Location.
17. Click As New sheet.
    • Attaching the graph as a new sheet makes it easier to print a chart.
    • Attaching the chart as an object has the advantage of providing an immediate view of changes to the chart as you change the data.
18. Click Finish to complete the chart process.
19. Change the name of the worksheet from Sheet 1 to Chart 1 if it is not done automatically.
20. Save your workbook as TechChart.

Rotating Z-axis titles and enlarging chart titles

The Z-axis title might look cleaner if it were rotated. The main graph title would be easier to read if it were a larger font size. You can change them both.

1. Open the TechChart workbook from the previous lesson.
2. Click the Chart Title.
3. On the Formatting toolbar, change the Font size to 18, and the Font style to Comic Sans (or another informal sans-serif font).
4. Click the title, and position the pointer on the bottom line of the title box, and move the title to the top center of the chart (if it's not already there).
5. Right-click Number of Web Sites.
6. Click the Format axis title dialog box.
7. On the Alignment tab, click the Red Diamond under Orientation, and drag it up to the top of the semicircle.
8. Click the Font tab, and change the text to bold and 14-point, and Comic Sans.
9. Click OK.
10. Right-click the "Technology Challenge" chart title.
11. Click Format Chart.
12. Click the Font tab, and change the text to bold and 20-point.
13. Save as TechTitle.

Adding texture to your background

The plain, gray background can be changed to a colorful texture, especially if you are presenting in color, or if you have a color printer.

1. Open the TechTitle workbook from the previous lesson.
2. On the graph background, right-click Walls.
3. Click Format Walls.
4. On the Patterns tab, click Fill Effects.
5. On the Texture tab, click the Parchment color block on top of the third column of the first row.
6. Click OK to close the Fill Effects window.
7. Click OK to close the Patterns tab.
8. Save.

Note If the floor of the chart is too small to find, click the Zoom button, and select something larger.  Repeat until you can see the floor.

9. In the TechTitle workbook from the previous lesson, on the graph background, right-click Floor, then click Format Floor.
10. On the Patterns tab, click Fill Effects.
11. On the Texture tab, click the Green marble color block in the first column of the third row.
12. Click OK to close the Fill Effects window.
13. Click OK to close the Patterns tab.
14. Save.

Changing colors of the bars (The "Data Series")

It is easy to change data series colors to enhance your chart.  This is true for any chart type: bar, pie, line, etc.

1. In the TechTitle workbook from the previous lesson, right-click the first data bar.
2. Click Format Data Series.
3. On the Patterns tab, click Bright yellow in the fourth row.
4. Click OK.
5. Right-click the second data bar.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 4, and click Bright green in the fourth row.
7. Save.

Rotating charts

Sometimes it is easier to understand a chart if it is viewed in 3-D. In Excel you can modify your chart to show it from any view - top, bottom, right, left - or you can create 3-D charts.

1. Open the TechTitle workbook from the previous lesson.
2. Right-click Walls.
3. Click 3-D View.
4. In the Elevation dialog box, type 15.
5. In the Rotation dialog box, type 40.

Note If your image gets blurry, return to the 3-D dialog box and click Default. Excel will return the chart to the "normal" (default) 3-D settings.

6. Click the Auto scaling and the Right angle axes boxes.
7. Click Apply.
8. Change the elevation to 40.
9. Click Apply.
10. Click OK.
11. Save as Tech3D.

Adding depth to charts

The illusion of depth adds dimension to your chart. In Excel you can easily modify your charts to show depth.

1. In the Tech3D workbook from the previous lesson, click the second bar on your chart.
2. Press ctrl+1 to open the Format Data Series window.
3. Click the Options tab.
4. In the Gap depth dialog box, type 170.
5. In the Gap width dialog box, type 90. (Or use the arrows)
6. In the Chart depth dialog box, type 699.
7. Click OK.
8. Save.

Pie charts

Pie charts are easy to make. You only have to make sure you select the right data set to chart.

Creating pie charts

1. Open the Technology3 workbook again.  
2. Click cell B5, and then press shift while you click B12, or click B5 and drag to B12.
3. Press ctrl while you click cell D5 and drag the pointer to select cells D5 through D12.
4. Click the Chart Wizard button.
5. Under Chart type, click Pie, and In Chart sub-type, click Exploded Pie with a 3-D visual effect (second row, second chart).
6. Click Next.
7. Click Next again.
8. On the Titles tab, type Secondary Schools (if it's not already there).
9. Click the Legend tab, and uncheck Show legend.
10. Click the Data Labels tab and check Show label. Make sure Show leader lines is checked.
11. Click Next.
12. Check As new sheet.
13. Click Finish.
14. Save as TechPie.

Modifying pie charts

1. Open TechPie. Go to the Chart1 worksheet.
2. Click on the Title.
3. Right-click (chart) Title to open the Format Chart Title... dialog box.
4. On the Font tab, click Bold, change the point size to 18 or 24, choose a font, and then click OK.
5. Right-click inside Pie to open the Format Data Series dialog box.
6. On the Data Labels tab, click Show label and percent.  Make sure Show leader lines is checked.  Click OK.
7. Right-click one of the Data Labels to open the Format Data Labels dialog box.
8. On the Font tab, click Bold, click 14, choose a different font if you like, and click OK.
9. Click slowly on each data label until you can get it to look like it's in a text box (it is), grab the edge, and drag it out so you can see the leader lines.
10. Your chart should resemble the following example: (some details may differ)

Create and Modify Lines and Objects
Create lines...	& other objects...
On the Drawing toolbar, click the Line button. Click in the worksheet and Drag to create the line exactly where you need it. -or- Click AutoShapes, choose Lines, and the Draw in your worksheet.  See below... Modify Lines & Objects... On the Drawing toolbar, select any of the several buttons to change color, thickness, style (dashed lines) arrow style, Rotate, give them shadows, 3-D effects, Group Objects (so that you can move them as one object and their relative positions won't change), Snap them to a grid (helps to position), Nudge them a little when it's hard with the mouse, etc!	On the Drawing toolbar, click the Arrow, Rectangle, Oval or Text Box button. Click in the worksheet and Drag to create the object exactly where you need it. In the case of the text box, click once in the text box and then start typing your text.   -and- On the Drawing toolbar, click AutoShapes, (see the Drawing toolbar for the menu that pops up when you click on AutoShapes)  See below...
AutoShapes, and modification of them On the Drawing toolbar, click AutoShapes. Choose any of a large number of shapes for your needs. Draw that object on the worksheet screen. One of the Block Arrows, the "Striped Right Arrow," is shown to the right. Click on the Yellow diamond and Drag it to see what it does. Click on one of the boxes around the edge and Drag it to change the size. Move the pointer over the object, when the pointer changes to the "four-arrowed" pointer, click and drag the object to where you want it in the worksheet. Changing an AutoShape into a Textbox If you choose certain AutoShapes, like a Banner, it is already a Textbox, because that's what you do with a Banner. However, you can change any of these shapes into a Text-holding object! On the Drawing toolbar, click AutoShapes. Choose the shape that fits your needs. Draw that object on the worksheet screen. Click on the Textbox button on the Drawing toolbar. Click in the drawing object. You will see the borders of a Textbox appear around the outside of your object.  Click in it, and start typing!

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Last Updated 11/14/2005