Anatomy Of An Excel Chart

by Lynn Kramer

Charts offer a quick and easy way of graphically illustrating trends within your data. One glance at a chart can make it very plain where there is a dip in sales figures, a surge in visitor numbers and a host of other trends in whatever data is being represented. In this article we will examine the various elements of an Excel chart.

The first requirement is a set of data which can easily be converted into a readable chart. It is normally best to plot data which is a summary of your information. It is also useful if your data is arranged in columns or rows with headings at the top of columns or on the left of rows.

An example of information which would be easy to convert into a chart might be a selection containing two columns with on data the left and the corresponding values on the right. When the chart is created, the labels are placed on what is variously known as the category axis, horizontal axis or x axis; while values are placed on the y axis. When your data is arranged in this format, the chart that Excel plots will not need much modification.

Charts may either be standalone or embedded. A stand-alone chart has an Excel sheet dedicated simply to the chart. Embedded charts are placed directly on the worksheet, often alongside the data being plotted. This is known as a chart sheet; in contrast to a worksheet.

Whether embedded or standalone, the main elements in a chart are always the same. First of all, you have a chart area. This is the background to the chart as a whole. Next, there is the plot area. This is the area where the graph or chart is actually plotted. Then, as we have seen, we have two or more axes. In a typical, "no frills" chart, there are two axes: the horizontal, or category, axis and the vertical, or value, axis.

Next, we have one or more series of data. In the example cited above, where we select a column of labels and one column of values, there would be only one series of data. Whenever a chart contains more than one series, it is necessary to clarify what each column represents. This is done by using a legend. The legend acts as a key which tells us what each colour within the chart actually stands for.

As well as the text labels associated with the axes and with the legend, we can also have chart titles. As well as the main chart title, we also have the option of placing titles on the axes. Within the plot area, we can also choose to display grid lines. These make it easy to read the value associated with each point on the chart.

These then are the main elements within a chart. However, Excel allows you to customise each of these elements and add other elements which enable you to create charts which convey exactly the message you have in mind.

About the Author:

The author is a trainer and developer with TrainingCompany.Com, an independent computer training company offering Microsoft Excel 2007Classes at their central London training centre.