Working with Axes and Gridlines

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate how to edit the scale of the vertical axis
  • Show how to add gridlines
  • Explain how to work with column widths

What are gridlines and what do they do? Gridlines are the horizontal and vertical lines that help you compare data and category values.

  1. Read and do pages EX 222 to EX 225–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Formatting Data Markers

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate how to format data markers

What is the purpose of formatting data markers? It can make them stand out and make the chart easier to understand. It can provide a way to identify different values in a chart.

  1. Read and do pages EX 225 to EX 227–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Formatting the Plot Area

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Review what the plot area includes and how to format it
  1. Read and do pages EX 227 to EX 229–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Creating a Combination Chart

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Explain how to create a combination chart
  • Describe how to work with primary and secondary axes

What is the benefit of combination charts? Combination charts enable you to show two sets of data using the chart type that is best for each data set. Combination charts can have data series with vastly different values.

  1. Read and do pages EX 230 to EX 234–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Editing a Chart Data Source

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Review how to edit a chart data source

How do you add a data series to an existing chart? Select the chart, click the Select Data button in the Data group on the CHART TOOLS DESIGN tab to open the Select Data Source dialog box, click the Add button, and then select the range for the data series.

  1. Read and do pages 235 to EX 237–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Exploring Other Chart Types

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate how to create and use a histogram
  • Demonstrate how to create a pareto chart
  • Describe how to use a waterfall chart
  1.  Read and do pages EX 237 to EX 243–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Creating Sparklines

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate how create a sparkline
  • Show how to format the sparkline axis
  • Explain how to work with sparkline groups

What are the three types of sparklines? There are three types of sparklines—line, column, and win/loss. A line sparkline might be used to show the sales history of a department. A column sparkline could be used to present a record of monthly temperatures. A win/loss sparkline could be used to show the season results for sports teams.)

  1. Read and do pages EX 243 to EX 247–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP

Creating Data Bars

At the end of the section you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate how to create data bars
  • Explain how to modify a data bar rule

How are data bars and sparklines similar or different? Data bars differ from sparklines in that the bars are always placed in the cells containing the value they represent, and each cell represents only a single bar from the bar chart. By contrast, a column sparkline can be inserted anywhere within the workbook and can represent data from several rows or columns. However, like sparklines, data bars can be used to create compact graphs that can be easily integrated alongside the text and values stored in worksheet cells.

  1. Read and do pages EX 247 to EX 250–WATCH THIS VIDEO TO HELP