Using Excel
Today – Line Plots
Step 1: Get some data to graph
• We’ll be importing data from the Internet. Navigate to
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004587.html
• Select ONLY the information in
the table by either a) clicking in
the top right corner and
dragging to the bottom left OR
b) click in the top right corner,
hold down the shift key, and
use the arrows to go to the
bottom left.
• Click CTRL-C to copy the data.
• LEAVE the Internet open until
you’ve successfully pasted
your data into Excel.
Step 2: Open a new Excel
workbook
• Start – All programs –
Microsoft Office – Excel
• Paste the data into the
workbook by clicking in cell A2
and clicking CTRL-V (or
choose Paste from the Home
tab)
Step 3: Clean up your data
• Adjust your column widths by:
– Putting your mouse between
columns (at the top, between
the letters) until you see a
black double-headed arrow.
Click and drag the column to
the right to make it wider; to
the left to make it narrower.
– Once you see the black
double-headed arrow (above),
double-click.
Black, doubleheaded arrow:
A | B
•
Give your columns ONE-ROW titles; it makes graphing easier.
– In row 3, change C3 to “Jan High”, D3 to “Jan Low”, E3 to “Apr High”, etc.
– You can click a cell twice to edit it or you can go to the cell and click “F2” to be
in edit mode. If you like to keep your hands on the keyboard, use the arrows
and TAB to navigate and F2 to get to edit mode.
Step 4: Make a line plot
• Highlight the data you want to graph. Do not include row
2, we only want one title row.
• Click the LINE button on the Insert tab.
Step 5. Move your chart to its
own worksheet
•Click ONCE on your graph. You will see the borders.
•Hover your mouse (don’t click, just let it sit there) over your
graph near the very top (just below the 4 dots ….) until you see
“Chart Area”.
•Right-click and select “Move Chart”
•Click “New Sheet” and type “Line Graph” in the box.
Hover
here
Step 6. Make your graph pretty
• Figure out how to add titles and change colors on your graph. Do
this by clicking ONCE on the graph, and then hovering your mouse
over different portions of the graph.
• Near the top, right-click when you see “Chart Area”. Try “Format
Chart Area” to see what happens.
• Near the middle, right-click when you see “Plot area”. Try some of
those commands.
• Go to the “Chart Tools” tab at the top of the Ribbon and choose
“Layout” to add titles to each axis and a title to your chart.
• Try changing your grid lines too. Look on the “Layout” tab under
“Chart tools”.
• At a minimum, you should use some shading and include a chart
title, x and y axis titles, and x and y axis gridlines.
Step 7. Try changing your data
• Click back on Sheet1.
• Double-click the “Sheet1” label and rename it “Data”
• Highlight the rows from Bangkok to Rome by clicking on the number
8 to the left of Bangkok and dragging down until you reach Rome.
Release the button.
• Right-click in the highlighted area and choose “Hide”.
• Look at your chart. What happened?
• Select the rows from 7 to 40, right-click, and choose “Unhide” to get
your data to reappear.
• Select the data from A3 to I52 by
highlighting it.
• On the data tab, click Sort.
• Choose “Apr High” in the Sort by column;
choose “Highest to lowest” in the Order
column. Click OK.
• Now look at your graph and your data.
What happened?
Filter and sort your data some
more!
•Click the filter button (on the Data tab of the Ribbon) and see what
happens.
•New drop down arrows should appear next to each of your title rows. Click
the arrow next to July High.
• Click on “Number Filters” and choose
“between”
• Filter for July highs between 60 and 90
• Now filter for April Highs above 80
degrees
• What happened to your data and your
graph?
ON YOUR OWN
• Go on the Internet and find some other
data to graph.
– Ideas: Census data, gasoline prices during the year, price of
some stocks during the year, RBIs, sports statistics, etc.
– Copy the data into a new worksheet in your workbook.
– Make a line graph of it.
– Make your new line graph pretty. Save and email your workbook
to [email protected]