Excel 2010 Charts - Intermediate
Excel 2010 Series
The University of Akron
Table of Contents
COURSE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 2
DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................................ 2
COURSE OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................. 2
COURSE TOPICS ......................................................................................................................................... 2
LESSON 1: MODIFY CHART ELEMENTS .................................................................................................. 3
DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................................ 3
FORMAT A CHART ELEMENT ........................................................................................................................ 4
W ORK WITH DATA SERIES............................................................................................................................ 8
Switch a Data Series from Row to Column or Column to Row ............................................................ 8
Change the Order of the Data Series ................................................................................................ 10
Remove a Data Series ....................................................................................................................... 12
Add a Data Series .............................................................................................................................. 13
FORMAT AN AXIS ....................................................................................................................................... 15
SELECT A FONT ........................................................................................................................................ 18
SHOW A DATA TABLE ................................................................................................................................. 19
INSERT AND FORMAT A TITLE ..................................................................................................................... 20
PRINT A CHART AS A SEPARATE OBJECT .................................................................................................... 23
EXERCISE 3 –MODIFICATION OF CHART ELEMENTS ..................................................................................... 24
Task A – Change Legend ................................................................................................................... 24
Task B – Use Data Labels .................................................................................................................. 25
Task C – Axis Titles ............................................................................................................................ 27
LESSON 2: CHART TIPS........................................................................................................................... 28
DISCUSSION .............................................................................................................................................. 28
SAVE A CHART AS A TEMPLATE .................................................................................................................. 29
USE A CHART TEMPLATE ........................................................................................................................... 30
SET A DEFAULT CHART TYPE ..................................................................................................................... 32
LESSON 3: CREATE A COMBINATION CHART WITH NUMBERS OF DIFFERENT SCALES .......... 33
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Course Overview
Discussion
In the Excel 2010 Charts – Introduction seminar, the skills to create basic pie, line,
column, and Sparkline charts were reviewed. This seminar builds upon those skills to
modify Chart elements, work with templates, and to create a combination Chart.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
 Modify Chart elements
 Print a Chart
 Save and use Chart templates
 Set a default Chart Type
 Create a Combination Chart
Course Topics
Modify Chart Elements -
Format a Chart element
Work with data series
Change the order of a data series
Format an axis
Select a font and fill
Show a data table
Insert and format a title
Print a Chart as a separate object
Modify Chart elements
Chart Tips -
Save a Chart as a template
Use a Chart template
Set a default Chart type
Appendix -
Create a combination Chart
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Lesson 1: Modify Chart Elements
Discussion
This lesson reviews changes to the individual elements of the Chart. The topics include:








Format a Chart element
Work with data series
Format an axis
Select a font
Show a data table
Insert and format a Chart title
Print a Chart as a separate object
Modify Chart elements
To prepare for this lesson, follow your instructor’s directions to open the
ChartsIntermediate workbook.
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Format a Chart Element
1. Select the Chart element to be modified in one of these two methods.
a. Click on the Chart element.
(To select one data point in a series, click on the data point once. Pause. Click
on it a second time.)
-ORb. Select the Chart, click on the Format contextual tab and make a selection from
the list at the down arrow for Chart Elements.
In class, click once on one of the columns for the Salaries series to select the series.
Note that file handles (small circles) display on the borders of each of the three columns
in the series.
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2. Select the formatting change by one of these two methods.
a. From any of the tools on the Ribbon, select the commands for the formatting
change.
Although you are not limited to the Chart Tools contextual tabs of Design, Layout
and Format, many of the commands used to modify Chart elements are on these
three tabs.
Design tab
Layout tab
Format tab
b. Right click the mouse to display a set of options.
The options may vary depending on the Chart element that is selected.
The Format option opens a dialog box with many choices.
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Try this: In class, right click on one of the selected columns for the Salaries series.
•
•
•
•
Select Format Data Series.
In the dialog box, select Fill > Solid fill.
Choose a color at the down arrow of the Color drop down.
Click on Close.
Try this: In class, click once on the column for the Salaries 2011.
The file handles display only on the border of that column.
To fill the selected column with a picture from clip art:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Right click on the selected column.
Select Format Data Point.
Select Fill > Picture > Clip art.
Search for Person and select a picture.
In the Format Data Point dialog box, mark the Stack option.
Click on Close.
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The Chart displays similar to this.
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Work with Data Series
The instructions in this part of the lesson help to:
•
•
•
Switch a data series from row to column or column to row
Change the order of the data series
Remove a data series
Switch a Data Series from Row to Column or Column to Row
1. Review the column Chart.
The columns of data are grouped by year. Within each year, the amount of each
expense is compared to the amount of the other expenses in that year.
2. Select the Chart.
3. Click on the Design tab.
4. Click on the Switch Row/Column tool
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5. Review the changes to the column Chart.
The columns of data are grouped by the expense type. Within each group, the
amount of the expense for each year is compared to the amount of the expense for
each of the other years.
6. Use the Undo tool
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in the Quick Access toolbar to reverse the last action.
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Change the Order of the Data Series
1. Select the Chart.
2. Click on the Design tab of the Ribbon.
3. Click on the Select Data tool
l.
The Select Data Source dialog box displays.
4. In the Legend Entries (Series) box, click once to select the series to move.
In class, click on Salaries.
5. Click on the Move Up tool
to move Salaries to be the first series.
Be sure to use the Move Up tool and not the up arrow on the scroll bar.
6. Click once on Travel to select that Series.
7. Click on the Move Down tool
Maintenance.
three times to move Travel to be after
Note: After the data
series are moved and
placed in a different
order than their order in
the worksheet, the
Switch Rows/Column
tool will not be
available.
8. Click on OK.
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9. Review the changes in the Chart.
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Remove a Data Series
1. Select the Chart.
2. Click on the Design tab of the Ribbon.
3. Click on the Select Data tool
. The Select Data source dialog box displays.
4. In the Legend Entries box, click once to select the series to remove.
In class, select Salaries.
5. Click on the
tool.
6. Before clicking on OK, review the Chart to be certain that this change is what you
want. (If it is not what you want, make another change or click on Cancel.)
7. Click on OK.
The series is removed from the Chart.
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Add a Data Series
1. Select the Chart.
2. Click on the Design tab of the Ribbon.
3. Click on the Select Data tool
.
The Select Data Source dialog box displays.
4. In the Legend Entries box, click on the
The Edit Series dialog box displays.
tool.
5. In the workbook, click on the cell that contains the Series Name.
a. Click on the Sheet2 tab to make that sheet active.
b. Select Salaries in cell A5.
Alternatively, type a name in the Series name box and skip to step 8.
6. In the dialog box, delete the entry in the Series values box.
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7. In the workbook, use the mouse to select the range of cells that contain the values
for the series.
In class, select B5:D5.
The selected cell range populates the Series values field in the dialog box.
8. Click on OK.
9. In the Select Data Source box, before clicking on OK again, review the Chart to be
certain that this change is what you want.
10. Click on OK.
The series is added to the Chart.
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Format an Axis
1. Select the Chart element to be formatted.
a. With the Chart selected, click on the Layout tab.
b. In the Current Selection group, click on the down arrow for the Chart Element.
c. From the list, select the Chart element.
In class, select Vertical (Value Axis).
At times, it can be difficult to
select a chart element by
clicking on the element. This
method, in step 1, is another
way to select a chart element
that is to be modified.
The axis is selected. Note the values in increments of 20,000.
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2. Format the selected Chart element.
a. Click on
.
The Format Axis dialog box displays.
Select a
formatting
category here.
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This is another method for
displaying the Format dialog
box.
The formatting
options for that
category
appear here.
b. Select a formatting category.
In class, select Axis Options.
c. On the right side of the dialog box, select formatting options.
In class, click on the Fixed option for Major unit.
d. In the text box, type 25000.
e. Click on the Fixed option for Minor unit.
f. In the text box, type 5000.
g. Click on the Close button.
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3.
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Review the changes to the Chart. Note the values in increments of 25,000.
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Select a Font
1. Select the Chart element to format.
In class, click on the Legend to select it.
2. Format the selected Chart element.
On the Home tab, click on the point size down arrow
to select 12 pt from the list.
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Show a Data Table
1. Select the Chart element to format.
In class, select the Chart area.
2. Format the selected Chart element.
a. Click on the Layout tab.
b. Select the Data Table tool
. A list of options is displayed.
c. In class, select Show Data Table with Legend Keys.
3. Click on the Legend to select it and press the Delete key on the keyboard.
4. Review the changes in the Chart.
5. Click on the Undo tool
twice in the Quick Access toolbar to reverse the last two
changes. The legend is displayed, again, and the data table is removed.
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Insert and Format a Title
1. With the column Chart selected, click on the Layout tab.
2. Click on the Chart Title tool
. The Chart Title options are listed.
Titles can be linked to the contents of a cell.
•
•
Select the Chart Title element.
In the formula bar, enter a formula to
reference the cell.
Ex: =sheet2!B2
3. Select Above Chart from the list. A text box is displayed at the top of the Chart. The
Chart is resized to fit within its current borders.
4. Click in the text box with the words Chart Title.
5. Delete that text and type the new title. In class, type Expenses.
Alternatively, enter the text in the formula bar and press the Enter key on the
keyboard.
6. Click in a blank area of the Chart to deselect the title.
7. Click once on the title to select it.
The file handles (small circles) display to indicate that it is selected.
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8. Click on the Layout tab.
9. Click on the Format Selection tool
.
The Format Title Options dialog box is displayed.
10. Select Fill from the options in the column on the left.
11. Select Gradient Fill from the options in the column on the right.
Additional options are displayed.
12. Select one of the Preset colors as fill for the Title’s text box.
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13. Click on the Close button. Review the changes.
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Print a Chart as a Separate Object
A Chart can be printed as a part of the worksheet or a Chart can be printed as a
separate object. To print a Chart as a separate object, follow these steps.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click to select the Chart.
Select the File tab.
Select Print.
Under Settings, one of two settings should be selected.
• Print Active Sheet, if the chart is on its own sheet
-OR• Print Selected Chart, if the selected chart is on a worksheet that also has
cells for entering data
5. Click on the Print button.
The Chart is printed by itself on one page.
Excel will scale the selected Chart to fit on one page.
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Exercise 3 –Modification of Chart Elements
In this exercise, the line Chart is modified.
Task A – Change Legend
1. Note the legend
2. Select the Chart.
, which is not useful for this Chart.
3. On the Layout tab, click on the
tool.
4. Select from the list of options displayed.
5. Select
.
The legend is removed from the Chart.
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Task B – Use Data Labels
1. Select the Chart.
2. On the Layout tab, click on the
tool. A list of options is displayed.
3. Select
.
The values from the cells are displayed in the Chart.
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4. Click on one of the data labels.
All of the data labels are selected.
5. Click on the Home tab.
6. Select 12 pt from the list at the Font size down arrow
.
The data labels are shown in the larger Font size.
7. If a data label is difficult to read, because it is too close to the line, move it.
a. To select only one of the data labels, click on that label once, pause, and click on
that label, again. Only that one data label is selected, rather than all the data
labels in the series.
b. Place the mouse pointer on the border of the selected label and drag it to a new
location, so it is easier to read.
8. Review the changes in the Chart.
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Task C – Axis Titles
1. Select the Chart.
In class, select the column Chart.
2. On the Layout tab, click on
. A list of options is displayed.
3. Point to the option for the axis that is to be changed.
In class, point to Primary Horizontal Axis Title. A list of options is displayed.
4. Select Title Below Axis. A text box displays at the bottom of the Chart.
5. With the Title box selected, enter the title in the formula bar.
a. Type Fiscal Year for the title.
b. Press the Enter key on the keyboard to complete the entry.
6. If necessary, click on the Title box to select it.
7. On the Home tab, click on the down arrow of the point size box
to select 14 pt.
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Lesson 2: Chart Tips
Discussion
Suppose that you have a Chart that you create on a regular basis. The data varies, but
the Chart should have the same appearance/format each time a new one is created.
Once the first Chart is designed and formatted, it can be saved as a template to be used
over and over.
This lesson reviews tips that make it easier to create Charts.
 Save a Chart as a Template
 Use a Chart Template
 Set a Default Chart Type
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Save a Chart as a Template
1. Select the Chart to be used as a template.
2. On the Design tab, select the Save As Template tool
.
The Save Chart Template dialog box displays.
At Save in, the Charts sub-folder within the Templates folder will be active.
3. Type a name for the template. Spaces are allowed.
4. Click on Save.
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Use a Chart Template
1. Select the data to be Charted.
2. On the Insert tab, click on the Other Charts tool .
3. From the list that displays, select All Chart Types.
The Insert Chart dialog box displays.
Use the Manage Templates tool
to rename a saved template file
or to delete a saved template file.
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4. Select Templates in the left column.
In the right column, My Templates displays with icons for each one of the Chart
templates that you created. To identify a template’s name, point to an icon and
review its tool tip.
5. Click once on the template icon to use. The icon is selected.
6. Click on OK.
The Chart is created in the active sheet.
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Set a Default Chart Type
In Excel, the default Chart type is Clustered Column. When data is selected and F11 is
pressed, a column Chart is created on a separate worksheet. To change the default
Chart type to another type, follow these steps. It is best to do this before creating Charts
in the active workbook. This change is made in Excel and will affect all future charts in
all workbooks.
1. On the Insert tab, click on the Other Charts tool.
2. From the list that displays, select All Chart Types.
The Insert Chart dialog box displays.
3. Select a Chart subtype in the right column of the dialog box.
4. Click on the
button.
5. Click on OK. In class, click on Cancel.
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Lesson 3: Create a Combination Chart with Numbers
of Different Scales
When the series of numbers to Chart are of different scales, such as the Miles series
and the MPG series shown here, a combination Chart may be helpful.
1. Select the data to chart.
In class, the data is on Sheet3 in cells A3:C6
2. On the Insert tab of the Ribbon, select the Chart type.
In this example, the 2D Line with markers Chart is selected from the Line tool.
The Chart displays. This Chart is illustrative of the problem when the series of
numbers to chart are of different scales.
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3. To create a second Chart type for a series:
a. Select the series to Chart as a separate type with these steps.
• Select the Chart.
• On the Chart Tools – Format tab, select the series from the down arrow in the
Current Selection group.
In this example, the series MPG is selected.
b. Create a secondary axis for the selected series with these steps.
• Click on the Format Selection tool.
The dialog box displays.
• Select Secondary Axis.
•
Click on Close.
The secondary axis with an appropriate scale is created.
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4. Create a second Chart type to distinguish the series.
a. With the series selected, click on the Design tab of the Ribbon.
b. Select Change Chart Type.
c. Select a different Chart type for this series.
In this example, the Clustered Column type is selected.
d. Click on OK.
In the example shown below, data labels are added to the Chart.
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