Dana Medical Library

Excel Chart Basics

Sample Table

Sample Chart

Create a Chart

• Selecting the Data
• Select the cells from which you want to make a chart. Be sure to include the column and row labels. Our sample chart was made by clicking in cell A5 and dragging down and across to G9.
• In the Excel Standard Tool Bar click on the Chart button .
• Selecting a Chart Type
• Select the type of chart you want to create by click on a Chart type on the left side of the box, and Chart sub-type on the right side of the box.
• Hint: most tables of data is best represented by a simple column or bar chart. Pie and line charts are best used for totals.
• Click on the Next button.
• X and Y Axis Information
• Click in the radio button beside Rows will put column headings on the X axis (horizontal) and the row headings on the Y axis (vertical).
• Click in the radio button beside Columns will do the reverse.
• Click on the Next button.
• Chart and Axes Labels
• Click on the Title tab.
• Give the chart and the axes titles, if desired.
• Legend
• Click on the Legend tab.
• Checking the box beside Show Legend will make the legend appear beside the table.
• The position and size of the Legend can be changed by dragging it around once the chart is completed.
• Determine The Location Of The Chart

Indicate whether the chart is to appear on the same worksheet as the table or on a different worksheet.

• Finish the Chart

Click on the Finish button.

Edit the Chart

• Resizing the Chart
• Click in the Chart Area.
• A border with small squares at the corners and sides appears around the chart.
• Click on a square and drag to the desired size.
• Format Chart Titles
• Click on the chart title.
• Click the right mouse button in the square that appears around the title to create a drop-down menu.
• Click Format Chart Title.
• Click on the Font tab.
• Select the font face, style, size, color, background, etc., for the title by clicking on any of the desired elements.
• Click on the OK button.
• Format the Axes Titles and Data Labels
• Font
• Click on the axis title or data label.
• Click the right mouse button on the axis title or data label to create a drop-down menu.
• Click Format Axis.
• Click on the Font tab.
• Select the font face, style, size, color, background, etc., for the title by clicking on any of the desired elements.
• Click on the OK button.
• Alignment
• Click on the axis title or data label.
• Click the right mouse button on the axis title or data label to create a drop-down menu.
• Click Format Axis.
• Click on the Alignment Tab.
• Select the desired alignment.
• Click on the OK button.

Print the Chart

• Format the Chart for Printing: Page Setup

Hint: Make a change, then click on the OK button to see how it looks. You can change it back if you don't like the results.

• Select the Chart

Click in the Chart Area. a black border should appear around the entire chart.

• Chart Size
• In the Excel Standard Tool Bar click on the Page Setup button . The Page Setup Tool Bar appears
• Click on the Setup button.
• Click on the Chart tab.
• Select either Use full page or Scale to fit page.
• Printing The Chart Landscape
• Click on the Page tab.
• Click in the radio button beside Landscape.
• Setting the Margins
• Click on the Setup button.
• Click on the Margins tab.
• Click in each box and type in the desired width for the margin.
• Click on the OK button to close the Page Setup Dialog box
• Print the Chart
• Click on the Print button in the Page Setup Tool Bar.
• Be sure that radio button beside Selected chart is selected.
• Click on the OK button.