Hints+on+charts+and+graphs+in+Excel+2007

Excel can be an intimidating program for first time user and users who don’t use the program on an everyday basis, that’s just use basic functions. The advance functions are frustrating even for the common user of the program. Excel is a date collecting spreadsheet, it allows you to show table, charts and list the information in a simpler easier way to understand. Tables are the easier way to display the list information. Start by highlighting the information that needs to be formatted. There are two different ways to proceed at this point: v Using the font group in the home tab on the ribbon: Ø Border command will allow you to set a grid around the highlighted information Ø The fill and color command: § will help you distinguish column and row headers § and help you add dimension to the table Or v Using the styles group in the home tab on the ribbon Ø Click format as table § Choose the color and layout that best fits the situation Ø While the new table is still highlight use the convert to range command in the tools group under the deign tab on the ribbon and a proper table is made *I prefer the second for the fact that’s it’s a clearer look and is quicker Using the insert tab of the ribbon will be how and where you set up all charts. Within each style of chart there are sub-styles to each chart. After selecting the chart style needed you can than show certain information you would like to draw attention to. v Highlight information to display in the chart Ø Under the chart group is all the chart commands § Choose chart style and type v Moving the chart Ø Highlight the new chart § A new set of tabs “Chart Tools” appear § Under the design tab in the location group there is the move chart command <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Choose the new sheet, top choice, click ok and now the chart is the only object on a new sheet <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">Ø Other than moving the chart any design decision like changing color or style would be done within the design tab <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">v The layout tab under chart tools on the ribbon <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">Ø Labels group will allow you to add the information to the chart to reference amounts, percentages and the name of the items within the chart <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Legends command will allow omitting or enhancing the way the legend looks and reads. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msolist: Ignore;">§ Data labels command <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· allows adding the information to the actual chart itself or to read right next to the section <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· within the format data labels choose the label contents that will appear <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· then choose the appearance of the font as well as the position on the chart it will appear These are some quick hints to get around making charts and graphs in Excel 2007.