STAM 102 :: Lecture 12 :: CREATING GRAPHS

CREATING GRAPHS

Graphs or Charts

  • The graphical representation of data is called graph or chart.
  • The data entered in the excel sheet can be represented by a graph or a chart.
  • MSEXCEL supports a wide variety of graphs.
  • Example of graphs:
    • Column, Line, Bar, Pie, Area, Doughnut, Radar, Surface, Bubble, Stock etc.

 Column Graph

  • It shows data change over a period of time or illustrates comparisons among items.
  • Categories are organized horizontally and values vertically.
  • It is an idel chart for showing the variation in the value of an item over period of time.

Bar Graph

  • Bar graph illustrates comparison among individual items.
  • Categories are vertically organized and values horizontally.

Line Graph

  • A line graph shows trends in data at equal intervals.
  • It is very useful to show the change in the value over a period of time.
  • It will show very clearly whether a value is ascending or descending.

Pie Chart

  • Pie chart is used to plot data for a single data series.
  • Each data point is represented by one piece of the circular pie chart.
  • The size of each piece is proportional to the value it represents, so all the data points taken together will form circle.

Area Graph

  • Area chart is similar to line chart.
  • But plots series one above the other with different colors and shades.
  • It emphasizes the magnitude of change over a period of time.

XY (Scatter) Graph

  • It plots each point with a mark of two groups of numbers as one series of XY coordinates.
  • It shows uneven intervals of data and it is commonly used for scientific data.

CREATING GRAPHS

  • Create a spreadsheet with data rice yield in tones from the year 1998 to 2004 as shown below:

.

  • Go to Insert Menu select Chart and click.

 

First Step

  • A dialog box of chart wizard will appear, select the required type of chart from the chart type.

  • Then select the chart sub type according to your requirement.

Second Step

  • Select the data range in this step.
  • To give enter data range move the cursor on excel sheet and
    • by clicking select the data area you want or
    • type cells position if you know exactly which area you want.
  • Click on the Next button.
  • the data range selected in our example is Sheet1!$A$1:$B$9
  • Sheet1 we are in sheet1 in MS Excel.
  • $ Sign is used to represent the absolute position of the data in MS Excel.
  • The range is to conform that the chart is being prepared of the proper sheet of the file.
  • On confirming click on Next button.

 

Third Step

  • Here the Chart title, Category and Value information are entered, which will be displayed when the chart is viewed.

  • Click Next button.

Fourth Step

  • This step will provide in the way you want to place the chart.
  • Select the appropriate option available in the chart wizaerd.

  • Click the Finish button.
  • The chart will be as shown below:

Moving Chart

  • If the chart needs to be placed in different position, then we can move the chart wherever we want.
  • To move the chart select the chart by clicking on it without leving the mouse button, drag in the direction you want.
  • The chart will move and then release it where you want.

Changing the Chart Size

  • To change the chart size, select the chart by clicking on it.
  • You will get eight small rectangular boxes around the chart.
  • Now move the cursor to the border of the chart and the mouse pointer changes to double headed arrow cursor.
  • Then press the left mouse button and drag.
  • If you want to reduce the size, drag towards the centre of the chart, else in opposite direction to increase the size of the chart.

Changing the Chart Type

  • Select the chart
  • Click the right mouse button
  • From the right context menu select Chat type

  • Select the required chart type from the chart type window.

  • Click OK.
  • If the selected chart type is Area type then the chart will be as shown below:

 

 

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