Microsoft

Excel
Visualising
Data with
Charts

IT Training
St. George’s, University
of London
Contents
Understanding The Charting Process ..................................................................................... 2
Choosing The Right Chart .................................................................................................. 3
Using A Recommended Chart ............................................................................................ 4
Creating A New Chart From Scratch .................................................................................. 5
Working With An Embedded Chart ..................................................................................... 6
Resizing A Chart .................................................................................................. 7
Repositioning A Chart .......................................................................................... 8
Printing An Embedded Chart ............................................................................... 9
Creating A Chart Sheet...................................................................................... 10
Changing The Chart Type.................................................................................. 11
Changing The Chart Layout .............................................................................................. 12
Changing The Chart Style ................................................................................................ 13
Printing A Chart Sheet ...................................................................................................... 14
Embedding A Chart Into A Worksheet .............................................................................. 15
Deleting A Chart ................................................................................................................ 16
Understanding Chart Elements............................................................................... 17
Adding A Chart Title .......................................................................................................... 18
Adding Axes Titles ............................................................................................................ 19
Repositioning The Legend ................................................................................................ 20
Showing Data Labels ........................................................................................................ 21
Showing Gridlines ............................................................................................................. 22
Formatting The Chart Area ............................................................................................... 23
Adding A Trendline ........................................................................................................... 24
Adding Error Bars ............................................................................................................. 25
Adding A Data Table ......................................................................................................... 26
Understanding Chart Formatting ............................................................................ 27
Selecting Chart Objects .................................................................................................... 28
Using Shape Styles........................................................................................................... 29
Changing Column Colour Schemes ................................................................................. 30
Changing The Colour Of A Series .................................................................................... 31
Changing Line Chart Colours ........................................................................................... 32
Using Shape Effects ......................................................................................................... 33
Colouring The Chart Background ..................................................................................... 34
Understanding The Format Pane ..................................................................................... 35
Using The Format Pane .................................................................................................... 36
Exploding Pie Slices ......................................................................................................... 37
Changing Individual Bar Colours ...................................................................................... 38
Formatting Text ................................................................................................................. 39
Formatting With WordArt .................................................................................................. 40
Changing WordArt Fill ....................................................................................................... 41
Changing WordArt Effects ................................................................................................ 42

If you have a St. George’s username and password you can access all the files that goes
with this manual.
Files can be found in a folder on the N drive in the IT Training folder named:
Microsoft Excel Visualising Data with Charts

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Page 1
UNDERSTANDING THE CHARTING PROCESS
Charts provide a way of seeing trends in the data worksheet data. But the real benefit of inserting
in your worksheet. The charting feature in Excel charts is that the process is very easy and simple
is extremely flexible and powerful and allows you once you know how to do it.
to create a wide range of charts from the

Inserting Charts
The first step when creating a chart is to select the data from the worksheet that you want to chart. It is
important to remember that the selected range (which can be either contiguous or non-contiguous),
should include headings (e.g. names of months, countries, departments, etc). These become labels
on the chart. Secondly, the selected range should not (normally) include totals as these are inserted
automatically when a chart is created.
The second step is to create a chart using the INSERT tab on the ribbon. You can choose a
Recommended Chart where Excel analyses the selected data and suggests several possible chart
layouts.
Alternatively you can create the chart yourself from scratch by choosing one of the Insert commands
in the Charts group. Charts that you create in Excel can be either embedded into a worksheet, or they
can exist on their own sheets, known as chart sheets.

Embedded Charts
Charts that appear within a
worksheet are known as
embedded charts. A chart is
really an object that sits on
top of the worksheet – unlike
numbers and letters, charts
are not actually placed into
worksheet cells.

Chart Sheets
If you want to keep your
chart separate from the data
you can move the chart to
its own sheet. Chart sheets
make it easier and more
convenient to work with your
chart because you’ll see
more of it on the screen –
since the data is not there!

Page 2
 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHART

A chart is far more effective at communicating different types of information. Some charts show
results, outcomes or trends than a table of figures simple relationships between values, while others
displaying the same information. Different chart are designed for quite technical purposes. Here is a
types have been created to communicate summary of the use of different chart types.

Column, Bar These chart types, either in 2D or 3D, are used to

compare values across categories. For example,
they could compare the populations of different
countries.

Line, Area Lines in 2D or 3D are useful for showing trends

such as sales or employment figures. An area
chart is a line chart with the area below the line
filled in.

Surface The surface chart plots trends in two dimensions.

You could use this to plot departmental sales
figures over time. The chart then shows you the
trends between departments, as well as the sales
trends over time.

Pie, Doughnut If you want to show proportion, such as the sales

figures from different departments that make up a
total, then the pie and doughnut charts are for
you. The only variation between the doughnut
chart and the pie chart is that the doughnut chart
can display more than one series of values.

Stock The stock chart type has been designed to show

the stock figures for a day, and the trend over
time. At its simplest, you can plot the high, low
and close figures, and at its most complex, the
volume, open, high, low, and close. It can be
adapted to show the relationships between any
five sets of values.

XY (Scatter) Scatter diagrams are used to display the

relationship between two variables. For example,
you could research the age and price of a series
of cars, and plot the values you find. You could
also investigate the height and weight
relationship of a group of people.

Radar A radar diagram is designed to show the change

in values from a central point. For example, it can
be used to show mobile telephone coverage,
including multiple networks and multiple
measurements.

Information Services Page 3 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

USING A RECOMMENDED CHART

If you are undecided about the best type of chart and presents you with what it considers to be the
for the data you have selected to graph, then you best way to chart that data. Several alternatives are
may wish to use Excel’s Recommended Charts presented and you simply choose the one you like
feature. This feature analyses your selected data most.

Try This Yourself:

Before starting this exercise
Open
File

you MUST open the file

E1317 Charting_1.xlsx…

 Click in cell A3, hold down

, then click in cell G7 to
1 You can also use the Quick Analysis tool that appears at the
select the range A3:G7
bottom right corner of a selected range to create a quick chart.

 Click on the INSERT tab,

then click on
However, this method will not allow you to preview a wide
variety of charts.
Recommended Charts in
the Charts group
The Insert Chart dialog box
will display with a number
of recommended chart
options…

 Click on each of the

alternatives in the left pane
to see a preview of how the
chart will appear in the right
pane and spend a few
moments reading the
descriptions

 Click on Line chart (the

second alternative in the
left pane), then click on
[OK] to embed the chart in
the worksheet

 Point to the top border of

the chart, then click and
drag the chart immediately
below the data

 Click in cell A1 to deselect

the chart
2

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To use the Recommended Charts feature:  When selecting data for a chart you should
1. Select the data to be charted include headings (e.g. names of the month,
regions, etc.) but not the totals derived from
2. Click on the INSERT tab, then click on
the data. In the example above the names of
Recommended Charts in the Charts group
the months and the cities are selected but
3. Click on the desired chart and click on [OK] the total revenue and the regional totals are
not.

Information Services Page 4 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CREATING A NEW CHART FROM SCRATCH

The easiest way to create a chart is by using the on the INSERT tab of the ribbon. This may be
Recommended Chart feature. However, you faster if you have a specific style of chart in mind.
can create a chart yourself from scratch using
any of the Insert commands in the Charts group

Try This Yourself:

Before starting this
Open

exercise you MUST open

File

the file E1317

Charting_1.xlsx…

 Click in cell A3, hold down

, then click in cell G7
to select the range A3:G7
Note that we have
selected the data
including headings but 2
excluding the totalling…

 Click on the INSERT tab,

then click on Insert
Column Chart in the
Charts group to see a
gallery of Column chart
types

 Under 2-D Column, click

on Clustered Column
The chart will be
embedded in the
worksheet. The chart will
be active (selected) and
you’ll see additional tabs
on the ribbon for working
with the chart…

 Point to the chart, then

click to select it and drag
the chart so that it is
underneath the data, as 4
shown

 Click in cell A1 to deselect

the chart

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To create a chart from scratch:  When a chart gallery appears after you’ve
1. Select the range to chart used the Insert chart command, you can
point over each image in the gallery to see a
2. Click on the INSERT tab, then click on the
Live Preview of the chart in the worksheet.
appropriate Insert command in the Charts
This will help you to select the right chart for
group
your needs.
3. Click on the desired chart type

Information Services Page 5 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

WORKING WITH AN EMBEDDED CHART

By default, new charts are placed in the active want to work with a chart you must select it – this
worksheet, which is usually the one that contains can be done by clicking on the chart. The chart
the data. Charts are placed over the top of the itself is made up of many objects and these too can
worksheet, embedded as objects. When you be selected by clicking on them.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same

previous file with this

File

exercise, or open the file

E1317 Charting_2.xlsx...

 Point to the border of the

chart and click once to
select the chart as an
object
The border of the chart will
thicken to indicate that the
chart is selected, the
range of data used for the
chart will be coloured, the
ribbon will show
chart-specific tabs and
commands, and additional 2
tools will appear to the
right of the chart…

 Click on the chart legend

to make it the active object
in the chart

 Click on the vertical axis

to make it the active object

 Click on the horizontal

axis to make it the active
object

 Click on the border of the

chart to make the overall
chart the active object
again – notice that the
range of data has been
coloured again

 Click in cell A1 to deselect

the chart
3

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To select a chart and its objects:  Once an object is selected, be it a chart, a
1. Click on the border of the chart to select an legend on the chart, or the like, you can right-
embedded chart click on the object to see a shortcut menu
specific to the selected object.
2. Click on the various objects of a chart to
select them

Information Services Page 6 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

RESIZING A CHART
There are two main ways to resize a chart if you These handles appear with dots in them. You can
are not satisfied with its current size. A chart that also resize a chart using commands in the Size
has been selected can be resized by dragging group on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab that
one of the sizing handles around its border. appears when the chart is selected.

3
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_3.xlsx...

 Click on the chart to

select it

 Point to the sizing

handle on the left
border of the chart until
the mouse pointer
changes to a double
arrow

 Hold down the left

mouse button and drag
left until the chart
appears as shown
You can also resize a 4
chart from the ribbon…

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab

 Click on the up spinner

arrow for Shape
Height in the Size
group until it shows 8.5
cm

 Click on the up spinner

arrow for Shape Width
in the Size group until it
shows 17 cm

 Click in cell A1 to
deselect the chart

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To resize a chart:  If you wish to change the size of a chart
1. Select the chart, then click on and drag a quickly and easily, clicking on and dragging
sizing handle on the border of the chart, or the resize handles is the best option whereas
Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab, if you want to resize a chart to a specific size
then click on up/down spinner arrows for it is best to resize the chart using the tools in
Shape Height and Shape Width in the Size the Size group on the CHART TOOLS:
group FORMAT tab.

Information Services Page 7 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

REPOSITIONING A CHART
It’s unlikely that a chart embedded in the dragging the border of the chart to the desired
worksheet by Excel will be exactly where you location. The chart obviously must be selected
would like it to be. You can easily relocate a chart before it can be dragged to a new position.
to a more appropriate position by clicking on and

2
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_4.xlsx...

 Click on the chart to

select it

 Point to the border of

the chart until the
mouse pointer
changes to a four-
headed arrow

 Hold down the left

mouse button and
drag the chart below
the data so that the
Total Revenue row 3
in the worksheet is
visible

 Click in cell A1 to
deselect the chart

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To move a chart:  You can use the standard cut and paste
1. Click on the chart to select it commands to move a chart. Select the chart,
click on the HOME tab, then click on Cut in
2. Move the mouse pointer to the border of the
the Clipboard group to copy it to the
chart until the mouse pointer changes to a
clipboard. Click in a new location and, on the
four-headed arrow
HOME tab, click on Paste in the Clipboard
3. Drag the chart to a new location group to paste the chart.

Information Services Page 8 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

PRINTING AN EMBEDDED CHART

When you print a worksheet, Excel will print underlying data. All you need to do is to position
whatever is in or embedded in that worksheet the chart in the appropriate location then access
(including charts). This makes it easy and the print commands in the usual way.
convenient to print both the chart and its

1
Try This Yourself:
Before starting this
Open

exercise you MUST

File

open the file E1317

Charting_5.xlsx…

 Click on the FILE

tab, then click on
Print to see a
preview of the data
and the chart
Not all of the chart or
data may be visible
so we’ll change the
orientation to
landscape…

 Click on Portrait
Orientation in
Settings then select
Landscape 2
Orientation

 Click on [Print] to
print the chart
If you don’t have a
printer connected or
you don’t wish to
print, click on the
Back arrow to
display the workbook
again

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To print an embedded chart:  If you only want to print the chart and not the
1. Click on the FILE tab, then click on Print data, click on the chart to select it, click on
the FILE tab, then click on Print. You will
2. Click on [Print]
notice that only the chart will appear in the
preview.

Information Services Page 9 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CREATING A CHART SHEET

Charts can either be stored in a worksheet or in a are interested in printing the chart on its own page.
separate sheet of their own known as a chart Charts can be shifted back and forth between a
sheet. Chart sheets separate the chart from the worksheet and a chart sheet.
underlying data and are useful especially if you

2
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same

previous file with this

File

exercise, or open the file

E1317 Charting_6.xlsx...

 Click on the chart to

select it and display the
CHART TOOLS:DESIGN
and CHART TOOLS: 3
FORMAT tabs

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
then click on Move Chart
in the Location group to
display the Move Chart
dialog box

 Click on New Sheet, then

type Revenue Chart
This will become the
sheet name for the
chart…

 Click on [OK] to move the

embedded chart to its
own sheet

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab to see the
data again
Notice that the chart is no
longer embedded on this
worksheet

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To create a chart sheet:  Keeping charts on their own sheets makes
1. Click on the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab, them easier to work with as they do not
then click on Move Chart in the Location obstruct the data.
group
2. Click on New Sheet, type a name for the
sheet and click on [OK]

Information Services Page 10 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING THE CHART TYPE

When you create a chart, you may not always of what each chart type is designed for and to
achieve the result that you desire. Fortunately, select the format that best suits your purpose. Just
the process for changing a chart type is quite be aware that some chart types are designed for
simple. You just need to have an understanding specialised applications.

3
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_7.xlsx...

 Click on the Revenue

Chart worksheet tab to
see the chart, then click
anywhere on the chart
to select it and display
the chart commands on
the ribbon

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
then click on Change
Chart Type in the Type
group to display the
Change Chart Type
dialog box

 Click on 3-D Column,

as shown

 Click on [OK] to apply

the change to the chart

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab to return
to the worksheet

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change the chart type:  You can use Change Chart Type in the
1. Ensure the chart or chart sheet is selected Type group on the CHART TOOLS:
DESIGN tab for either embedded charts or
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
charts that have their own worksheet tabs.
then click on Change Chart Type in the
Type group
3. Click on the desired chart and click on [OK]

Information Services Page 11 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING THE CHART LAYOUT

Excel has a gallery of chart layouts that can be elements of the chart are placed within the chart.
applied to an existing and selected chart that is Different layout options can therefore change the
either in its own worksheet or embedded into the appearance of your chart and its readability.
data worksheet. Chart layouts are the way

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same

previous file with this

File

exercise, or open the file

E1317 Charting_8.xlsx...

 Click on the Revenue

Chart worksheet tab to
see the chart, then click
anywhere on the chart to
select it and see the
2
CHART TOOLS:
DESIGN and CHART
TOOLS: FORMAT tabs

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
then click on Quick
Layout in the Chart
Layouts group to display
a gallery of layout
options

 Click on Layout 3 to
apply this chart layout to
the chart

 Repeat steps 2 and 3 to

select other chart
layouts and see how
they appear when
applied to the chart

 Click on Quick Layout 5

in the Chart Layouts
group and click on
Layout 5

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab to display
this worksheet

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change the chart layout:  Chart layouts are predefined themes
1. Ensure the chart or chart sheet is selected created by Microsoft. Even if you choose one
of these layouts you can still make your own
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
modifications to the way the elements and
then click on Quick Layout in the Chart
objects are positioned and how they appear.
Layouts group
3. Select the desired layout

Information Services Page 12 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING THE CHART STYLE

The style of a chart refers to its colour scheme effort. Excel also makes it easy to change chart
and overall appearance and can impact the styles if you decide the style you have chosen is
clarity of the content of the chart. Choosing a not appropriate.
predefined chart style can save valuable time and

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_9.xlsx...

 Click on the Revenue

Chart worksheet tab to
see the chart, then click
anywhere on the chart
to select it

 Click on the Chart

Styles tool to the right
2

of the chart to see a

gallery of style options,
as shown

 Scroll through the

gallery and point to
each style to see how
your chart will look in
Live Preview

 Scroll to and click on

Style 9

 Click on the Chart

Styles tool to the right
of the chart to close the
gallery

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab
4

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change the chart style:  Instead of using the Chart Styles tool to the
1. Ensure the chart or chart sheet is selected right of the chart, you can also choose chart
styles from the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN
2. Click on the Chart Styles tool to the right of
tab on the ribbon when a chart is selected.
the chart
3. Click on the desired style

Information Services Page 13 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

PRINTING A CHART SHEET

You can print an embedded chart simply by simply ensure that the chart sheet is active, then
printing the worksheet as if it is a standard click on the FILE tab, click on Print, apply the print
worksheet. You can also print a chart sheet in settings as desired and click on [Print].
exactly the same way. To print a chart sheet,

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the previous
Same

file with this exercise, or

File

open the file E1317

Charting_10.xlsx...

 Click on the Revenue Chart

worksheet tab

 Click on the Chart Title text

box, select the text, then
type Revenue Chart to
change the title

 Repeat step 2 to change the

Axis Title to Euros

 Click on the FILE tab, then 2

click on Print to see the
print options and a preview
of the chart
No further adjustment is
required here so we can go
ahead and print it…

 If you wish to print the chart,

click on [Print]
If you don’t have a printer
connected or wish to save
paper, click on the Back
arrow to return to the
worksheet…

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To print a chart sheet:  When you preview a chart prior to printing, it
1. Click on the chart sheet tab may not appear as clearly as you would like.
This is due to the screen resolution, not the
2. Click on the FILE tab, then click on Print
chart itself. The printed version of the chart
3. Click on [Print] will appear clearer than the preview.

Information Services Page 14 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

EMBEDDING A CHART INTO A WORKSHEET

Charts can either be presented in their own sheet and a worksheet as often as you wish without
sheets or they can be embedded into a impacting at all on the chart. Sometimes it is easier
worksheet that contains data. In fact, you can to work with a chart in its own sheet, but it may be
move a chart back and forth between its own necessary to print the chart with its data.

3
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_11.xlsx...

 Click on the Revenue

Chart worksheet tab 4

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: DESIGN tab,
then click on the Move
Chart tool in the
Location group to
display the Move Chart
dialog box

 Click on Object in, then

click on the drop arrow
and click on Sheet 2

 Click on [OK] to move

the chart to the
worksheet
5
 Reposition the chart by
dragging it to the top
left of the sheet, then
drag the resizing
handles to resize it as
shown

 Click on the Chart Data

worksheet tab

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To embed a chart in a worksheet:  Embedding is normally only done when it is
1. Click on the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab, necessary to print the worksheet and the
then click on Move Chart in the Location data together.
group
2. Click on the drop arrow, select the sheet to
embed it into, then click on [OK]

Information Services Page 15 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

DELETING A CHART
If you no longer require a chart you can easily chart sheets you can delete the sheet by right
delete it. With embedded charts you must first clicking on the chart sheet tab and choosing the
select the chart in the worksheet and then press deletion option.
the key to delete the chart. With charts in

1
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1317
Charting_12.xlsx...

 Click on Sheet 2 to
see the chart in the
worksheet, then click
on the chart to select it

 Press
the chart
to delete

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To delete a chart:  Because it is so easy to delete a chart object
1. Click on the worksheet to see the chart, then it is also easy to delete it by accident!
click on the chart to select it Remember, you can use the Undo feature in
Excel to restore accidental deletions.
2. Press

Information Services Page 16 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

UNDERSTANDING CHART ELEMENTS

Microsoft Excel provides a range of chart range of ideas, and chart layout elements help
elements that can be added to the layout or used you emphasise particular ideas, information and
to modify the layout so that the chart is easier to trends. This page takes an introductory look at the
interpret. Charts can be used to communicate a elements that you can take advantage of.

3 2 1

7
4

5 6

Chart Layout Elements

The chart above has been overladen with chart layout elements so that you can see how they fit in and
work together. In reality, you would only ever use a few at a time to avoid confusion.

 Chart Title The chart title explains the chart’s purpose and can be edited and moved to any
location as required.

 Trendline A trendline shows you the trend of a particular data series, while error bars show
you possible variations in figures.

 Gridlines Horizontal and vertical gridlines can be drawn across the plot area (background) to
help the reader judge the position of the elements, e.g. the size of the column.

 Axes
Titles
The horizontal and vertical axes titles give an overview of the data that is plotted on
the chart.

 Data
Series
Related data points that are plotted in a chart and originate from datasheet rows or
columns. Each data series in a chart has a unique colour or pattern. You can plot one
or more data series in a chart, as shown above. Pie charts have only one data series.

 Legend The legend tells you the name of each data series in the chart.

 Data
Labels
A data label is a label that provides additional information about a data marker,
which represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell.
Data labels can be applied to a single data marker, an entire data series or all data
markers in a chart.

 Plot Area In a 2-D chart, the plot area is the area bounded by the axes and includes the data
series. In a 3-D chart the plot area is the area bounded by the axes and includes the
data series, category names and axes titles. In the example above, it also includes
the horizontal gridlines.

 Chart
Buttons
There are three chart buttons and they are chart elements, chart styles and chart
filters. These buttons only appear when a chart is selected and can be used to
perform a range of basic functions.

Information Services Page 17 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

ADDING A CHART TITLE

The chart title tells the reader at a glance what interfere with the plotted figures in the chart. Excel
the chart is about. It is effectively a summary of provides two pre-set title positions – one above the
the purpose of the chart. Chart titles generally chart and one overlaid on the chart so that there is
appear at the top of the chart where they don’t more room for the plot area.

Try This Yourself:

Before starting this
Open

exercise you MUST open

File

the file E1329 Charting

Techniques_1.xlsx...

 Spend a few moments

studying the data, then
click on the Projected
Sales Chart worksheet
tab
This column chart shows
sales as projections, but
without a title it is a bit
hard to work this out…
2
 Click on the CHART
ELEMENTS button, then 3
point to Chart Title
Live Preview will show a
default title…

 Click on the black arrow

next to Chart Title to see
further options
Centred Overlay Title
leaves the size of the plot
area unchanged while
Above Chart resizes the
chart and places the title
outside the plot area...

 Click on Centred Overlay

to display a title over the
plot area

 Select the text Chart Title

in the Chart Title place
holder, then type
Projected Sales Figures
5

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To add a title to a chart:  In lieu of using the CHART ELEMENTS tool,
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS tool, then you can use Add Chart Element on the
click on Chart Title and select the desired CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to add a title
placement option to a chart.
2. Type the title text and press  Removing the tick next to Chart Title on the
CHART ELEMENTS pane will remove the
title from the chart.

Information Services Page 18 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

ADDING AXES TITLES

Axes titles appear outside the vertical (Y) axis axis. For example, if your vertical axis shows dollar
and the horizontal (X) axis and are used to amounts, you can detail which currency you’ve
provide units of measure or an overall text used by adding a vertical axis title.
description of the data elements plotted on each

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1329 Charting
Techniques_2.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button, then
point to Axis Titles to
see default X and Y axis
titles on the chart

 Click on the black arrow

to the right of Axis
Titles to see further 2
options

 Click on Primary
Horizontal to display an
axis title on the X
(horizontal) axis

 Select Axis Title in the

Axis Title placeholder,
then type International
Office

 Repeat steps 1 and 2

 Click on Primary
Vertical to display an
axis title on the Y
(vertical) axis

 Type $AUD and press

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To add axis titles to a chart:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button, button, you can use Add Chart Element on
point to Axis Titles, then click on the black the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to add
arrow axes to a chart.
2. Click on the desired axis (Horizontal or
Vertical)

Information Services Page 19 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

REPOSITIONING THE LEGEND

A legend is a list of the data series that have appears to the right of and outside the plot area.
been plotted on a chart along with their There are six preset position options for you to
corresponding colours or other identifying marks. select from, some overlaying the plot area, others
By default, charts are created with a legend that being placed outside the plot area.

1
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1329 Charting
Techniques_3.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button, point
to Legend, then click on
the black arrow to the right
Currently, the legend is
positioned on the right as
indicated by the tick and 4
green highlighting…

 Click on Top to move the

legend to the top of the
chart

 Click on the legend so that

it is selected and selection
handles appear around it
Be careful not to select the
chart title by mistake…

 Hold down the left mouse

button, then drag the
5
legend down below the
chart title
You can actually position
the legend wherever you
want to. Let’s put it back
where it was...

 Repeat step 1, then click

on Right to return the
legend to the right side of
the chart again

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To reposition the legend:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button button you can use Add Chart Element on
the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to either
2. Point to Legend, then click on the black
add a legend or reposition the current one.
arrow to the right
3. Click on the desired position

Information Services Page 20 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

SHOWING DATA LABELS

Data labels are text boxes placed on the chart particularly useful for pie charts as they can be
that show the actual figures behind the chart. used to show the exact percentage of each slice.
Data labels can show the value, the category Data labels can be placed in several preset
label or the percentage of a total. They are positions on the chart.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the previous
Same

file with this exercise, or

File

open the file E1329 Charting

Techniques_4.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button, point to
Data Labels, then click on
the black arrow to the right


1
Point to the options to view
the effect in Live Preview

 Click on Outside End to

position the labels at the top
of the bars
Some labels may appear too
close…

 Click on the Feb figure for

Auckland – notice that all of
the Feb series will be
selected

 Click again on the data label

for Feb for Auckland to
5
select only this label, then
drag it up to position it, as
shown
Notice that it has drawn a
line to the column it
represents…

 Click on the line to select it,

then press to delete it

 Repeat steps 4 to 6 to move

any other labels as
necessary
6

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To show data labels:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button button you can use Add Chart Element on
the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to either
2. Point to Data Labels, then click on the black
add data labels or reposition the current one.
arrow to the right
3. Click on the desired label position

Information Services Page 21 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

SHOWING GRIDLINES
Many of Excel’s chart types include major size of the data value is important. You can show
gridlines by default. Gridlines help you to or hide horizontal and vertical gridlines and decide
determine the numeric value of each data point whether to display them for major and/or minor
and are therefore very useful when the absolute units.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1329 Charting
Techniques_5.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button, point
to Gridlines, then click
on the black arrow to the 1
right to see further
options
At the moment, only the
horizontal gridlines are
displayed and these
align with the major
units...

 Point to the different

options to see how the
chart will look in Live
Preview

 Click on Primary Minor

Horizontal to see more 2
detailed horizontal
gridlines

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To display gridlines in a chart:  In lieu of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button button you can use the ribbon commands
CHART TOOLS: DESIGN > Add Chart
2. Point to Gridlines and click on the black
Element > Gridlines to either add or remove
arrow to the right
gridlines from a chart.
3. Click on the desired gridline

Information Services Page 22 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

FORMATTING THE CHART AREA

The plot area on a chart is the area between the the plot area may be white, but you can select from
axes in which the data is plotted. You can also a range of colours, textures or images to fill the plot
think of it as the chart background. Depending area. This can enhance charts if you plan to use
upon the default format of the chart you choose, them for presentations.

2
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
previous file with
Same File

this exercise, or
open the file E1329
Charting
Techniques_6.xlsx...

 Click on the outer

border of the chart
to select the plot
area 4

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT
tab, then click on
Format Selection in
the Current
Selection group to
display the Format
Chart Area pane

 Click on the various

options to see how
they appear in the
chart

 Click on Gradient
fill

 Click on the drop

arrow for Preset 6
gradients, then
click on Top
Spotlight – Accent
6

 Click on Close in
the Format Plot
Area pane to close
the pane

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To format the plot area of a chart:  The Automatic option in the Fill and Border
1. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab, commands on the Format Plot Area pane
then click on Format Selection in the will return the plot area background to the
Current Selection group default formatting for the chart.
2. Choose the desired Fill and Border options
from the Format Plot Area pane

Information Services Page 23 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

ADDING A TRENDLINE
A trendline is used to depict the trend, showing general direction of results and the expected
an average figure for the values that the chart is direction of future results. There are six trend types
built on and building a prediction of what the to select from, being linear, logarithmic, polynomial,
values are likely to be. Trendlines show the power, exponential and moving average.

Try This Yourself:

Before starting this
Open File

exercise you MUST

open the file E1329
Charting
Techniques_7.xlsx…

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button,
point to Trendline,
then click on the
black arrow to the 1
right to see further
options
2
The options include
various calculation
methods for trends.
Interestingly, this
time Live Preview
won’t show how
trend lines will look…

 Click on Linear
Since the trend will
be applied to a
series, Excel will
prompt you for the
series to trend…

 Click on Mar and

click on [OK]
A trendline will be
added to your chart
and the trendline
information will be
added to the legend

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To add a trend line to a chart:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button, tool you can use Add Chart Element on the
point to Trendline, then click on the black CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to add a
arrow trendline to a specific series.
2. Click on the desired trend line and choose
the series to trend

Information Services Page 24 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

ADDING ERROR BARS

Interested to know how sales projections would used to display a margin of error on your chart so
look on your sales chart if predictions were that you can see what the impact of exceeding or
exceeded by 25%? This is what the oddly-named failing to meet targets or projections will be in a
Error Bars feature will tell you. Error bars are graphical format.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1329 Charting
Techniques_8.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button,
point to Error Bars,
then click on the
black arrow to the 1
right to see further
options

 Click on More
Options to receive a
prompt for a data
series to use

 Click on Jan, then

click on [OK]
The Format Error
Bars pane will now
appear. We want to
4
see what will happen
to sales if we exceed
targets by 25%...

 Click on Percentage,
double click on 5.0
and type 25

 Click on Plus in
Direction to see only
positive error bars

 Click on Close in the

Format Error Bars
pane to close the
pane
6

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To add error bars to a chart:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button, button you can use Add Chart Element on
point to Error Bars, then click on the black the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to add
arrow error bars to a specific series.
2. Click on the desired option

Information Services Page 25 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

ADDING A DATA TABLE

A data table, in reference to charts, is a table of itself, and the figures are aligned with their
the figures used to create the chart. It allows you corresponding data point or column in the chart –
to report both the data and the chart in one place. unless you create a horizontal bar chart. You can
A data table is only ever placed below the chart choose to include legend keys if you like.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1329 Charting
Techniques_9.xlsx...

 Click on the CHART

ELEMENTS button,
point to Data Table
and click on the black
arrow to the right to
see further options 1

 Point to With Legend

Keys option to see the
legend repeated in the
table, then on the No
Legend Keys to see
the table without the
legend

 Click on With Legend

Keys to choose this
option

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To add a data table to a chart:  Instead of using the CHART ELEMENTS
1. Click on the CHART ELEMENTS button, tool you can use Add Chart Element on the
point to Data Table, then click on the black CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab to add a data
arrow table.
2. Click on the desired option

Information Services Page 26 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

UNDERSTANDING CHART FORMATTING

Charts are complex drawings that are made up of While the objects in a chart may visually vary, the
a wide range of text and graphical elements, or way they work and how they are formatted are
objects. Each object can individually be remarkably similar.
formatted to create fully customised charts.

Chart Objects
The chart above may seem to be one complete entity but in reality it is made up of quite a number of
objects, and some of those objects are made up of further sub-objects.
The title, for example, is an object, as is the legend on the right.
The chart shows three data series (Jan, Feb, and Mar), each of which is an object in its own right.
However, each data series has four plot points (Auckland, Dublin, Melbourne and New York) which
themselves are sub-objects of their parent data series object.
Object Formatting
Objects are sometimes referred to as elements and other times as shapes. This confusing mixture of
jargon is often found on the ribbon commands.
While there are many objects, and many with sub-objects, and while they may have several names, the
way to format them doesn’t vary a great deal and once you know the basic principles, formatting is easy.
Generally each object has three characteristics that can be formatted:
Fill Fill refers to the way its inside appears. You can change the inside (fill) colour, apply a
gradient colour or a texture, and in some instances also place a picture inside an object.
Outline An object’s outline is the border that is placed around it. You can do all sorts of things to
a border – you can colour it, give it thick lines or thin lines, and even make it disappear
altogether.
Effects Effects are the fun part of object formatting. With the various effects you can give an
object a shadow, make it glow, turn it into a 3D wonder, give it soft edges (sometimes
known as feathering) and much more.
All of this is performed through a series of commands found on the CHART TOOLS:FORMAT tab on the
ribbon, and the Format pane which can be displayed to the right of the chart.

Information Services Page 27 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

SELECTING CHART OBJECTS

Before you can apply formatting to an object in a charts, you’ll learn where to click to select specific
chart, you need to be able to select it accurately objects, but if you’re not sure, Excel provides a
so that you don’t accidentally format the wrong special control on the ribbon to help you.
object. Once you’re comfortable working with

3
Try This Yourself:
Before starting this exercise
Open

you MUST open the file

File

E1333 Chart
Formatting_1.xlsx…

 Click on the Sales Trends

worksheet tab to see a line
chart

 Click on the CHART TOOLS:

FORMAT tab to see the 4
available formatting tools

 Click on the title (Sales

Trends) in the chart to select
it
A selected object will appear
with handles (squares)
around it. The name of the
selected object will appear in
the Current Selection group
on the ribbon…

 Click on the drop arrow next

to Chart Title in the Current
5

Selection group to see all of

the objects that can be
selected in the chart

 Click on Series “Dublin”

Notice the selection handles
around the data points of the
Dublin series…

 Click outside the chart to

deselect everything Sometimes it can be a little tricky to see what is selected.
The Dublin series is the second line up from the bottom of
the chart – notice how the data points have four “handles”
around them to indicate that they are selected.

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To select an object in a chart:  A chart itself is also an object and can be
1. Click directly on the object that you want to selected as such. When the chart object itself
select until handles appear around it, or is selected it will appear with a border and
selection handles around it. The words Chart
2. Click on the drop arrow for the chart object
Area will appear in the chart object selector
selector in the Current Selection group on
in the Current Selection group on the
the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
ribbon.

Information Services Page 28 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

USING SHAPE STYLES

Individual parts of an object such as its fill colour, actually use a preset shape style where a
border, shadow, and the like can easily be combination of formatting options are already done
formatted once the object is selected. However, if for you.
design and good taste is not your forte you can

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the previous file
Same

with this exercise, or open the

File

file E1333 Chart

Formatting_1.xlsx...

 Click on the Costs By Month

worksheet tab

 Click on the CHART TOOLS:

FORMAT tab, click on the drop
2

arrow for the object selector in

the Current Selection group,
then click on Series “Jan”, as
shown, to select all of the blue
columns

 Click on the More arrow for the

Shape Styles gallery in the
Shape Styles group to see the
available shape style options


3
Click on the second option in the
bottom row (Intense Effect –
Blue, Accent 1) to apply this
shape style to the Jan columns

 Click on the Feb column for

Auckland to select the whole
Feb series
8
 Repeat step 3 to apply the
shape style (Intense Effect –
Red, Accent 2) to the Feb
columns

 Click on the Mar column for

Auckland

 Repeat step 3 to apply the

shape style (Intense Effect –
Olive Green, Accent 3) to the
Mar columns

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To use a shape style to format an object:  You can remove a Shape Style that has
1. Select the object to be formatted been applied to a chart object by clicking on
the object and clicking on Reset to Match
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
Style in the Current Selection group on the
3. Click on the More arrow for the Shape CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab.
Styles gallery in the Shape Styles group
and select an option

Information Services Page 29 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING COLUMN COLOUR SCHEMES

The colours that are applied to columns or lines in that theme to choose other colours as desired.
in a chart are derived from a theme. A default To do this, you can choose from one of the
theme is applied to a chart when the chart is colourful or monochromatic schemes assigned
created. However, you can override the colours to a chart theme.

2
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_2.xlsx...

 On the Costs By Month

worksheet tab, click
anywhere in the chart to
display three tools at the
top right corner of the chart

 Click on the Chart Styles

tool, as shown, to see the
STYLE and COLOUR
options available for the
chart

 Click on the COLOUR tab

to see the choice of either
Colourful or
Monochromatic palettes

 Point to the second row 3

(Colour 2) in the Colourful Each line in a palette is like a theme and the colours/shades
palette and notice how Live on that line can be applied to the data series in the chart.
Preview applies the style to
the chart 6

 Point to the rows of both

the Colourful and
Monochromatic palettes
to see how the styles
appear

 Click on the third row of the

Monochromatic palette
(Colour 7)

 Click outside the chart to

see the result

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change column colour schemes:  In lieu of using the Chart Styles tool, you
1. Click on the Chart Styles tool can change the colours in a chart by using
Change Colours in the Chart Styles group
2. Click on the COLOUR tab
on the CHART TOOLS: DESIGN tab.
3. Click on one of the rows from either the
Colourful or Monochromatic palettes

Information Services Page 30 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING THE COLOUR OF A SERIES

While theme colours are handy for ensuring a chart is in its own object and that object takes
consistency in a chart, sometimes you just want the form of a shape. You can therefore use the
one data series to stand out (or perhaps hide) options on the CHART TOOLS:FORMAT tab to
from the crowd. Each data series represented on change how that shape appears.

Try This Yourself:

Before starting this
Open

exercise you MUST open

File

the file E1333 Chart

Formatting_3.xlsx…

 Ensure the chart is

selected

 Click on the Feb column

for Auckland to select the
entire February data
series of shapes on the
chart

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS:FORMAT tab,
2
then click on Shape Fill in
the Shape Styles group
to see a palette of colours

 Click on a deep orange

colour (just to make it
stand out) to recolour only
the February series

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change the colour of a specific data series:  The Shape Fill command in the Shape
1. Click on the series to select it Styles group on the CHART TOOLS:
FORMAT tab can be used to change a
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
variety of aspects of a shape, including its
and click on Shape Fill in the Shape Styles
colour (fill), its texture, and its gradient fill
group
shading.
3. Click on the desired colour

Information Services Page 31 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING LINE CHART COLOURS

Objects such as columns and lines on a chart the desired effect can prove a bit daunting. If you
have both a fill property that can be changed and want to change the colour of a line series in a chart
an outline property that can be changed. you’ll need to work with its outline and not its fill.
Sometimes knowing which to change to achieve

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_4.xlsx...

 Click on the Sales

Trends worksheet tab to
display a typical line chart

 Click on the New York

line to select it

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS:FORMAT tab,
click on Shape Fill in the
Shape Styles group, then 2
under Standard Colours,
click on Yellow
The markers on the line
will change to yellow but
the line itself will retain its
previous colour…

 Click on Shape Outline in

the Shape Styles group
and under Standard
Colours click on Yellow
This time the line will
change to yellow

 Click outside the chart to

deselect it and view the
result

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change the colour of a line data series:  In a column or bar chart the Shape Outline
1. Click on a line data series to select it command in the Shape Styles group on the
CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab will change
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
the border around the column or bar. The
3. Click on Shape Outline in the Shape Styles inside (fill) will not be changed by this
group and click on the desired colour command.

Information Services Page 32 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

USING SHAPE EFFECTS

Just to make sure that you never run out of include presets, shadows, reflections, glow, soft
options or get bored creating charts, Excel edges, bevel and 3-D rotation. You can apply one
includes a huge range of shape effects that you or more effects although some settings override
can apply to objects in your chart. Shape effects others. Try a few and have fun!

3
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_5.xlsx...

 Ensure the Sales Trends

worksheet is selected

 Click on the Auckland line

to select it

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS:FORMAT tab on
the ribbon, and click on
Shape Effects in the
Shape Styles group
You’ll now receive a series
of options for changing the
effects on the line…

 Point to Shadow then click

on the first option under
Outer (Offset Diagonal,
Bottom Right) to apply this
shadow style to the line

 Click on the Dublin line

and press to repeat the
formatting on this line
repeats the previously
used command and
therefore the same shadow
4 The bottom line here has the shadow effect applied.
effect will be applied… Sometimes you may need to look closely to see the changes.

 Repeat step 5 for the

remaining lines in the chart

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To apply shape effects to a chart object:  The key is handy for applying the same
1. Select the object to format operation a number of times. It is particularly
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab, useful for formatting a number of objects one
and click on Shape Effects in the Shape at a time.
Styles group
3. Choose the desired effect

Information Services Page 33 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

COLOURING THE CHART BACKGROUND

While you can experiment with the colours of behind the lines, columns, bars and pie slices is
lines and bars on a chart, sometimes all you known as the plot area, while the area outside the
need to do to improve the appearance of a chart plot area is known as the chart area. These areas
is to change the background areas. The area can be modified using the Shape Fill options.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_6.xlsx...

 Ensure the Sales

Trends worksheet tab is 2
selected

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS:FORMAT tab,
then ensure Chart Area
is selected in the drop
down box in the Current
Selection group
The Chart Area is the
background area of the
chart and includes the
title, axes, and legend
locations…

 Click on Shape Fill in

the Shape Styles group
and click on light blue
under Standard
Colours

 Click on the drop arrow

in the Current
5

Selection group, and

click on Plot Area

 Click on Shape Fill in

the Shape Styles group
and click on dark blue
under Standard
Colours

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To colour the chart background:  The plot area on a chart is the area where
1. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab, the data is plotted and displayed. The chart
click on the drop arrow in the Current area is the area around the plot area and
Selection group and select Chart Area or includes where the title, axes labels, and
Plot Area legend are normally displayed.
2. Click on Shape Fill in the Shape Styles
group and select an option

Information Services Page 34 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

UNDERSTANDING THE FORMAT PANE

Each object in a chart can be formatted and created the Format pane. The Format pane has all
adjusted in a myriad of ways. These settings are of the commands you need to format a particular
so numerous that they would just not fit on a object. The pane varies depending upon the chart
ribbon or in a single dialog box, so Excel has object you are working on.

Accessing The Format Pane

The Format pane is there waiting to be used whenever you need it. The Format pane is normally
accessed using the Format Selection command in the Current Selection group on the CHART
TOOLS:FORMAT tab of the ribbon. It can also sometimes appear when you choose more advanced
options from either the ribbon or from one of the three chart tools that appear to the right of the chart.
Variety Is The Spice Of Charting Life
Depending upon the object that you have selected when you display the Format pane, and the type of
chart that you are working with, you will see a series of setting categories and various options within
these.
Each variation of the Format pane has a title preceded by the word Format and then the name of the
object that you are formatting.
Below the title is a mini-menu system. The first, and often only, item on the menu displays the name of
the object you are working on and also allows you to change to a different object. When more than one
item appear on the menu it generally is used to change a sub-object (for example text) of the current
object.
Below the mini-menu you’ll find a mini-toolbar. These categorise the various formatting options available
for the object. The most common categories are:
Fill and Line: provides options for changing the colours and border of the object.

Effects: provides options for changing the visual effects of the object such as shadowing,
glow, edges, and 3-D format.

Size and Properties: provides options for changing the size of the object and other
specific properties such as alignment.

Options: provides options within options! This category includes options that don’t sit
comfortably within the other categories and may apply to things such as position and the
way the object interacts with other aspects of the chart.

Information Services Page 35 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

USING THE FORMAT PANE

The Format pane provides easy and central Format pane for an object will provide you with all
access to all of the formatting options applicable of the tools and options you need to push the
to a specific object. When you want to do more formatting of the object to advanced levels.
than just adjust fill or line characteristics the

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the previous
Same

file with this exercise, or open

File

the file E1333 Chart

Formatting_7.xlsx...

 Click on the Sales Pie Chart

worksheet tab

 Click on the chart area of the

chart to select it

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS:FORMAT tab and
click on Format Selection in
the Current Selection group
to see the Format pane for the
chart area

 Click on the chart title to see 3 5

the Format pane for the title

 Click on the drop arrow in the

selection box in the Current
Selection group and click on
Series 1 to see the format
options for the series

 Click on the Effects tool

and click on Shadow to see
the shadow options available

 Click on the Series Options

tool to see the further
options available here

 Click on the Format pane

close button to close the pane

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To use the Format pane:  The Format pane always displays the
1. Click on an object in a chart formatting options for the object that is
currently selected. No matter which way you
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
select an object (i.e. using the ribbon or
3. Click on Format Selection in the Current clicking on an object) the Format pane will
Selection group update to show the relevant options for that
object.

Information Services Page 36 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

EXPLODING PIE SLICES

The data points in a pie chart are represented as chart is the ability to separate and expand the
slices on the pie chart. These slices are normally slices from one another. This is sometimes referred
assembled together as a coherent circular pie. A to as exploding the slices from the pie.
really neat visual effect you can apply to a pie

4
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_7.xlsx...

 Click on the Sales Pie

Chart worksheet tab
5

 Click on any of the pie

slices
All of the slices will appear
selected…

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab,
then click on Format
Selection in the Current
Selection group to display
the Format pane

 Ensure the Series Options

tool is selected to see the
angle and explosion
options


6
Drag the Pie Explosion
slider until it shows around
20% (you can also type 20
in the percentage box)

 Double click in the Angle

of first slice box, type 50,
then press to rotate
the pie

 Click on the Format pane

close button to close the
pane

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To explode the slices of a pie chart:  To explode only a single slice, click on the
1. Click on the slices to select them slice you want to explode until only it appears
with selection handles. You can then drag
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab,
that slice or use the Format pane to explode
then click on Format Selection
it out.
3. Click on the Series Options tool and change
the Pie Explosion setting

Information Services Page 37 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING INDIVIDUAL BAR COLOURS

If you have a column or bar chart that plots column chart only plots one data series the bars
multiple data series then each series will receive and columns normally appear in a single colour. In
its own colouring. A legend can then be used to single series charts you can have Excel vary the
identify the series on the chart. If your bar or colours of each data point.

4
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_8.xlsx...

 Click on the Costs Bar

Chart worksheet tab
This is a single series chart
as seen by the colouring…

 Click on a bar – they will all

appear selected

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab and
click on Format Selection
in the Current Selection
group to display the
Format pane

 Click on the Fill & Line tool

to see the fill options

 Click on Vary colours by

point under FILL to
present each bar in a
separate colour 6

 Click on the top bar until it

appears as the only bar
selected

 Click on the Fill colour drop

arrow on the Format pane
and click on Yellow to
change only this bar

 Click on the Format pane

close button to close the
pane

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To vary column or bar colours by point:  You can change the colour of an individual
1. Select the column or bar to change bar or column, even in a multi-series chart,
by clicking on the column or bar until only it
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
appears selected. You can then use the
and click on Format Selection
normal Fill options to change the colour of
3. Click on the Fill & Line tool and click on that bar or column.
Vary colours by point under FILL

Information Services Page 38 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

FORMATTING TEXT
Many of the elements and objects on a chart are associated with it. The default text and its format
made up of text. Chart titles, legends, axes titles, can be changed using the options on the ribbon or
data labels are all made up of text that has even in the Format pane where the TEXT
specific formatting options and features OPTIONS appear.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_9.xlsx...

 Click on the Sales

Trends worksheet tab

 Click on the Title to select

it

 Click on the HOME tab,

click on the drop arrow for
Font and click on
Cambria

 Click on the drop arrow

for Font Size and click on 6
24 pt

 Click on the Legend to

select it and click on Italic
in the Font

 Click on the names of the

months on the horizontal
axis, click on the
Orientation drop arrow in
the Alignment group, and
click on Angle
Counterclockwise

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To format text on a chart:  There are more text options and effects
1. Click on the desired text object available from the Format pane. When you
click on a text object, such as the Chart Title
2. Choose the appropriate formatting options
for example, the Format pane will reveal a
from the HOME tab
special TEXT OPTIONS mini-menu with
specialised effects that you can apply.

Information Services Page 39 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

FORMATTING WITH WORDART

WordArt Styles are combinations of fill colours, apply a WordArt Style to because it has
outline colours and text effects that can be prominence on the page. The WordArt Styles for
applied to normal text in a chart. The title is the use with chart text appear on the CHART TOOLS:
most obvious textual element that you would FORMAT tab.

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_10.xlsx...

 Click on the Costs By

Month worksheet tab
2

 Click on the chart title to

select it

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab,
then click on the More
arrow for the WordArt
Styles gallery in the
WordArt Styles group to
display a gallery of
options

 Click on the last option in

the gallery (Pattern Fill –
Dark Blue)

 Click on the HOME tab,

click on the drop arrow for 3
Font Size and click on 32
pt

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To apply WordArt to chart text:  WordArt tends to often be over-used on
1. Click on the text object charts and in documents. Use it sparingly
and don’t feel you have to convert every
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
piece of text on a chart to WordArt.
and click on the More arrow for the WordArt
Styles gallery in the WordArt Styles group
3. Click on the desired style

Information Services Page 40 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING WORDART FILL

So, you’re not particularly taken with the various change formatting with plain text. These can be
WordArt fill options in the standard WordArt changed using options on the CHART TOOLS:
gallery? Well, don’t worry because you can FORMAT tab or in the Format pane.
change aspects of WordArt just as you would

2
Try This Yourself:
Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the
file E1333 Chart
Formatting_11.xlsx...

 Ensure that the title

box on the Costs By
Month chart is
selected

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab,
3
then click on the drop
arrow for Text Fill in
the WordArt Styles
group to see a gallery
of options

 Click on Dark Blue,

Text 2 under Theme
Colours

 Click on the drop

arrow for Text Fill
again, point to
Gradient, then click on
From Centre under
Light Variations

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change chart-based WordArt fills:  The TEXT OPTIONS mini-menu on the
1. Click on the object that has WordArt text Format pane provides many useful tools for
changing the fill and gradients of text in a
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
chart. These allow you to build even further
and click on the drop arrow for Text Fill in
on basic WordArt fills and gradients.
the WordArt Styles group
3. Choose the desired option

Information Services Page 41 Creating Charts

 Microsoft Excel 2013

CHANGING WORDART EFFECTS

Standard WordArt elements in a chart can be interesting results. Some settings override others,
modified by the application of a range of fancy but you can combine glow with shadows and
text effects. You can add shadows, reflections reflections to create some pretty dazzling headings.
and/or glow effects to the letters to create

Try This Yourself:

Continue using the
Same File

previous file with this

exercise, or open the file
E1333 Chart
Formatting_12.xlsx...

 Ensure that the title on

the Costs By Month
chart is still selected

 Click on the CHART

TOOLS: FORMAT tab,
then click on the drop
arrow for Text Effects in
the WordArt Styles 2
group to see a menu of
options

 Point to Reflection,
then click on Tight
Reflection, touching
under Reflection
Variations

 Click on the drop arrow

for Text Effects in the
WordArt Styles group,
point to Glow, then click
on Red, 8pt glow,
Accent Colour 2 under
Glow Variations

For Your Reference… Handy to Know…

To change chart-based WordArt effects:  The TEXT OPTIONS mini-menu on the
1. Click on the object that has WordArt text Format pane provides many useful tools for
changing the special effects that can be
2. Click on the CHART TOOLS: FORMAT tab
applied to text in a chart. These allow you to
and click on the drop arrow for Text Effects
build even further on basic WordArt effects.
3. Choose the desired option

Information Services Page 42 Creating Charts