charting primer i

7/29/2019 Charting Primer I

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Excel Charting Primer I

Charting Missing Data

Modifying Chart Series

Create a Chart with Series Formulas

Combination Charts

Use 2 Value Axes in a Chart

Graphical Fills

Dynamic Chart Titles

XY vs. Line Chart Types

Correcting Misleading Chart Scales

Managing Category DatesCreating a Chart with Multiple Category Labels

Locate Chart Tick Marks

Adding Labels to XY and Bubble Chart Data Points

3-D Chart Basics

Many of the examples in this workbook wereadapted from the text named Excel Charts, by

John Walkenbach, Wiley, 2003.


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3 Ways to Chart Missing Data

Charting Missing DataThe three charts in this worksheet show three ways to handle missing data.

In the first chart the missing data is not plotted, in the second the missing

data is plotted as zeros, and in the third Excel interpolates the missing data.

The Data

Time Temperature

12:00 AM 28

1:00 AM 27

2:00 AM 27

3:00 AM 24

4:00 AM 26

5:00 AM 32

6:00 AM 35

7:00 AM 38

8:00 AM 40

9:00 AM

10:00 AM 45

11:00 AM 47

12:00 PM 50

1:00 PM 52

2:00 PM 52

3:00 PM 50

4:00 PM 43

5:00 PM

6:00 PM 36

7:00 PM 34

8:00 PM 32

9:00 PM 30

10:00 PM 29

11:00 PM 28

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

12:00 AM 3:00 AM 6:00 AM 9:00 AM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 PM

TemperatureChart 1 - Missing Data Not Plotted

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


TemperatureChart 2 - Missing Data Not Plotted as Zeros

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


TemperatureChart 3 - Missing Data Interpolated

Return to Contents


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Manipulate Chart Series

Manipulate Chart Series

Chart 1: A column chart using data in Data Range 1 with the quarterly sales values as

the data series and the regions as the categories. Change the Q1 Sales series name from"Q1 Sales" to "Quarter 1 (Millions"). The plotting order is changed so the quarter 2 series

markers appear to the left of the quarter 1 series markers and "Q2 Sales" is the top row.

of the legend.

Chart 2: A copy of Chart 1 with these changes:

1) All series removed but North, South, East, and West.

2) North, South, East, and West data added for quarters 3 and 4 from Data Range 2.

3) Y-axis scale chaned from $0 to $70 to $0 to $80 and display labels by 20s on the axis

(that is, $0, $20, $40, $60, $80, and $100) instead of by 10s.

4) A chart data table added.

Data Range 1

Region Q1 Sales Q2 Sales

North $50 $55

South $45 $42

East $32 $35

West $58 $50

Central $40 $43

NorthWest $35 $35

NorthEast $30 $28

SouthWest $38 $45

SouthEast $42 $48

Data Range 2

Region Q3 Sales Q4 Sales

North $58 $56

South $41 $40

East $37 $38West $49 $52

Central $46 $47

NorthWest $37 $34

NorthEast $24 $22

SouthWest $47 $48

SouthEast $48 $45

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

North South East We

North

Q2 Sales $55

Quarter 1 (Millions) $50

Q3 Sales $58

Q4 Sales $56

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

Q2 Sales


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Creating a

Create a Chart by Specifying its SeriesThe series function in the chart below generates the bar markers

The data for the chart doesn't exist anywhere but in the SERIES

statement, which is =SERIES(,{"Films","Books","Music"},{2, 9, 7},1)

The copy of the chart below has been modified to column from p

The SERIES formula has been changed so that Films, Books, and

Music constitute a single data marker with a total of 18 hours and

Cooking, and Dusting are a second data marker with a total of 6 h

A legend has been included and functions as this chart's title.

Below is the text for the series function that will create this seco

=SERIES("Hours Per Week: Entertainment vs. Housekeep

When displaying the formula in the worksheet, precede the formu

a single quote mark so Excel doesn't attempt to interpret the tex

actual formula.

* Note

To create a chart using only a series formula, start the Chart Wiz

Wizard as usual but without selecting any data beforehand. In th

Wizard's Step 1 select a chart type. Click the Wizard's Finish

button immediately. With the empty rectangle the Wizard has

allocated selected (Illustr. 1) , click in Excel's Formula Bar enter

series function that defines your chart. Excel creates the basic

chart (Illustr. 2 ). Add whatever formatting you like.

Films, 2

Books, 9

Music, 7

Hours Per Week: Entertainment

Films

Books

Music

18

6

0

5

10

15

20

Films, Books & Music Laundry, Cooking, &Cleaning

Hours Per Week: Entertainment vs. Housekeeping


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Combination ChartsCreate a combination chart by creating a standard chart first and then

converting one or more of the chart series to a different chart type.

Region Q1 Sales Q2 Sales Q3 Sales Q4 SalesNorth $50 $55 $60 $65

South $45 $42 $39 $36

East $32 $35 $38 $41

West $58 $50 $42 $34

Central $40 $43 $46 $49

Excel offers a few built-in combination charts on its Chart Wizard Step 1

on its "Custom Types" tab, but it's easy to customize your own combination.

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

North South East West Central

Q4 Sales Q1 Sales Q2 Sales Q3 Sales

Column and Line Combination Chart

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

North South Eas

Q3 Sales Q4 Sales

Column, Area, and Line


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t West Central

Q1 Sales Q2 Sales

ombination Chart

Return to Contents


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A Chart with Two Value AxesWhen the data you're charting varies dramatically in scale,

a chart with two value axes may be the best solution. March

The first chart on this worksheet uses a single value axis. April

The second chart is modified so Income values use the left-hand MayY axis and Profit Margin values use a new right-hand Y axis. June

The left-hand Y axis scale is changed so it ranges from 170,000 July

to 2,970,000 with a "Major Unit" of 700,000. The right-hand August

Y axis scale is changed to start at 9%. September

9.0%

10.0%

11.0%

12.0%

13.0%

14.0%

15.0%

$170,000

$870,000

$1,570,000

$2,270,000

$2,970,000

March April May June July August September

Income

Profit Margin

Data Charted With Two Value Axes

Inco

me

$-

$850,000

$1,700,000

$2,550,000

$3,400,000

March April May June July August September

Income

Profit Margin

Data Charted With One Value Axis


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10/47

Income Profit Margin

2,455,682$ 12.5%

2,022,515$ 11.2%

1,899,588$ 10.1%2,450,385$ 14.5%

2,885,626$ 14.1%

1,993,285$ 13.2%

1,988,659$ 10.9%

Return to Contents


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Examples of Charts with Graphical Fills

Copy a chart and pas

from its underlying d

$1

$500,001

$1,000,001

$1,500,001

$2,000,001

$2,500,001

$3,000,001

Plot Ar

$-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

March April May0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

Line Chart Plot Area with Graphical Fill

Pie Chart with a

Graphic in One Slice

Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3

Chart


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Chart Data

Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3

Apr 12 3 56

Feb 145 5 44

Mar 16 88 67

0 1

January

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun


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e special as a picture to separate the chart

ta. Ungroup the elements to manipulate them.

March April May

a with Graphical Fill and Chart

eries with Graphical Fill

with Formatted Legend

Quarter 1

Quarter 2

Quarter 3

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A Graphic (Once a Chart)Edited as a Picture

20 30 40 50 60

New DataOld Data


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Dynamic Chart TitlesMake chart titles dynamic if you want them to change

automatically as values in your worksheet change.

Q1 Q2 Q3Feb 104 75 56 Referenced value: Southern (Change this value

Mar 115 86 44

Concatenation: Values from the Southern Regio

How to create a dynamic chart title:

1. Create the chart, leaving off a main title.

2. Locate in a worksheet cell (or cells) the values

the title to take on. If using values from more t

create the title you want in another cell using

3. Select the chart.

4. Click in the formula bar, enter an equals sign,

the cell that holds the title value or the concat

you want. Hit the enter key.0

40

80

120

Q1 Q2 Q3

Feb

Mar

Values from the Southern Region


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o change the chart title.)

ou want

han one cell,

xcel concatenation.

nd reference

nated value

Return to Contents


18/47

The XY (Scatter) vs. the Line ChartThe relationship between data points is best plotted with Year

an XY or Scatter plot for certain kinds of data. Below is 0

an XY chart type of the population data in this worksheet. 1000

Below that is a line chart of the same data. The line chart 1250assumes the X axis is non-numeric and that the years are 1500

equally spaced in the data, which is not the case. The line 1750

chart gives a misleading view of the data. 1800

1850

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

1999

2000

2010

2020

2030

2040

2050

2100

2150

D

0

24

6

8

10

12

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Year (plotted against population figures)

Population(billions)

Population Growth: XY Chart

0

2

46

8

10

12

0 1500 1850 1920 1950 1980 2000 2030 2100

Population Growth: Line Chart

Year (plotted as category values)

Population


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Population (billions)

0.01

0.20

0.400.65

0.78

0.90

1.20

1.65

1.75

1.85

1.95

2.05

2.59

2.70

3.10

3.80

4.30

4.85

5.40

5.95

6.50

8.11

8.58

8.91

9.46

9.75

taReturn to Contents


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Misleading Scales/Consistent Chart ScalesIf creating several charts of like data, it's often best to Survey Questi

make sure the chart scales remain the same so the data Excellent

can be compared accurately across charts. The first two Very Good

charts below appear to be charting data that's quite similar, Goodbut this is because the value scales are different. See the Not Good

third chart below that uses the same scale as the first. Unsatisfactory

Survey Questi

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Not Good

Unsatisfactory

This third chart is based on fewer responses. The scale of this chart matches the scale

of the first chart, making it easier to compare responses accurately across charts.

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Not Good

Unsatisfactory

Survey Question 1 Responses (Scale 0-50%)

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0%

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Not Good

Unsatisfactory


Good

Not Good

Unsatisfactory



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0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%

Excellent


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n 1 Responses

3.0%

4.9%

24.4%41.5%

26.2%

100.0%

n 2 Responses

2.9%

4.0%

11.0%

16.0%

12.0%

45.9%

Return to Contents


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The Date-Based Category Chart AxisIf you create a chart using time or date data as category data, Sale Date

Excel automatically creates equal intervals between values 10/5/2003

even if that means adding new category information to what 10/7/2003

you're charting. For example, the chart below shows equally 10/12/2003spaced dates on the category (X) axis, although the data 10/18/2003

itself (at right) does not have dates equally spaced. 10/23/2003

10/24/2003

10/28/2003

If you prefer you can turn off this Excel charting feature. Open the

"Chart Options" dialog for the chart and on the "Axes" tab change

the selected option for the category axis from "Automatic" to "Category".

$0.0 $2.0 $4.0 $6.0 $8.0

10/5/2003

10/7/2003

10/9/2003

10/11/2003

10/13/2003

10/15/2003

10/17/2003

10/19/2003

10/21/2003

10/23/2003

10/25/2003

10/27/2003

Sales (Thousands)

Equally-spacedDatesSup

pliedbyExcel

10/7/2003

10/12/2003

10/18/2003

10/23/2003

10/24/2003

10/28/2003

Sales (Thousands)

DatesFromtheData

Only


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$0.0 $2.0 $4.0 $6.0 $8.0

10/5/2003


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Sales (Thousands)

$5.3

$4.5

$6.6$5.8

$3.2

$5.1

$4.8

Return to Contents


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Using Multiple Category LabelsExcel can recognize and use multiple rows or columns of category

values in a single chart.

To correct Excel's interpretation of the data, use the "Series" tab in the

"Source Data" chart dialog. Note that data used for the multiple category

names must be contiguous.

0

5

10

15

20

25

China Japan Croatia Russia Canada Mexico

Far East Eastern Europe West

Month

ContactsExcel's Interpretation of the Data to Chart

0

5

10

15

20

25

10 11 10 11 10 11

China Japan Croatia Russia Canada Mexico

Far East Eastern Europe West

Multiple Category Labels Reinterpreted to include Months

Numb

erofContactsMade


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Data to Chart

Region Countries Month Contacts

Far East China 10 15

Japan 11 16

Eastern Europe Croatia 10 12Russia 11 10

West Canada 10 18

Mexico 11 23

Category Labels

Return to Contents


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Controlling Chart Tick Mark Labels Data to ChartWith some charts you may want to override Excel's -5

standard positioning of tick mark labels -3

-1

35

8

Use the "Format Axis" dialog and the "Patterns" tab to

control tick mark label positioning on a chart.

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

1 2 3 4 5 6

Standard Tick Mark Label Position

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

1 2 3 4 5 6

Tick Mark Labels Specified "Low"

Tick Mark Labels Specified "High"


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-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

101 2 3 4 5 6


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Return to Contents


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Labeling XY and Bubble Chart Data PointsExcel has no way for you to specify a range of text to be used as

data labels for the values plotted in XY or Scatter charts. Labels

can be added manually, or third-party utilities are available to

make a labeling feature available to your XY chart. Microsoft alsoprovides instructions* on its Knowledge Base website for creating

a VBA program to add XY labels. That VBA code is used to label

the data points in the scatter and bubble plot examples here.

* See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;213750

SUMMARY

Excel has no built-in commandto automatically attach text labels to

data points in an xy (scatter) or Bubble chart. However, you can create a

Visual Basic for Applications macro that does this. Below is a macro that

performs this task on an XY Scatter chart. It can also be used for a Bubble Chart.

The sample code in this article assumes that the data and associated labels

are arranged in a worksheet according to the following format: The first

column contains the data labels. The second column contains the x values

for the xy (scatter) chart. The third and subsequent columns contain the y

values for the xy (scatter) chart.NOTE: Although the example provided contains only one column of data for

y values, you can use more than one series of data.

To use the macro described here, create a chart using the following data:

A1: Labels B1: X Values C1: Y Values

A2: DataPoint1 B2: 12 C2: 5


Kirin

Badger

Foo Dog Bean Thrower

Mirror Polisher

0

4

8

12

16

20

$20 $25 $30 $35 $40 $45

Netsuke Demand by Price and Model- as XY (Scatter) Plot -

Demand

Price
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;213750http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;213750


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NOTE: The table should not contain empty columns, and the column that contain

data labels should not be separated from the column that contains the x values.

labels and values must be laid out in exactly the format described in this article

(the location of the upper-left cell does not have to be cell A1).

To attach text labels to data points in an xy (scatter) chart, follow these steps:

- Create an XY chart in the usual fashion.

- Press ALT+F11 to open Excel's Visual Basic for Applications environment.

- On the VBA Insert menu, click Module to create a code window.

- Type the following sample code in the module sheet (or copy & paste from

Sub AttachLabelsToPoints()

'Dimension variables.

Dim Counter As Integer, ChartName As String, xVals As String

' Disable screen updating while the subroutine is run.

Application.ScreenUpdating = False

'Store the formula for the first series in "xVals".

xVals = ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Formula

'Extract the range for the data from xVals.

xVals = Mid(xVals, InStr(InStr(xVals, ","), xVals, _

Mid(Left(xVals, InStr(xVals, "!") - 1), 9)))

xVals = Left(xVals, InStr(InStr(xVals, "!"), xVals, ",") - 1)

Do While Left(xVals, 1) = ","

xVals = Mid(xVals, 2)

Loop'Attach a label to each data point in the chart.

For Counter = 1 To Range(xVals).Cells.Count

ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Points(Counter).HasDataLabel

True

ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Points(Counter).DataLabel.T

Range(xVals).Cells(Counter, 1).Offset(0, -1).Value

Next Counter

End Sub

- Press ALT+Q to return to Microsoft Excel.

- Select the chart.- From Excel's menus choose Tools, Macro, Macros. Click AttachLabelsToP

and then click Run to run the macro.

The macro automatically associates the labels with the data points on the c


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Bubble Size**

Netsuke Price Demand Availability

Kirin $22 8 3

Badger $38 12 5

Foo Dog $32 10 4Bean Thrower $42 5 1

Mirror Polisher $28 15 8

** This column of data is used in the bubble chart only. The bubble size

gives a quick visual indication of the "availability" dimension in the data.

Kirin

Badger

Foo Dog Bean Thrower

Mirror Polisher

4

8

12

16

20

$15 $20 $25 $30 $35 $40 $45 $50

Netsuke Demand by Price, Model, & Availability- as Bubble Chart -

Price

Demand

Return to Contents


35/47

s the

he

here):

= _

xt = _

oints,

art.


36/47

Kirin Badger Foo Dog Mirror Polisher

Bean Thrower


37/47

3-D Chart BasicsExcel has some built-in 3-D chart types. The 3-D chart here Chart Data

is shown in six different views. Because it can be difficult Year

to select a 3-D chart element, remember that the Chart 2000

Toolbar has a drop-down list of elements that can be used 2001for selection. 2002

View 2: Th

View 1: A standard 3-D column chart. Select the

View 4: The 3-D chart with a Z Value axis added. The data isn't all

visible in this view and with this arrangement of the data. The "Chart

-

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

2000 2001 2002

Labrador

Corgi

Bedlington

Dogs Registered with the AKC by Breed


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View 6: The data series modified so all data is visible; the chart rotated. The "Forma

Labrador

Corgi

Bedlington

-

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

20002001

2002


Bedlington

Corgi

Labrador

-

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

20002001

2002



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Labrador Corgi Bedlington

2,030 524 82

4,325 638 1045,112 929 203

"frame view" (w/CONTROL depressed to show shapes).

hart "Corners" element and use this view to control perspective. View 3: The chart with perspect

Options" dialog "Axes" tab with all 3 axes selected. View 5: An incomprehensible 3-

-

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

Dogs Registered w

Return to Contents


41/47

t Data Series" dialog with its "Series Order" tab.

2000

2001

2002

Dogs Registere


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ive altered by dragging the Corners element.

Use the "Chart Options" "3-D View" dialog and its Defa

view of the data. button to return the chart to a standard perspective.

Labrador

Corgi

Bedlington

ith the AKC by Breed


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Labrador

Corgi

Bedlington

-

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

with the AKC by Breed


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ult


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