excel column chart step by step
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Excel Column Chart Step by Step Tutorial
By Ted French, About.com Guide
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Create a Column Chart in Excel
Excel 2007 / 2010 Column Chart
© Ted French
Column Chart Uses
Bar graphs or "column charts" as they are known in Excel are most often used to show amounts or the number of times a value
occurs.
The amounts are displayed using a vertical bar or rectangle. The taller the column, the greater number of times the value occurs.
Column charts make it easy to see the differences in the data being compared.
Excel Column Chart Step by Step Tutorial
Following the steps in this tutorial walks you through creating and formatting the column chart seen in the image above.
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Entering the Chart Data
Excel 2007 / 2010 Column Chart
© Ted French
Enter the Chart Data
The first step in creating a column chart is to enter the data into the worksheet.
When entering the data, keep these rules in mind:
1. Don't leave blank rows or columns when entering your data.
2. Enter your data in columns.
Note: When laying out your spreadsheet, list the names describing the data in one column and, to the right of that,
the data itself.
If there is more than one data series, list them one after the other in columns with the title for each data series at the
top.
To follow this tutorial, enter the data located in step 9.
Select the Column Chart Data
Excel 2007 Column Chart
© Ted French
Two Options for Selecting the Chart Data
Using the mouse
1. Drag select with the mouse button to highlight the cells containing the data to be included in the column chart.
Using the keyboard
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1. Click on the top left of the column charts's data.
2. Hold down the SHIFT key on the keyboard.
3. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the data to be included in the column chart.
Note: Be sure to select any column and row titles that you want included in the chart.
For this tutorial
1. Highlight the range of cells from A2 to D5, which includes the column titles and the row headings
Selecting a Column Chart Type
Excel 2007 Column Chart
© Ted French
Selecting a Column Chart Type
Note: For help with these instructions, see the image example above.
1. Click on the Insert ribbon tab.
2. Click on a chart category to open the drop down list of available chart types.
(Hovering your mouse pointer over a chart type will bring up a description of the chart type).
3. Click on a chart type to select it.
For this tutorial
1. Choose Insert > Column > 3-d Clustered Column.
2. A basic column chart is created and placed on your worksheet. The following pages cover formatting this chart to match
the column chart shown in Step 1 of this tutorial.
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The Basic Column Chart
Excel 2007 Column Chart
© Ted French
Formatting options for the column chart
Use the links below to complete the formatting for the basic column chart.
Choosing a style for the column chart
Adding a title to the chart
Adding a drop shadow to the title
Coloring the chart background
Changing the gridline color
Beveling the chart edge
Coloring the chart floor
Hiding the vertical axis
Applying 3-d rotation to the chart
Formatting the Column Chart - 1
Excel 2007 / 2010 Column Chart
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© Ted French
Chart Tools Ribbon
Note: For help with these instructions, see the image example above.
When you click on a chart, three tabs - the Design, Layout, and Format tabs are added to the ribbon under the title of Chart Tools.
Choosing a style for the column chart
1. Click on the column chart.
2. Click on the Design tab.
3. Choose Style 3 of the Chart Styles
. Return to the format options list
Adding a title to the chart
1. Click on the Layout tab.
2. Click on Chart Title under the Labels section.
3. Select the third option - Above Chart .
4. Type in the title "2003 - 05 Income Summary"
. Return to the format options list
Formatting the Column Chart - 2
Excel 2007 / 2010 Column Chart
© Ted French
Formatting the Column Chart - 2
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Note: For help with these instructions, see the image example above.
Adding a drop shadow to the title
1. Drag select the chart title.
2. Click on the Format ribbon tab.
3. Choose Text Effects > Shadow > Offset Right.
Return to the format options list
Coloring the chart background
1. Click on the chart background.
2. Click on the Shape Fill > Gradient > Linear Diagonal option.
3. Choose Shape Fill > Gradient > More Gradients to bring up
the Format Chart Area dialog box.
4. Choose Color > Dark Blue, Text 2.
5. Click Close.
Return to the format options list
Changing the gridline color
1. Click on the Layout tab.
2. Choose Gridlines > Primary Horizontal Gridlines > More Primary Horizontal Gridlines Options
to bring up the Format Major Gridlines dialog box.
3. Choose Line Color > Solid Line and set the line color to white.
4. Click Close.
Return to the format options list
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Beveling the chart edge
1. Click on the chart background.
2. Choose Shape Effects > Bevel > Divot.
Formatting the Column Chart - 3
Excel 2007 / 2010 Column Chart
© Ted French
Formatting the Column Chart - 3
Note: For help with these instructions, see the image example above.
Coloring the chart floor
1. Click on the chart background to select it.
2. Click on the Layout ribbon tab.
3. Choose Chart Elements > Floor to select the floor area of the chart.
4. Click on Format Selection to bring up the Format Floor dialog box.
5. Choose Fill > Solid Fill to add a blue color to the floor.
6. Click Close.
Return to the format options list
Hiding the vertical axis
1. Choose Chart Elements > Vertical (Value) Axis to select the chart's vertical axis.
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2. Click on Format Selection to bring up the Format Axis dialog box.
3. Choose Line Color > No Line.
4. Click Close.
Return to the format options list
Applying 3-d rotation to the chart
1. Choose Chart Elements > Chart Area to select the chart.
2. Click on Format Selection to bring up the Format Chart Area dialog box.
3. Choose 3-D Rotation in the left hand window.
4. In the right hand window, set the rotation to:
X - 50
Y - 20
Your chart should, at this point, match the column chart shown in Step 1 of this tutorial.
Column Chart Tutorial DataEnter the data below in the cells indicated to create the column chart covered in this tutorial.
Cell - Data
A1 - Income Summary - The Cookie Shop
A3 - Total Revenues:
A4 - Total Expenses:
A5 - Profit/Loss:
B2 - 2003
B3 - 82837
B4 - 57190
B5 - 25674
C2 - 2004
C3 - 83291
C4 - 59276
C5 - 26101
D2 - 2005
D3 - 75682
D4 - 68645
D5 - 18492
Return to Step 2 of this tutorial.