Objective 3.2 Insert and format charts

  • 3.2.1 Create and import charts
  • 3.2.2 Change the chart type, layout, and elements
  • 3.2.3 Format charts

3.2 Contents

3.2.2 Change the chart type, layout, and elements

If you decide that the type of chart you initially selected doesn’t adequately depict your data, you can change the type at any time. There are 16 chart categories, each with two-dimensional and three-dimensional variations.

Each chart type has corresponding chart layouts that you can use to refine the look of the chart.

The Quick Layouts are preset combinations of the available chart elements, which include the following:

  • Chart area This is the entire area within the chart frame.
  • Plot area This is the rectangle between the horizontal and vertical axes.
  • Data markers These are the graphical representations of the values, or data points, you enter in the Excel worksheet. Sometimes the data markers are identified with data labels.
  • Legend This provides a key for identifying the data series (a set of data points).
  • Axes The data is plotted against an x-axis—also called the category axis—and a y-axis—also called the value axis. (Three-dimensional charts also have a z-axis—also called the series axis.) Sometimes the axes are identified with axis labels.
  • Axis labels These identify the categories, values, or series along each axis.
  • Gridlines These help to visually quantify the data points.
  • Data table This table provides details of the plotted data points in table format.
  • Titles The chart might have a title and subtitle.

Pointing to any Quick Layout displays a preview of that layout on the current chart

When the preset layouts don’t produce the chart you want, you can create a custom layout by mixing and matching different chart elements.

You can adjust a chart layout by adding, deleting, moving, and sizing chart elements. To perform any of those tasks, you must first select the element.

If you want more control over the layout of a chart, you can do the following:

  • Control the overall size of the chart.
  • Adjust the size of chart elements.
  • Arrange chart elements precisely.

Some of the optional chart elements

To change the type of a selected chart

  1. On the Design tool tab, in the Type group, click the Change Chart Type button.
  2. In the Change Chart Type dialog box, click a category on the left, click a chart type at the top, and then click OK.

Tip: Click a chart type in the top row to preview that chart type as applied to the current data. Point to the preview to display a larger version.

To apply a preset layout to a selected chart

  • On the Design tool tab, in the Chart Layouts gallery, click the Quick Layout button, and then click the layout you want.

To add or remove an axis

  • On the Design tool tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Axes, and then click to select Primary Horizontal, Primary Vertical, or both.
  • Click a selected axis to remove it from the chart.

To add or remove an axis title

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Axis Titles, and then click to select Primary Horizontal Axis Title, Primary Vertical Axis Title, or both.
  • Click a selected axis title to remove it from the chart.

To add or remove a chart title

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Chart Title, and then click None, Above Chart, or Centered Overlay.

To add or remove data labels

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Data Labels, and then click None, Center, Inside End, Inside Base, Outside End, or Data Callout.

To add or remove a data table

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Data Table, and then click None, With Legend Keys, or No Legend Keys.

To add or remove error bars

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Legend, and then click None, Standard Error, Percentage, or Deviation.

To add or remove gridlines

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Gridlines, and then click to select Primary Major Horizontal, Primary Major Vertical, Primary Minor Horizontal, Primary Minor Vertical, or any combination of the four options.
  • Click a selected gridline option to remove it from the chart.

To add or remove a legend

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Legend, and then click None, Right, Top, Left, or Bottom.

To add or remove lines (line charts only)

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Lines, and then click None, Drop Lines, or High-Low Lines.

To add or remove a trendline (line charts only)

  • In the Chart Layouts group, click the Add Chart Element button, click Trendline, and then click None, Linear, Exponential, Linear Forecast, or Moving Average.

Tip: You can use standard techniques to add pictures, shapes, and independent text boxes to slides to enhance charts.

To change the size of a selected chart

  • Point to any handle (the sets of dots around the chart frame), and when the hollow double-headed arrow appears, drag in the direction you want the chart to grow or shrink.

To select a chart element

  • Click the element once.

If the element is difficult to identify or click, on the Format tool tab, in the Current Selection group, display the Chart Elements list, and then click the element you want.

Tip: If you want to activate the chart (that is, select the chart area), be sure to click a blank area inside the chart frame. Clicking any of the chart’s elements will activate that element, not the chart as a whole.

To change the size of a selected chart element

  • Point to any handle, and when the hollow double-headed arrow appears, drag in the direction you want the element to grow or shrink.

Tip: If an element cannot be sized, the hollow double-headed arrow does not appear.

To change the position of a selected chart element

  • Point to the border around the element, away from any handles, and when the four-headed arrow appears, drag to the desired position.

Tip: Some elements cannot be moved, even if the four-headed arrow appears.

To rotate a three-dimensional chart layout

  1. Right-click the chart, and then click 3-D Rotation.
  2. In the 3-D Rotation area of the Effects page of the Format Chart Area pane, set the angle of rotation for each axis.