MIS Excel Chapter 3

Column chart

Displays values in vertical columns where the height represents the value; the taller the column, the larger the value. Categories display along the horizontal (category) axis.

Bar chart

Displays values in horizontal bars where the length represents the value; the longer the bar, the larger the value. Categories display along the vertical (category) axis.

Pie chart

Depicts proportion of individual data points to the total or whole of all those data points.

Line chart

Displays category data on the horizontal axis and value data on the vertical axis. Appropriate for continuous data to depict trends over time, such as months, years, or decades.

Combo

Combines two chart types (such as column and line) to plot different data types (such as values and percentages).

Data point

an individual value in a cell that is plotted in a chart

Data series

a group of related data points typically arranged in columns in a worksheet

Data are plotted on two axes

Horizontal x-axis: provides a frame of reference for measuring

data left to right in a chart

• Vertical y-axis: provides a frame of reference for measuring data

up and down in a chart

• Category axis: displays descriptive labels for the data points

• Value axis: displays incremental numbers to identify the

approximate values of data points

A clustered column chart

is used to compare groups or clusters of columns set side by side for quick comparisons across data series. It is effective for comparing several data points among categories.

A stacked column chart

shows the relationship of individual data points to the whole category by stacking data in segments on top of each other in a column

Chart area

boundary for the entire chart and includes all elements that make up the chart

Chart sheet

sheet within a workbook that contains a single chart and no spreadsheet data

Moving a chart

Use the Cut and Paste commands

• Drag the chart to a different location

• Move to a chart sheet

Chart printing guidelines

If the data and chart are on the same worksheet but you want to only print one of them, select the data or the chart and display the Print Preview window; select the Print Selection setting to print the spreadsheet

To print both the data and chart, display the Print Preview window to ensure the data and chart fit appropriately on a page, and adjust the margins and scaling if needed

If the chart is on a chart sheet, display Print Preview, and the chart displays as a full-page chart

Area and surface

Like a line chart, it shows trends over time; however, the area chart

uses color between the lines to illustrate the magnitude of changes.

Box and Whisker

Illustrates data into quartiles, indicates the mean (or average), and the outliers. Vertical lines, called “whiskers,” may extend outside the upper and lower quartiles to indicate variability outside the quartiles.

Funnel

Describes values throughout several steps within a process. Data should be set up in descending order so that the chart resembles a funnel.

Histogram

Like a column chart where the category axis shows bin ranges (intervals) with data aggregated into bins, and the vertical axis shows frequencies.

Radar

Uses each category as a spoke radiating from the center point to the outer edges of the chart. Each spoke represents a data series, and lines connect the data points between spokes, like a spider web. A radar chart compares aggregate values for several data series.

Stock chart

Shows fluctuations in stock prices. Four stock subtypes are available:

High-Low-Close, Open-High-Low-Close, Volume-High-Low-Close,

and Volume-Open-High-Low-Close. The High-Low-Close stock chart

marks a stock’s trading range on a given day with a vertical line from

the lowest to the highest stock prices. Rectangles mark the opening

and closing prices.

Sunburst

Illustrates hierarchical data using a ring or circle to display each

hierarchical level. The outer layer is the bottom of the hierarchy, and

the inner circle is the top of the hierarchy. For example, you can use a

sunburst chart to illustrate daily, weekly, and monthly expenses.

Waterfall

Displays positive and negative values within a dataset and indicates subtotals and final totals or balances. For example, you can use a waterfall chart to track your monthly income and expenses and display balances every week.

Chart title

Heading that describes the entire chart

Axis title

Label that describes the category or value axes, such as in Millions of

Dollars, to clarify the axis.

Data label

Descriptive label that shows the exact value or name of a data point.

Gridlines

Horizontal or vertical lines that extend from the tick marks on the value axis across the plot area to guide the reader’s eyes across the chart to identify values.

Data table

Grid that contains the data source values and labels; useful when the chart is on a different sheet from the data source.

Error bars

Visuals that indicate the standard error amount, a percentage, or a standard deviation for a data point or marker.

Trendline

Line that depicts trends or helps forecast future data, such as estimating future sales or number of births in a region. Add a trendline to column, bar, line, stock, scatter, and bubble charts. Excel analyzes the trends and displays a line indicating future values.

Chart area

Outer boundary for the entire chart.

Plot area

The area containing the graphical representation of the data

Primary horizontal axis

Displays a title for the primary horizontal axis.

Primary vertical axis

Displays a title for the primary vertical axis.

Secondary horizontal axis

Displays a title for the secondary horizontal axis in a combo chart.

Secondary vertical axis

Displays a title for the secondary vertical axis in a combo chart.

Bounds

Specifies the Minimum (lowest) and Maximum (highest) values displayed on the value axis. The Auto setting automatically determines the minimum and maximum values on the value axis. To control the values, enter the values directly in the Minimum and Maximum boxes.

Units

Controls the intervals of values listed on the value axis. The Major setting controls the primary intervals, such as displaying values at every 50,000 units. The Minor setting controls more specific interval values, such as every 5,000 units, within the major units.

Display units

Specifies any conversion of values on the value axis. The default None

setting does not convert values; the value axis displays the entire value,

such as 1,500,000. Other settings include Hundreds, Thousands,

Millions, and so on, in which zeros are dropped on large numbers on

the value axis. For example, instead of displaying 1,500,000, you can

select Millions to display 1.5 on the value axis to simplify the display of

large numbers.

Tick Marks

Specifies the location of tick marks, which are tiny line extensions on the value axis intervals. The Major type setting displays a colored line extension at the major interval lines. The Minor type setting displays little lines at the minor unit intervals within the major intervals to further clarify values in the chart.

Labels

Specifies the location of the interval numbers on the value axis.

Number

Formats the values with a number format, the number of decimal places displayed, the format for displaying negative values, and other number formatting.

Chart style

a collection of formatting that controls the

colors of the:

• Chart area

• Plot area

• Data series

• Title fonts and font sizes