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Computers: Create and customize charts
A Chart is a graphic representation of different levels of a certain situation. From a chart you can quickly view and compare the progress, growth, fall or rise of a condition or situation such as weather condition, annual report of a school, sales report of a company, etc.
For example, when you get feverish the doctor makes a temperature chart during the day, so that progress of the fever can be monitored at a glance.
These days the computer facilitates the creating and management of charts and even a student can make a chart of his monthly test result to put his record in order.
Some basic points about charts
* A chart is made up of lines, bars, columns and markers.
* There are different types of charts such as Bubble, Doughnut, Pie etc.
* Every chart type is further divided into sub chart types with different visual effects.
* A chart can have different colours, patterns, headings, and text alignments.
* You can modify or delete the data of the chart at any time.
* A chart can be inserted in a work sheet or it can be a separate chart sheet.
Creating chart of monthly test report
Suppose you are creating a progress report of five months (from January to May) test results of math subject. Do as follows:
Enter data in work sheet
* Open the work sheet of MS excel program file.
* A work sheet consists of cells and rows.
* Click the cell A1, in row 1 and enter the test scores of January.
* Now enter the marks of the tests taken in February in cell A2 in row 2.
* Similarly enter the test scores of March, April and May in cell “A3, row 3”, “A4, Row 4” and “A5, Row5” respectively.
* The picture shows row 1 to 5 have with details of five months tests.
* Select cells possessing test numbers.
Making chart with the help of the chart wizard
* Now click the chart icon from the tool bar.
* Select the chart type from the standard chart types tab.
* Select default chart type “Column chart”.
* Click “Cluster column” from the sub chart types.
* The preview of the chart now appears on the screen with source data or cell name. Click Next.
* Chart option box is now opened on the screen.
Add chart title, x-axis (here representing five months), and y-axis (representing test numbers under 30).
Select the location
If you want to add a chart in the excel file then select object and select chart sheet to make a separate chart.
Customize charts
To customize or change the default appearance of the chart and its components such as chart area, bar colour, axes looks, etc. use the customize option.
This allows you to add different effects; pictures and patterns on your chart to give it a different look.
To customize a chart right click any of its items. For example, to bring changes in plot area place the mouse pointer to the plot area and right click it. Choose “format plot area” from the shortcut menu.
A patron box is now visible on the screen, bring desired changes with this option on the border and area of the plot area and click OK.
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