Module 6 component of excel chart

Module No. -5
Components of an Excel Chart:
An Excel-chart comprises of many components as shown in following figure.
Chart Area
Data Point/Marker
Sales Performance Chart 300

Data Label

Grid Lines

Sales Value in Lacks

300

Plot Area
Y Axis Title
Y Axis
Y Axis Values

250
200
150

150

Chart Title
150

Tek
Sun

100

100

Legend

200

50

50
0

X Axis

Jan

Feb

Mar

Month

X Axis Title

The figure shows that an Excel-chart comprises of two areas i.e. Chart area and the
Plot area.
Chart area

:

Chart area is the entire area that is reserved for accommodating the
chart and other components such as legends, titles etc.

Plot area

:

Plot area is a part of chart area, which contains the chart.

Y axis

:

It is the vertical line whose length and segments represent different
values. The y-axis is used to show the variation of different
identities.

X axis

:

A horizontal line on which you show the variation of another
component of the chart. It's length and segments represent different
intervals of the values.

Y axis title

:

Y- axis title identifies the values that have been shown on Y- axis.

X axis title

:

X- axis conveys the full details of the X-axis values.

Grid lines

:

Grid lines are the lines that can be thought of as an extension of
tick marks. They help in reading the values of the data points.
They are scaled according to the values of the axes.

Data Series

:

Data series is a collection of related values that are plotted on a
chart. For example, following are two data series :
A

1
2
3

Sales
Expenditure

B
Jan
100
150

C
Feb
50
1000

D
Mar
150
200

Data Point

:

It represents one value of the data series.

Data label

:

Data label is some piece of text, which is written near data point to
highlight some aspect of it.

Chart title

:

Chart title is the text written in chart area, which identifies the
chart.

Legends

:

Legends are some sort of labels that identify different series that
have been plotted in the chart. Generally, these labels are attached
to a symbol or color or pattern that is associated with the series of
the chart. It is used to distinguish one data series from another.

Creating charts in Excel:
Excel chart is a graphical representation of Excel worksheet data. To represent the
data in the form of charts, first prepare the worksheet and then select the portion of the
worksheet that is to be represented in the form of chart. Select one of the following methods
for plotting the chart.
(a)

Using Chart wizard

(b)

Using Bar menu

(c)

Using Chart bar

What is Wizard?
Wizard is a series of predefined sequence of steps, which are specially designed to
accomplish a task. Each step of Wizard provides you with necessary help, guidelines and lot
of options to choose from. Wizard displays a dialog box. Each dialog box has a Forward,
Backward buttons to move to the next or previous step respectively. It is a time consuming
process and hence, experts prefer to make charts independently using other methods.
A Sample Worksheet:
Following is the sample worksheet, which shows Sales, Expenditure, Tax and Profit
figures of three companies viz. Tek, Sun and Net.
2

A
1

B

C

D

E

Profit & Loss Comparison Sheet

2

Tek

Sun

Net

3

Sales

5000

12000

25000

4

Expend

4000

5000

7000

5

Tax

2000

3000

4000

6

Profit

-1000

4000

14000

7

For making a chart by using wizard, following steps are to be performed:
(a)

Select the range A2:D6 by dragging the mouse over it.

(b)

Select the Chart Wizard button from Standard toolbar, following dialog box will be
displayed :

(c)

This dialog box displays icons for all types of charts that can be plotted. Any chart
can be selected by clicking the mouse on the corresponding icon. Since we want to

plot a column chart, hence we will select Column option from Chart type list box.
(d)

After selecting the chart type, select Next button, which will display the following
dialog box.
3

(e)

The dialog box as illustrated in figure shows two radio buttons, viz. "Rows" and
"Column". If you select Rows option it would mean that the rows of the selected
range have to be treated as data series. On the other hand if you select Columns
option then this would mean that the columns of the worksheet would act as data
series. Click on appropriate radio button according to your requirements. After
supplying these details select Next button and it will display the following dialog box.

(f)

There are six tab buttons in the above shown dialog box. Each tab button is capable of
performing an action. For example, using Titles tab button, you can add a title to your
chart. While if you select Gridlines tab, you can have the gridlines displayed in your

4

chart.
A detailed description of all these tab buttons is given below:
Title:
Using this tab button, you can add a title to you chart. When you select this button,
Excel will display a dialog box.
(a)

Enter the title of your chart in "Chart title" text box. For example, enter the
title "Profit & Loss Chart".

(b)

X-axis title can be entered in the "Category (X) axis" text box. Say we key-in
"Company".

(c)

In the "Value (Y) axis" text box enter the title for Y-axis. Say we key in "Rs".

Axes:
This tab button is used to show/ hide the title or numbers written on to X-axis and Yaxis. On selecting this tab, Excel displays the following dialog box.

(a)

If you desire not to have value on X-axis, uncheck "Category (X) axis" check
box. If the axes were absent then clicking on to the check box again would add
the axis.

(b)

Similarly if you do not want value on Y-axis, uncheck the "Value (Y) axis"
check box, while if you click on the check box again, it would add the values.

Gridlines:
5

This option provides the facility to draw the gridlines on the chart. On selecting this
option, Excel displays the following dialog box.

(a)

Draw the grid lines on X-axis check the corresponding check box otherwise
keep it unchecked.

(b)

If you want gridlines on Y-axis check the corresponding check box, otherwise
keep it unchecked.

Legend:
This tab identifies the pattern or color assigned to the data series or categories in a
chart. For example, in our example the blue color bar shows the data relating to "Sales".
While brown color bar shows the data related to the expenditure etc.
You also have the option for placing the legend. You can place the legend at the
bottom, top, left, right etc according to your, own requirements. On selecting this tab Excel
shows the following dialog box.

6

(a)

if you want to display the legends on the charts check the "Show legend"
check box.

(b)

Select the appropriate place where you want the legend to be placed, from the
"Placement radio button list.

Data Label:
Data labels are the labels that provide additional information about the data marker.
When you select this tab then Excel displays following dialog box.

If you do not want data label, click on the "None" option. If you want to display the
values along with the column charts, select "Show value" option. While if you wish to display
the corresponding labels along with the chart, selects "Show label" radio button. To display
the legend along with the label next to it, click on the "Legend key next to label" option.

Assignment No. 15

Q.1.

State any three types of chart that can be prepared with the help of chart wizard?

Q.2.

What is the purpose of drawing the gridlines in a chart?

Q.3.

What is the significance of legend in a chart?

Q.4.

Write short notes on the following?
a.

Legend
7

b.
Q.5.

Data label

Write the components of an Excel Chart?

8

Module 6 component of excel chart

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Module 6 component of excel chart