Preparing Effective Charts and Graphs
SECTION 1G: Select Where to Place the Graphic in the Spreadsheet

You must decide where to place your graphic in your spreadsheet program. When working in a spreadsheet program, you enter data on one or more worksheets. If your data are relatively small and you plan to create just one graphic, you might decide it is easier to save your graphic on the same worksheet as your data. If your data are large or you plan to create several graphics, you should place each graphic on a new sheet. Doing so will make it easy to find and modify a specific graphic quickly. Once you have placed your graphic in the spreadsheet, you can save your file, modify your data and graphic, and insert the graphic into a word-processing or presentation program.

The Chart Wizard allows you to place your graphic in an existing sheet or a new sheet. This example shows the final Chart Wizard step requiring you to specify where to place your graphic in the spreadsheet.


The next two examples illustrate placement options using data on how money is spent at an animal shelter. The first shows a graphic placed as an object on the sheet with the data. The second shows a graphic placed on a new sheet named "Pie Chart."



HOME: Introduction to this tutorial
1. Overview of the Process
  1. Analyze Your Audience and Purpose
  2. Understand the Limitations of Spreadsheet Programs
  3. Enter Data into a Spreadsheet Program
  4. Select Data to Include in a Graphic
  5. Choose the Appropriate Kind of Graphic
  6. Customize the Graphic for Your Audience and Purpose
  7. Select Where to Place the Graphic in the Spreadsheet
  8. Insert the Graphic into a Word-Processing or Presentation Program
  9. Integrate the Graphic and the Text
2. Designing Effective Charts & Graphs
  1. Make Sure Your Graphic Has a Purpose
  2. Aim for Simplicity
  3. Be Honest
  4. Present a Manageable Amount of Information
  5. Follow Common Conventions for Graphics
  6. Label Your Graphic
3. Sample Graphics for Analysis
  1. Pie Chart
  2. Gantt Chart
  3. 100-Percent Horizontal Bar Graph
  4. Vertical Bar Graph
  5. Line Graph


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