Chapter 4

GRAPHS AND CHARTS FOR BUSINESS

Charts and graphs are used to make information clear and easier to understand. A good picture is
worth a thousand words. Spreadsheet offers many types of charts including: Column, Line, Pie,
Bar, Area, Scatter and more.

Types of Charts in Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet provides wide variety of charts to express the data more meaningfully. Following
are the most widely used charts.

Column Chart : In the column chart, categories are displayed horizontally and values vertically.
Column chart works well when we want to compare data sets between each
other.

Bar Chart : The bar chart is similar to the column chart, with the difference being that the data
series are displayed horizontally and not vertically. Similar to the column
chart, in the bar chart we can compare one or more data series.

Line Chart : The line chart shows data changes for a certain period of time. In other words, the
line chart is good for determining trends.

Pie Chart : The pie chart contains only one data series. A series of data in a pie chart is
displayed as a percentage of the total.

Exploded pie Chart: Exploded pie chart is the kind of pie chart in which one
or several slices are separated from the other. It is useful because it makes
the highlighted portion more visible.

Donut Chart: A Donut or Doughnut chart is a pie chart, with two exceptions:
It has a hole in the middle and it can display more than one series of data.
Doughnut charts display data in rings, where each ring represents a data
series. The first data series is displayed in the centre of the chart.

Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P_SKMJ HSS Kalpetta Computer Accounting_Chapter 4 Page 1

Exploded Donut Chart: It is a Donut chart with all slices exploded. It
shows the outer sectors already separated from the
remaining Donut.

Area Chart : Area charts emphasize the size of changes in time and allow you to focus on the
sum of the whole trend. By using the area chart, you can display data that
represents the gain in time, in order to emphasize the amount of profits.

Scatter Chart (XY Chart): This type of chart is often used to show the relations hip between two
variables. The Scatter charts are commonly used for scientific and financial
data.

Radar Chart / Net Chart: This chart shows the data in the form of a
cobweb (spider net).

Stock Chart: This chart is used to demonstrate the fluctuations in security market with respect to
stock market price.

Column and Line Chart: It shows different sets of data in the

form of column and line at a time (Minimum 2 sets of data
required).

Steps to Create Charts

1. Data Entry: Enter the data in a spreadsheet

with column headers and row headers.

2. Data Selection: Select the data including

column headers and row headers if necessary.

3. Plotting the Chart: Insert – Chart – Chart Type

– Next.

4. Data Range – Tick the options First row as

label and First column as label.

5. Click on Finish.

Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P_SKMJ HSS Kalpetta Computer Accounting_Chapter 4 Page 2

Elements of a Chart

1. Chart Area – Entire area of the chart, which includes labels, data, axis etc.

2. Plot Area – It is the area in which the actual data is plotted.

3. Chart Floor – It is the lower area on which the data points are placed.

It can be seen only in 3D charts.

4. Chart Main Title – This is the heading of the chart.

5. Chart Subtitle – This identifies the purpose of a chart.

6. X axis - It is the horizontal axis in the chart.

7. Y Axis – It is the vertical axis of a chart.

8. Z Axis – It represents the depth of a 3d chart.

9. Axis Titles – This mention the name or title for X, Y and Z axis.

10. Data Point – A symbol that represents the data, it may be a bar, pie, line, bubble etc.

11. Data Series – A group of data points.

12. Legend – They are the indicators of data items. It is shown in the form of colours or symbols.

13. Data Label – It is the value of data labels in the chart.

14. Grid lines – Optional lines extending from tick marks across the plot area.

Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P_SKMJ HSS Kalpetta Computer Accounting_Chapter 4 Page 3

Formatting Charts – Format menu is used to make changes in the chart. Double click the chart
to get into the edit mode, then select the chart element that we want to change from the Format
Menu on the menu bar.

The following changes can be made in a chart with the help of Format Menu:

1. Format Selection – This option wil be enables only when we select the chart wall. It opens a
dialog box in which we can specify the area fill (colour), borders, transparency etc.

2. Position and Size – It is also available on when the chart wall is selected. Here we can
rearrange the position and size of the chart.

3. Title – This option is active only when there is a title on the chart. It helps to make changes on
the title of the chart.

4. Legend – This allows to format the location, borders etc. of the legend.

5.Axis – It allows to format the lines and font of the text on both X and Y axis.

6. Grid – It is used to make changes in the grid lines of the chart.

7. Chart Type – It enables us to change the type of chart.

8. Data ranges – It allows to change the data range of a chart if needed.

9. 3D View – It is available only on 3D charts, by which we can make changes in appearance of

the chart.

Moving Chart Elements

To move or resize any of the chart elements:

1. Double click on the chart.

2. Click and drag the element to be moved.

Changing the Chart Type

Inorder to change the chart type such as column chart to bar chart etc.

Steps:

1. Double click on the chart.

2. Do any of the following:

a. Format – Chart Type

b. Click on the Chart Type icon from the formatting tool bar.

c. Right click on the chart – Choose the Chart Type

3. Select the new chart type and click OK.

Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P_SKMJ HSS Kalpetta Computer Accounting_Chapter 4 Page 4

2D – 3D Charts

The term 2D and 3D are used to indicate dimensions. 2D stands for Two-Dimensional, whereas
3D stands for Three-Dimensional. 2D represents an object in just two dimensions in X and Y
axes, while 3D represents it in three dimensions in X, Y and Z axes.

2D Chart 3D Chart

Advantages of using Graphs and Charts

1. Visually appealing

2. Easy to read the data

3. Quick analysis and interpretation of data with a little time

4. To know the trends easily

5. To grasp the data quickly

6. A large volume of information can be exhibited through charts easily

*************

For latest updates, Visit: HssVoice Blog

www.hssplustwo.blogspot.com

Prepared by:
Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P
SKMJ HSS Kalpetta

Wayanad – Kerala

Ph: 9446162771

Ajith Kanthi @ Ajith P P_SKMJ HSS Kalpetta Computer Accounting_Chapter 4 Page 5