Let’s create a chart based on numerical data about world merchandise exports using the capabilities of Microsoft Excel 2010, following these steps:
- Prepare the data
Enter the data related to world merchandise exports on a Microsoft Excel worksheet.
- Select the data range
Highlight the prepared data range. - Insert the chart
Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon, and in the Charts group choose the required chart type.
- In our case, click the drop-down arrow under Column Chart and select 3-D Column.
Note: by clicking the Insert Chart dialog box launcher in the lower right corner of the Charts group, you can preview all available chart types in the corresponding window. - Chart placement
The chart will appear on the worksheet next to the data, and three additional contextual tabs will appear on the ribbon under Chart Tools: Design, Layout, and Format. - Format the chart
- First, enlarge the chart area by dragging its border with the mouse pointer (resize handle).
- Notice that for this chart type, when you enlarge the size, all data labels appear on the three axes.
- Next, remove the legend by clicking it and pressing .
- Go to the Design contextual tab, and in the Data group click Switch Row/Column if necessary to change the orientation of the data on the chart.
- In the same group, the Select Data button allows you to adjust the data range displayed on the chart.
- Add a chart title
On the Layout contextual tab, go to the Labels group, click Chart Title, and select Centered Overlay Title. In the title area that appears, type:
World Merchandise Exports, at 2000 Prices and PPP, in Billion USD. - Further customization
Using other options provided by the contextual tabs or each chart element’s context menu, change the chart style, chart area fill, and formatting of different chart elements.
Note: by selecting Move Chart in the Location group on the Design contextual tab, you can place the chart on a separate chart sheet in the Excel workbook. - Final result
The resulting chart may look, for example, as shown.
