Changing the chart type

For simple chart types, a single grid row/column is mapped to a single chart series/category. For these chart types, each data point in the chart can be identified by one grid row header and one grid column header. These chart types are: bar, line, area, combo and pie.

Line and area charts (as well as line and area series in combo charts) are slightly different from other simple charts in one aspect: the data in a series is continuous. Whereas other simple charts/series can plot a single point, line and area charts/series need at least two data points in sequence in order to draw a line from one to the next. A line or area plot with only one category is blank, since the first data point has no second data point to connect with a line. The continuous/discontinuous nature of line/area series is also affected by missing data values. Missing values in line and area charts produced a gap where the line/area would stop, then resume at the next non-missing value.

A data point is a single charted numeric value, an individual bar, an individual pie slice, an individual point on a line, which is the intersection of a series and a category.

In complex charts, multiple grid rows/columns are mapped to a single chart series. To create a complex chart, multiple members must be on-grid. These chart types are scatter, (open)-high-low(-close), and bubble. The structure of the chart data should be understood before using one of these chart types. For each of these charts, a series is complete only when there are enough rows/columns of data available. Any extra rows/columns of data are ignored. For example, on a scatter chart whose series direction is by row. a series requires two rows of data. If there are three rows selected for charting in the grid, the third row is ignored. The first row header in each row pair is used to identify the series in the legend.

To change the chart type:

  1. On the Chart tab, in the Chart Type group, select a chart type. For all complex charts, if there are not enough on-grid members to create a series, the chart will display "Not enough data". If there are not enough on-grid members to complete the last series, those members are ignored by the chart. For example, if a bubble chart is made from five on-grid members, only one series appears, composed of the first three members. The remaining two members cannot complete a second series.
    Option Description
    Bar On a bar chart, vertical or horizontal rectangles are drawn to represent data points. Bar charts illustrate comparative datapoint values within a category, or when stacked, comparative category sums.
    Line On a line chart, series are represented as continuous lines connecting data points. Line charts are typically used to show series trends.
    Area An area chart is similar to line chart, series are represented as continuous lines connecting data points, with the area under each series line filled with the series color. Area charts illustrate series volume in addition to series trends.
    Combination On a combo chart, bars, areas and lines are combined in one plot. By default, series are assigned area, bar, then line, in repeating order. Any series' combo type can be changed using the Series dialog box.
    Pie On a pie chart, data points are represented as comparative-size wedges or slices in a circle. Each circle, or pie, is a category, and each pie contains slices representing instances of every series. The bigger a data point value in comparison to other values in its category, the bigger the slice. Pie charts are useful in comparing series data within categories, as in a bar chart, but do not offer any information as to how cross-category data compare
    Scatter A scatter chart is also known as an XY chart. A scatter chart plots data points based on a horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) position. Scatter charts are typically used as a mathematical formula plot, or to compare two pieces of data simultaneously, as in a quadrant chart. Two members are required to make a single scatter series - the first member contains X values, the second member contains Y values
    High-Low A high-low (or floating bar) chart draws bars which consist of two data values defining the bar's top and bottom. High-low charts are typically used to chart financial data, as a stock's daily high and low trade value over a time period. Close and open values can be optionally added to create high-low-close and open-high-low-close charts. Two members are required to make a single high-low series - the first member contains high values, the second member contains low values. Similarly, three members are required to make a single high-low-close series and four members are required to make a single open-high-low-close series.
    Bubble Bubble charts draw filled circles in a similar fashion to a scatter chart in that a data point (bubble) consists of a vertical and horizontal position, with the addition of a third data value representing the bubble's size. Bubble charts are typically used to compare three pieces of data simultaneously. Three members are required to make a single bubble series - the first member contains X values, the second member contains Y values, the third member contains bubble sizes.
  2. Click Save Changes.

You can further customize bar and line series through the Series dialog box.

  • The Bar Style list enables you to change the style of a bar. This list applies to bar and combination charts.
  • The Line Style list enables you to specify the line type to use for line, area, and combination charts.