How to Use Excel Charts

1. Launch Microsoft Excel 2010.
2. Open a file with some data already present in the cells or populate a blank sheet with some data that will be used for the chart. Include data labels for the rows and columns by typing descriptive names for the data in the next cell above the first entry in each column and in the next cell to the left of each row of entries.
3. Click in the cell above the first row label and to the left of the first column label and hold the mouse button down. Drag the mouse across the data diagonally until it is pointed at the lower right entry in the last row and last column and release the mouse button. This should highlight all the data that will be included in the chart.
4. Click the 'Insert' tab and click the small arrow at the bottom of any of the chart types listed in the 'Charts' group. Click the 'All Chart Types' button at the bottom of the list that appears.
5. Click on the desired chart type and click 'OK' to create a chart.
6. Click the 'Design,' 'Layout' or 'Format' tabs under the new 'Chart Tools' menu tab that appeared once the chart was created to access additional features and options.