Excel Graph Tutorials

1. Open the Excel 2010 spreadsheet that contains the data that you want to use in a graph.
2. Organize your data so that you have headers at the top of each column, and, if necessary, at the left end of each row. If you need to create a header row or column, just right-click the top or leftmost row or column and click 'Insert' from the pop-up menu. A blank row or column will appear, and you can use that to enter your column or row headers.
3. Click on any cell in the data field, and then click the 'Insert' tab at the top of the screen. Click the small button in the lower-right corner of the 'Charts' area of the ribbon to open up a new window will all of the Excel chart options.
4. Click the type of chart that you want to use from the list on the left side of the window. Excel offers 11 different chart types, ranging from a standard column or bar chart to more exotic doughnut and radar charts.
5. Click the exact chart that you want from the list on the right side of the screen. Each chart type has several different variants that have slightly different appearances and may handle information in a slightly different way. Next, click 'OK.' Excel automatically expands your selection on the spreadsheet to include all the cells adjacent to your selected cell and the chart will appear on the spreadsheet.
6. Click the chart and then click the 'Design' tab at the right side of the ribbon. This tab gives you access to buttons that will change the color and shape of the chart. You can also click the 'Select Data' button to reselect the data that will make up the chart.
7. Click the 'Layout' tab at the top of the screen to change the chart's appearance. The buttons in the 'Labels' section will change how the axis titles, chart title and data labels appear. The 'Axes' area holds buttons that will add or remove axes labels and grid lines on the chart. You can also click the 'Insert' button to add a picture, text box or shape to your chart.
8. Click the 'Format' tab at the top of the screen to get access to the controls that change the overall look of the chart. The 'Shape' area contains buttons that change the appearance of the chart window, including the color of the border and any effects on the border. The 'WordArt Styles' area contains buttons that change the color and effects for the text within the chart. Finally, the 'Size' area contains the length and width of the chart, which you can change to your liking.