Datasheet

Chart Tools➪Design➪Data➪Switch Row/Column. This command is a toggle, so if changing
the data orientation doesn’t improve the chart, just choose the command again (or click the
Undo button).
The orientation of the data has a drastic effect on the look (and, perhaps, understandabil-
ity) of your chart. Figure 1-11 shows the column chart after changing the orientation.
Notice that the chart now has three data series, one for each month. If the goal is to com-
pare actual with projected for each month, this version of the chart is much more difficult
to interpret because the relevant columns are not adjacent.
Figure 1-11: The column chart, after swapping the row/column orientation
Changing the Chart Type
After you’ve created a chart, you can easily change the chart type. Although a column
chart may work well for a particular data set, there’s no harm in checking out some other
chart types. You can choose Chart Tools➪Design➪Type➪Change Chart Type to display the
Change Chart Type dialog box and experiment with other chart types. Figure 1-12 shows
the Change Chart Type dialog box.
NOTE
If your chart uses more than one data series, make sure that a chart element other than a
data series is selected when you choose the Chart Tools
➪Design➪Type➪Change Chart
Type command. If a series is selected, the command only changes the chart type of the
selected series. Selecting a single series before you issue the Change Chart Type com-
mand is the basis of creating combination charts (see Chapter 2 for more information
about combination charts).
In the Change Chart Type dialog box, the main categories are listed on the left, and the
subtypes are shown as icons. Select an icon and click the OK button, and Excel displays
the chart using the new chart type. If you don’t like the result, click the Undo button.
Chapter 1: Introducing Excel Charts
Part I
21
05_044001 ch01.qxp 8/24/07 8:48 PM Page 21