6. 📊 Creating Simple Charts - rafageist/book-spreadsheet-basics GitHub Wiki
Spreadsheets can do more than store and calculate data — they can also help you visualize it. Charts make it easier to understand trends, comparisons, and totals at a glance.
🎨 Why Use Charts?
- See patterns and relationships
- Present your data in a clean and visual way
- Make your spreadsheet more understandable
🧱 Types of Simple Charts
| Chart Type | Best For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Chart | Comparing values across categories | Sales per product |
| Pie Chart | Showing parts of a whole | Budget distribution |
| Line Chart | Showing changes over time | Temperature over the week |
🛠 How to Create a Chart
- Select your data, including headers (e.g. Product names and Sales)
- Go to Insert → Chart or Insert → Graph
- Choose a chart type (bar, pie, etc.)
- Adjust labels, colors, and layout if needed
💡 Most tools suggest a chart type automatically, but you can change it.
📌 Example Data
| Product | Sales |
|---|---|
| Apple | 100 |
| Banana | 75 |
| Orange | 50 |
From this table, you can create:
- A bar chart comparing sales per product
- A pie chart showing percentage of total sales
🖼 Formatting Tips
- Add a title to your chart
- Use labels to show values or percentages
- Keep colors simple and clear
- Avoid unnecessary 3D or clutter
✅ What You Should Know After This Page
- How to select data for a chart
- The differences between bar, pie, and line charts
- How to insert and adjust a chart in your spreadsheet
Next: Practice Exercises