XL: An Overview of Built-in Chart Types

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

There are 14 chart types in Microsoft Excel. Each of the 14 chart types has several subtypes or variations. This article describes each type of chart and what type of data it best represents.

MORE INFORMATION

Area Chart Type

Area charts show the relative importance of values over a period of time. Although area charts are similar to line charts, area charts emphasize the amount of change or magnitude of values, rather than time and the rate of change.

Bar Chart Type

Bar charts show individual figures at a specific time or illustrate comparisons between items. The subtypes stacked and 100-percent stacked bar charts show relationships to a whole. The categories on a bar chart are organized vertically, while the values are organized horizontally. This type of organization places more emphasis on comparisons and less emphasis on time.

Column Chart Type

Column charts show variation over a period of time or illustrate comparisons between items. The subtypes stacked and 100-percent stacked column charts show relationships to a whole. Although similar to a bar chart, a column chart's categories are organized horizontally, and its values are organized vertically.

Line Chart Type

Line charts show trends or changes in data over a period of time at even intervals. Although line charts are similar to area charts, line charts emphasize time flow and the rate of change, rather than the amount of change or magnitude of values.

High-Low-Close and Open-High-Low-Close Chart SubTypes

The high-low-close and open-high-low-close chart subtypes are almost exclusively used for tracking stock prices. The open-high-low-close chart subtype is also referred to as a candlestick chart. The high-low-close chart subtype is also used to track scientific data.

The order in which your data is arranged on the worksheet is very important. The order of the data in worksheet rows or columns must be one of the following:

• the high values, followed by the low and close values

      -or-
  

• the open values followed by the high, low, and close values

Pie Chart Type

Pie charts show the relationship or proportions of the parts to the whole. This chart type is useful for emphasizing a significant element. A pie chart always contains one data series. If you select more than one data series when you create a pie chart, only one data series will be displayed. To display more than one data series in a round chart format, use the doughnut chart type.

Doughnut Chart Type

Doughnut charts are similar to pie charts except for two things: Doughnut charts have a hole in the middle of them, and they are able to display more than one data series. Doughnut charts are widely used in the Far East.

Radar Chart Type

Radar charts show the changes or frequencies of data series relative to a center point and to one another. Each category has its own value axis radiating from the center point. Lines connect all of the data markers in the same series. Radar charts are widely used in the Far East.

XY (Scatter) Chart Type

An xy (scatter) chart shows the relationship or degree of relationship between the numeric values in several chart data series or plots two groups of numbers as one series of xy coordinates. The xy chart shows uneven intervals of data. Xy charts are most commonly used for scientific data. The way in which the data is arranged on the worksheet is very important when creating an xy chart. The data must be arranged with the x values in one row or column, followed by one or more corresponding y values in the adjacent rows or columns.

NOTE: Only xy charts have the ability to have both the x and y axes scaled.

3-D Area Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of an area chart, which emphasizes the sum of plotted values and separates chart data series into distinct rows to show differences between the data series.

3-D Bar Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of a bar chart, which emphasizes the values of individual items at a specific time or draws comparisons between items. The subtypes stacked and 100-percent stacked bar charts show relationships to a whole.

3-D Column Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of a column chart in one of two variations: simple 3-D and 3-D perspective. The simple 3-D column displays the column markers along the x (or category) axis. The 3-D perspective chart compares data points along two axes: the x axis and the y (or series) axis. In both chart variations, the data series are plotted along the z axis. This chart type allows you to compare data within a data series more easily and still be able to view the data by category.

3-D Line Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of a line chart as 3-D ribbons. This chart type is often used to display data attractively for presentations.

3-D Pie Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of a pie chart, which emphasizes the data values in the front wedges. A pie chart always contains one data series. If more than one data series is selected when creating a pie chart, only one data series will be displayed. To display more than one data series in a round chart format, use the doughnut chart type.

3-D Surface Chart Type

This chart type shows a 3-D view of what appears to be a rubber sheet stretched over a 3-D column chart. Surface charts are useful for finding the best combinations between two sets of data. This chart can be used to show relationships between large amounts of data that may otherwise be difficult to see. As in topographic maps, colors or patterns indicate areas that are of the same value. The colors do not mark the data series. The "wire frame" format displays the data in black and white. The contour chart formats provide a 2-D view of the data from above, similar to a 2-D topographic map.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 16, "Working With Chart Types and Autoformats"

For more information about chart types, click the Search button on the Help menu and type:

   chart type