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8. Charts

8.1 Creating and Formatting a Chart

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Steps in Excel

  1. Select the data including headers (A1:D7) › Insert › Charts › pick a type, or Insert › Charts › Recommended Charts. Shortcuts: Alt + F1 (chart on the same sheet), F11 (chart on a new chart sheet).
  2. Three buttons appear beside a selected chart: + Chart Elements (title, axes, data labels, legend, gridlines, trendline), brush Chart Styles (style and colour), funnel Chart Filters (hide series/categories).
  3. Chart Design tab: Add Chart Element, Quick Layout, Switch Row/Column, Select Data, Change Chart Type, Move Chart.
  4. Format tab or Ctrl + 1 on any element opens the Format pane (fill, border, axis bounds, number format, gap width).
  5. Save a favourite look: right-click the chart › Save as Template…

Formatting checklist: a title that states the message ("Pune sales peak in Nov (Diwali)"), axis number format in ₹ or lakh, gridlines light or removed, data labels only where useful, legend only if more than one series, consistent colours (e.g. FreshGo green, MarketRush orange).

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

Many students leave the default chart as it is – "Chart Title", a 3D effect, thick gridlines. Write the message in the title, avoid 3D (it distorts the numbers), and keep only the elements you need. Ask one question: "What should the manager understand in 5 seconds?"

Worked example — creating and formatting a chart

Why

Aamir Khan in Pune and Liam Murphy abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use creating and formatting a chart on a Maple Bakery Co sheet without breaking totals.

What

Creating And Formatting A Chart is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.

How

  1. Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for creating and formatting a chart.
  2. Enter a small made-up value for Aamir Khan using ₹ where money appears.
  3. Add a second value for Liam Murphy using $ so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
  4. Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
  5. Check the result still works inside SUM or a simple check cell.

Formula / action

Follow the formula or ribbon steps shown in this lesson (keep values numeric).
Result: The demo cell shows the expected result for Maple Bakery Co's sample row.
Meaning: Once creating and formatting a chart is correct on one row, copy the same pattern down the column.

Practice tasks (10+)

Try these on a blank sheet. Open a hint only if you are stuck. No quiz — just practice.

1. Rebuild the smallest example of creating and formatting a chart on a blank sheet for CityBasket Retail.

Hint: Use only the steps on this page. Keep numbers numeric.

2. Change one input for Priya Deshmukh and confirm the result updates.

Hint: If the result is stuck, check absolute vs relative references.

3. Repeat the same steps with a £ or € value for Carlos Rivera.

Hint: Formatting must not break SUM.

4. Write the result meaning in one plain sentence next to the cell.

Hint: Imagine explaining it to a new joiners.

5. Add a second row and fill the method down.

Hint: Double-click the fill handle if the pattern is consistent.

6. Break the example on purpose, then fix it using this lesson.

Hint: Common break: text instead of a number.

7. Apply creating and formatting a chart to a 5-row made-up CityBasket Retail table.

Hint: Keep column headers clear.

8. Check your answer with a simple total or COUNT.

Hint: A wrong total usually means a format or key mismatch.

9. Swap ₹ and $ on one column and re-check totals.

Hint: Stored values stay the same; only the display changes.

10. List two mistakes beginners make with creating and formatting a chart.

Hint: Look back at the tip box on this page.

11. Teach the steps out loud in under one minute.

Hint: Why → What → How.

12. Save the sheet as CityBasketR_practice.xlsx.

Hint: Use a clear file name for class.

Loading practice tasks...

  1. Total units sold (Easy): Add up Units sold in the "Units sold" column.
  2. Average price (Easy): Average of the Price (₹) column, rounded to 2 decimals.
  3. Rows in Snacks (Easy): How many rows have Category/group "Snacks"? (the "Category" column)
  4. Largest units sold (Easy): The largest value in the "Units sold" column.
  5. Units sold for Snacks (Medium): Total of the Units sold column where Category is "Snacks".
  6. Snacks in Mumbai (Medium): Total of the Units sold column where Category is "Snacks" and City is "Mumbai".
  7. Best in Snacks (Medium): Largest value in the "Price (₹)" column where "Category" is "Snacks".
  8. Value of row 2 (Medium): Multiply the first-row Units sold by the first-row Price (₹).
  9. Look up Arjun Mehta (Medium): The Units sold for "Arjun Mehta" (use a lookup on the "Name" column).
  10. Total value (Hard): Sum of "Units sold" times "Price (₹)" for all rows.
  11. Share of Snacks (Hard): Share of the "Units sold" column that is "Snacks", rounded to 3 decimals.
  12. Total "Units sold" for Snacks (Hard): Add up the "Units sold" column for the rows where "Category" is "Snacks".
  13. Above average? (Hard): "Above" if the "Price (₹)" value in the first row is above the average of the "Price (₹)" column, else "Below".

See all practice tasks in the Task Hub →

Quick revision cards

Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.

Revision card 1: What is Creating And Formatting A Chart?
Card 1: What is Creating And Formatting A Chart? · Download PNG
Revision card 2: Tiny example — Creating And Formatting A Chart
Card 2: Tiny example — Creating And Formatting A Chart · Download PNG
Revision card 3: Checklist — Creating And Formatting A Chart
Card 3: Checklist — Creating And Formatting A Chart · Download PNG