8.1 Creating and Formatting a Chart
Steps in Excel
- 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).
- 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).
- Chart Design tab: Add Chart Element, Quick Layout, Switch Row/Column, Select Data, Change Chart Type, Move Chart.
- Format tab or Ctrl + 1 on any element opens the Format pane (fill, border, axis bounds, number format, gap width).
- 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. Blinkit green, Amazon Now orange).
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Khup students default chart tasach thevtat – "Chart Title", 3D effect, jaad gridlines. Title madhe sandesh liha, 3D talava (aakde chukiche disatat), aani fakt garjeche elements theva. Ek prashna vichara: "5 secondat manager la kay samjla pahije?"
Practice task
Create a clustered column chart of Pune, Nashik and Nagpur sales by month. Give it a message title, lakh number format on the axis and remove the gridlines.