8.10 Map Chart
Excel 2019 / Microsoft 365, needs an internet connection (uses Bing). Insert › Charts › Maps › Filled Map colours regions such as countries, states, counties or postal codes.
Steps in Excel
- Make a two-column table with a geography column and a value: e.g. District (Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) and Sales. Add a State column (Maharashtra) and Country (India) to help Bing recognise names.
- Select it › Insert › Charts › Maps › Filled Map.
- Ctrl + 1 › Series Options › Map area: Only regions with data; Map labels: Show all; set the colour scale.
- If a name isn't recognised, Excel shows a message – try the official name or add the state/country column.
Filled maps colour areas, not points; they cannot place dots for individual dark stores (use Power BI's map visuals for that). Which Indian district names are recognised can vary – check the result.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
In a map chart, if a city/district name is wrong (for example "Aurangabad" vs "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar"), that region doesn't get coloured – many students think the chart is broken. Add State and Country columns and use the official names. Use a map only when "geography matters"; otherwise a sorted bar chart is clearer.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
Map chart मध्ये city/district चं नाव चुकलं (उदाहरणार्थ "Aurangabad" vs "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar") तर region रंगवला जात नाही – बऱ्याच students ना वाटतं chart खराब आहे. State आणि Country columns जोडा आणि official नावं वापरा. Map फक्त "geography महत्त्वाची आहे" तेव्हाच वापरा; नाहीतर sorted bar chart जास्त स्पष्ट असतो.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
Map chart में city/district का नाम गलत हो (जैसे "Aurangabad" vs "Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar") तो वह region रंगा नहीं जाता – बहुत से students को लगता है chart ख़राब है. State और Country columns जोड़ो और official नाम इस्तेमाल करो. Map तभी इस्तेमाल करो जब "geography ज़रूरी हो"; वरना sorted bar chart ज़्यादा साफ़ होता है.
Worked example — map chart
Why
Aamir Khan in Pune and Anna Kowalski abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use map chart on a Maple Bakery Co sheet without breaking totals.
What
Map Chart is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.
How
- Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for map chart.
- Enter a small made-up value for Aamir Khan using £ where money appears.
- Add a second value for Anna Kowalski using £ so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
- Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
- 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).Meaning: Once map 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 map chart on a blank sheet for FreshGo Mart.
Hint: Use only the steps on this page. Keep numbers numeric.
2. Change one input for Rohan Patil 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 Emma Clarke.
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 map chart to a 5-row made-up FreshGo Mart 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 map 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 FreshGoMart_practice.xlsx.
Hint: Use a clear file name for class.
Loading practice tasks...
- Total quantity (Easy): Add up the "Quantity" column.
- Average unit (Easy): Average of the Unit price ($) column, rounded to 2 decimals.
- Rows in Website (Easy): How many rows have Category/group "Website"? (the "Channel" column)
- Largest quantity (Easy): The largest value in the "Quantity" column.
- Quantity for Website (Medium): Total of the Quantity column where Channel is "Website".
- Website in Boston (Medium): Total of the Quantity column where Channel is "Website" and City is "Boston".
- Best in Website (Medium): Largest value in the "Unit price ($)" column where "Channel" is "Website".
- Value of row 2 (Medium): Multiply the first-row Quantity by the first-row Unit price ($).
- Look up James Carter (Medium): The Quantity for "James Carter" (use a lookup on the "Name" column).
- Total value (Hard): Sum of "Quantity" times "Unit price ($)" for all rows.
- Share of Website (Hard): Share of the "Quantity" column that is "Website", rounded to 3 decimals.
- Total "Quantity" for Website (Hard): Add up the "Quantity" column for the rows where "Channel" is "Website".
- Above average? (Hard): "Above" if the "Unit price ($)" value in the first row is above the average of the "Unit price ($)" column, else "Below".
Quick revision cards
Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.
