Changing chart data

When you add a chart to your worksheet, Excel creates a link between the chart and your source data. Any changes made to the original source data are automatically reflected in the chart.

To change chart values directly in worksheet cells:

• Open the worksheet that contains the chart to be changed.
• Click in the cell whose value will change, and type the new value.
• Press Enter to accept the new value.

Changing chart data

To add data to an existing chart:

Rows or columns of data can be added to an existing chart by selecting the Add Data option on the chart menu.

• Input any new source data into the worksheet (e.g., a new column called South America).
  
  
• Click the chart to select it for editing.
• Choose Chart Add Data from the menu bar.
  
  
• The Add Data dialog box appears.
• Select the cell range of new data to be added to the chart. Marching ants appear around the cell range. The selected cells are added to the Add Data dialog box.
  
  
• Click OK to add the new data to the chart.

Changing the chart title

The chart title can be changed at any time to a name that's meaningful to you.

To change the chart title:

• Click the chart title .
  
  
• Click anywhere in the title name and make any changes to the text.
  
  
• Click anywhere outside the title to apply your changes.

Changing data series names or legend text

Data series names and legend text are changed similar to how chart values are changed in a worksheet.

To change the data series names or legend text on the worksheet:

• Click the cell that contains the data series name or legend you want to change.
  
  
• Type the new name.
• Press Enter to add the new name to the chart.

Changing the chart type

There are 14 types of charts in Excel XP, and within each chart type there can be several variations. The chart type can be changed at any time with just a few clicks.

To select a different chart type:

• Click the chart to select it for editing.
• Click the chart type drop-down list box and select a different chart.
  
  

• The new chart replaces the one selected for change.

Challenge!

• Type the following information in the worksheet:
  
  In cell A2, type Bill
  In cell A3, type Bob
  In cell A4, type Mary
  In cell B1, type Phones
  In cell B2, type 7630
  In cell B3, type 2943
  In cell B4, type 2301
  In cell C1, type Cables
  In cell C2, type 9873
  In cell C3, type 3745
  In cell C4, type 2019
  In cell D1, type Internet
  In cell D2, type 8374
  In cell D3, type 2049
  In cell D4, type 4038
  
  
• Create an embedded bar chart that plots Bill, Bob, and Mary on the Y axis. The legend will include phones, cables, and Internet.
• Change any of the numbers in the data source (cells B2, B3, B4, C2, C3, C4, D2, D3, and D4), and notice how the chart changes.
• Change any data series name (Bill, Bob, or Mary) or legend value (phones, cable, or Internet), and notice how the chart changes.
• Change the chart type from a bar chart to a line chart.