Ever have a need to create a chart in Word? I know when I was in the working world, there were many, many times I was requested to do so. The first time, I panicked, but once I learned how it was a piece of cake.
Having said that, you can make a chart in Word also, but, if you have a lot of data to be charted, you really should create your chart in Excel, and then you can then copy it from Excel to Word. This is also the most expedient method if your data changes often and you want your chart to always reflect the latest data. In that case, when you copy the chart, keep it linked to the original Excel file.
But if you are creating a simple chart, follow the steps below to learn how:
- Click Insert | Chart, and select the chart you would like.
- Click the chart type and then double-click the chart of your choosing.
- In the spreadsheet that appears, replace the default data with your own information.
- When you insert your chart, small buttons will appear next to its upper-right corner. You can use the Chart Elements button to show, hide, or format items such as axis titles or data labels. Or, you can use the Chart Styles Customize the Look of Your Chart button to quickly change the color or style of your chart. The Chart Filters button is a more advanced option that will show or hide data in your chart.
- Once you have finished, close your spreadsheet.
- Should you like, you can use the Layout Options button to arrange your chart and text in your document.
As you can see, this is a fairly simple process but it makes you look like a rock star when you quickly create that chart that was requested!
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