Excel 2016 Chart Landscaping 4 tips

Select the correct graphic

The first thing to determine is which type of graphic is better suited to the data you want to represent. For example, a pie chart fits in part with the overall comparison, the bar chart is fit to show the difference between incremental categories, and so on. Like this one, the pie chart looks very similar, and in the bar chart, the difference is clear.

Once you've identified the type, it's easy to convert your data to graphics in Excel, and then you can select the chart type on the Insert tab after you select the relevant data. You can also click on the data in the lower right corner of the "Quick analysis" button, in the pop-up box to switch to the "chart" item, quickly choose to generate the corresponding chart.

Bar chart sorting Data more intuitive

In general, a bar chart might look like the following illustration. This random distribution makes it hard to see the difference.

We can select the relevant data, then switch to the Data tab, click the "Sort" button and set the criteria to sort the data in the Open dialog box.

After the sequence is finished, the bar chart will be an ordered sequence, the difference between the various data is clearly displayed and the appearance is more beautiful.

Shorten the length of the y-axis label

Some of the icons of the y-axis label number is too long, not only affect the reading, but also not beautiful, you can find ways to shorten the y-axis label. Right-click on the Y-axis label and choose Format axis.

In the Axis Format window that opens on the right, expand the number item, set category to Custom, and enter "￥0, Wan," in the Format Code box. In the custom format, you need to add descriptive character parts, you can enter the backslash and then enter the corresponding characters, such as the "￥" and "million" in this example, the characters can be determined according to the actual situation. In the scientific count, there is a comma section break per 3 digits, and in this custom format, the more section breaks, the shorter the number.

Set up, click the "Add" button, this custom format will be automatically selected, in this case the super long Y axis label has been shortened, and does not affect the meaning of the expression.

Delete a chart background line

By default, there are guides in the background of the chart you are building, and you can simply delete them if you feel that they affect the appearance of the chart. Right-click on the grid line on the chart area background, select Format Gridlines, and then in the right pane, select "Wireless Bar" to remove the background line.