Bubble+Chart

A bubble chart is a variation of a scatter chart in which the data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) are replaced with bubbles, and an additional dimension of the data is represented in the size of the bubbles. Just like a scatter chart, a bubble chart does not use a category axis — both horizontal and vertical axes are value axes. In addition to the x values and y values that are plotted in a scatter chart, a bubble chart plots x values, y values, and z (size) values. In this article
 * [|Learn more about plotting data in a bubble chart]
 * [|Create an elaborate bubble chart]
 * [|Save a chart as a template]



Learn more about plotting data in a bubble chart
You can use a bubble chart instead of a scatter chart if your data has three data series that each contain a set of values. The sizes of the bubbles are determined by the values in the third data series. Bubble charts are often used to present financial data. Different bubble sizes are useful to visually emphasize specific values. To create a bubble chart, arrange your data in rows or columns on a worksheet so that x values are listed in the first row or column and corresponding y values and bubble size (z) values are listed in adjacent rows or columns. For example, organize your worksheet data as shown in the following picture. In this bubble chart, the number of products is displayed along the horizontal axis, the sales amounts are displayed along the vertical axis, and the market share percentages are represented by the size of the bubbles. Consider using a bubble chart when your data includes the following: When you create a bubble chart, you can choose one of the following bubble chart subtypes. [|Top of Page] 
 * **Three values per data point** Three values are required for each bubble. These values can be in rows or columns on the worksheet, but they must be in the following order: x value, y value, and then z value.
 * **Multiple data series** Plotting multiple data series in a bubble chart (multiple bubble series) is similar to plotting multiple data series in a scatter chart (multiple scatter series). Scatter charts use sets of x values and y values, but bubble charts use sets of x values, y values, and z values.
 * **Bubble or bubble with 3-D effect** Both bubble chart types compare sets of three values instead of two. The third value determines the size of the bubble marker. You can choose to display bubbles in 2-D format or with a 3-D effect. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102285841033 caption="Bubble and bubble with 3-D effect chart"]]

Create an elaborate bubble chart
So, how did we create this bubble chart? The following procedure will help you create a bubble chart with similar results. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data. How to copy the example worksheet data Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot in a bubble chart.
 * 1) Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
 * 2) Select the example in the Help topic.
 * Note** Do not select the row or column headers.
 * 1) Press CTRL+C.
 * 2) In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

> ll A llB llC ll > 1|| **Number of Products** || **Sales** || **Percentage of Market Share** || > 2|| 5 || $5,500 || 3% || > 3|| 14 || $12,200 || 12% || > 4|| 20 || $60,000 || 33% || > 5|| 18 || $24,400 || 10% || > 6|| 22 || $32,000 || 42% || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * Note** Make sure that your worksheet has at least four rows or columns of data. When you create a bubble chart from three or fewer rows or columns of data, the chart does not plot the bubbles correctly.
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the bubble chart.
 * Note** It is best not to include row or column headings in the selection. If you select the headings with your data, the chart may produce incorrect results.
 * 1) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Other Charts**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Charts group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 2) Under **Bubble**, click **Bubble with a 3-D Effect**.
 * 3) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Styles** group, click the chart style that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102285761033 caption="Chart Styles on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we used **Style 29**.
 * 1) On the chart, click the legend, and then press DELETE.
 * 2) To change the size of the chart, on the **Format** tab, in the **Size** group, select the shape size that you want in the **Shape Height** and **Shape Width** box, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we used **3.5"** for both shape height and shape width.
 * 1) To add, format, and position a chart title on the chart, click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then do the following:
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Chart Title**, and then click **Above Chart**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654001033 caption="Labels group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the chart, click the chart title, and then type the text that you want.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we typed **Industry Market Share Study**.
 * 1) To reduce the size of the chart title, right-click the title, and then enter the size that you want in the **Size** box on the shortcut menu.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we used **12**.
 * 1) To align the chart title with the plot area  (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.), click the chart title, and then drag it to the position that you want.
 * 2) To add a horizontal axis title, click the chart area of the chart, and then do the following:
 * 3) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Axis Titles**, and then click **Primary Horizontal Axis Title**, and then click **Title Below Axis**.
 * 4) Click the horizontal axis title, type the text that you want, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we typed **Number of products**.
 * 1) Click the vertical axis, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**.
 * 3) Under **Axis Options**, do the following:
 * For **Minimum**, select the **Fixed** option, and then type **0** (zero) in the **Fixed** box.
 * For **Maximum**, select the **Fixed** option, and then type the number that you want in the **Fixed** box.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we typed **80000**.
 * 1) In the **Format Axis** dialog box, click **Number**.
 * 2) Under **Number**, in the **Decimal places** box, type **0** (zero), and then click **Close**.
 * 3) To apply a special formatting effect to the plot area, chart area, chart title, or vertical axis of the chart, click that chart element, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box), and then do the following:
 * On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653931033 caption="Shape Styles on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Accent 4** for the plot area, **Intense Effect - Accent 4** for the chart area, **Subtle Effect - Accent 4** for the chart title, and **Intense Line - Accent 6** for the vertical axis.
 * 1) If you want to use theme colors different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Page Layout** tab, in the **Themes** group, click **Themes**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654451033 caption="Themes group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our bubble chart, we used the **Foundry** theme.

Save a chart as a template
If you want to create another chart like the one that you just created, you can save the chart as a template that you can use as the basis for other similar charts. For more information about how to apply a chart template, see [|Create, apply, or remove a chart template].
 * 1) Click the chart that you want to save as a template.
 * 2) On the **Design** tab, in the **Type** group, click **Save as Template**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653891033 caption="Type group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the **File name** box, type a name for the template.
 * Tip** Unless you specify a different folder, the template file (.crtx) will be saved in the **Charts** folder, and the template becomes available under **Templates** in both the **Insert Chart** dialog box (**Insert** tab, **Charts** group, Dialog Box Launcher [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100985101033 caption="Button image"]]) and the **Change Chart Type** dialog box (**Design** tab, **Type** group, **Change Chart Type**).
 * Note** A chart template contains chart formatting and stores the colors that are in use when you save the chart as a template. When you use a chart template to create a chart in another workbook, the new chart uses the colors of the chart template — not the colors of the document theme that is currently applied to the workbook. To use the document theme colors instead of the chart template colors, right-click the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then click **Reset to Match Style** on the shortcut menu.