Histogram

You can analyze your data and display it in a histogram (a column chart that displays frequency data) by using the Histogram tool of the Analysis ToolPak. This data analysis add-in (add-in: A supplemental program that adds custom commands or custom features to Microsoft Office.) is available when you install Microsoft Office Excel 2007, but it might not be loaded automatically.
 * Important** If you don't see the **Data Analysis** button in the **Analysis** group on the **Data** tab, you must [|load the Analysis ToolPak] add-in.

What do you want to do?
 * [|Learn more about plotting data in a histogram]
 * [|Load the Analysis ToolPak]
 * [|Create a histogram]

Learn more about plotting data in a histogram
To create a histogram, you must organize the data in two columns on the worksheet. These columns must contain the following data: When you use the Histogram tool, Excel counts the number of 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.) in each data bin. A data point is included in a particular bin if the number is greater than the lowest bound and equal to or less than the greatest bound for the data bin. If you omit the bin range, Excel creates a set of evenly distributed bins between the minimum and maximum values of the input data. The output of the histogram analysis is displayed on a new worksheet (or in a new workbook) and shows a histogram table and a column chart that reflects the data in the histogram table. [|Top of Page]
 * **Input data** This is the data that you want to analyze by using the Histogram tool.
 * **Bin numbers** These numbers represent the intervals that you want the Histogram tool to use for measuring the input data in the data analysis.

Load the Analysis ToolPak
[|Top of Page]
 * 1) Click the **Microsoft Office Button** [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100771021033 caption="Button image"]], and then click **Excel Options**.
 * 2) Click **Add-Ins**.
 * 3) In the **Manage** box, click **Excel Add-ins**, and then click **Go**.
 * 4) In the **Add-Ins available** box, do one of the following:
 * To load the Analysis ToolPak, select the **Analysis ToolPak** check box, and then click **OK**.
 * To include Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) functions for the Analysis ToolPak, select the **Analysis ToolPak - VBA** check box, and then click **OK**.
 * Tip** If **Analysis ToolPak** or **Analysis ToolPak - VBA** is not listed in the **Add-Ins available** box, click **Browse** to locate it.
 * 1) If you see a message that the Analysis ToolPak is not currently installed on your computer, click **Yes** to install it.
 * Tip** After you load the Analysis ToolPak, the **Data Analysis** command is available in the **Analysis** group on the **Data** tab.

Create a histogram
How to copy the example worksheet data Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) To enter the data that you want to analyze in a histogram, do one of the following:
 * Copy the example worksheet data to your worksheet.
 * 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.

>> 1|| **Input Range** || **Bin Range** || >> 2|| 87 || 20 || >> 3|| 27 || 40 || >> 4|| 45 || 60 || >> 5|| 62 || 80 || >> 6|| 3 || || >> 7|| 52 || || >> 8|| 20 || || >> 9|| 43 || || >> 10|| 74 || || >> 11|| 61 || || You can also click the **Collapse Dialog** button, select the range on the worksheet, and then click the **Collapse Dialog** button again to return to the dialog box. You can also click the **Collapse Dialog** button, select the range on the worksheet, and then click the **Collapse Dialog** button again to return to the dialog box.
 * On a worksheet, enter your own data as follows:
 * 1) In one column, type the input data.
 * Note** You must enter quantitative numeric data (such as item amounts or test scores) in each cell of the input column — the Histogram tool does not work with qualitative numeric data (such as identification numbers).
 * 1) In another column, type the bin numbers that you want to use for the analysis. The bin numbers must be entered in ascending order.
 * Note** If you don't enter the bin numbers on the worksheet, the Histogram tool automatically creates evenly distributed bin intervals by using the minimum and maximum values in the input range as start and end points. However, these bins may not be useful — we recommend that you use your own bin numbers.
 * Tip** If you want, you can add a label in the first cell of these columns.
 * 1) On the **Data** tab, in the **Analysis** group, click **Data Analysis**.
 * 2) In the **Analysis Tools** box, click **Histogram**, and then click **OK**.
 * 3) Under **Input**, in the **Input Range** box, enter the cell reference for the range of data you want to analyze.
 * Tip** If you are using the sample worksheet data, type **A1:A11**.
 * 1) Under **Input**, in the **Bin Range** box, enter the cell reference to a range that contains an optional set of boundary values that define bin ranges.
 * Tip** If you are using the sample worksheet data, type **B1:B5**.
 * Note** If you do not enter a range in the **Bin Range** box, the Histogram tool creates a set of evenly distributed bins between the data's minimum and maximum values. However, we recommend that you enter or select the bin range that you used on the worksheet.
 * 1) If you included column labels when you selected the input and bin range data, select the **Labels** check box.
 * 2) Under **Output options**, do one of the following:
 * To paste the output table on the same sheet, click **Output Range**, and then enter the cell reference (cell reference: The set of coordinates that a cell occupies on a worksheet. For example, the reference of the cell that appears at the intersection of column B and row 3 is B3.) of the upper-left cell of the output table.
 * Note** The Histogram tool automatically determines the size of the output area and displays a message if the output table will replace existing data.
 * To insert a new worksheet in the current workbook and paste the output table starting at cell A1 of the new worksheet, click **New Worksheet Ply**.
 * Tip** You can type a name in the **New Worksheet Ply** box.
 * To create a new workbook and paste the output table on a new worksheet in the new workbook, click **New Workbook**.
 * 1) Under **Output options**, do any or all of the following:
 * To present data in the output table in descending order of frequency, select the **Pareto (sorted histogram)** check box.
 * To generate an output table column for cumulative percentages and to include a cumulative percentage line in the histogram chart, select the **Cumulative Percentage** check box.
 * To generate an embedded histogram chart with the output table, select the **Chart Output** check box.
 * 1) Click **OK**.
 * Tip** After the bin and frequency table is generated, you can select any of the text and change the default labels. When you click the histogram, you can use the design, layout, and format options of the **Chart Tools** to change the display of the chart. For more information about changing the design and format of a chart, see the links in the **See Also** section.