Column+Chart

Using Microsoft Office Excel 2007, you can create a column chart and give it a brand new, appealing look. As one of the most common chart types, a column chart is useful to compare 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 one or more data series  (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.). After you create a column chart, you can change the spacing between the columns. You can also create a floating column chart by hiding a data series in the chart. In this article
 * [|Learn more about plotting data in a column chart]
 * [|Create an elaborate column chart]
 * [|Change the spacing between the columns]
 * [|Simulate a floating column chart]
 * [|Save a chart as a template]

Learn more about plotting data in a column chart
Data that is arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet can be plotted in a column chart. Column charts are useful for showing data changes over a period of time or for illustrating comparisons among items. In column charts, categories are typically organized along the horizontal axis and values along the vertical axis. Consider using a column chart when:
 * You have one or more data series that you want to plot.
 * Your data contains positive, negative, and zero (0) values.
 * You want to compare the data for numerous categories side by side.

When you create a column chart, you can choose one of the following column chart subtypes: You can use a clustered column chart type when you have categories that represent: You can use a stacked column chart when you have multiple data series and when you want to emphasize the total. You can use a 100% stacked column chart when you have three or more data series and you want to emphasize the contributions to the whole, especially if the total is the same for each category. You can use a 3-D column chart when you want to compare data across the categories and across the series equally, because this chart type shows categories along both the horizontal axis and the depth axis, while the vertical axis displays the values. [|Top of Page]
 * **Clustered column and clustered column in 3-D** Clustered column charts compare values across categories. A clustered column chart displays values in 2-D vertical rectangles. A clustered column in 3-D chart displays the data by using a 3-D perspective only. A third value axis (depth axis) is not used. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102204101033 caption="Clustered column chart and clustered column chart in 3-D"]]
 * Ranges of values (for example, item counts).
 * Specific scale arrangements (for example, a Likert scale with entries, such as strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree).
 * Names that are not in any specific order (for example, item names, geographic names, or the names of people).
 * Note** To present data in a 3-D format that uses three axes (a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, and a depth axis) that you can modify, use a 3-D column chart subtype instead.
 * **Stacked column and stacked column in 3-D** Stacked column charts show the relationship of individual items to the whole, comparing the contribution of each value to a total across categories. A stacked column chart displays values in 2-D vertical stacked rectangles. A 3-D stacked column chart displays the data by using a 3-D perspective only. A third value axis (depth axis) is not used. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102204111033 caption="Stacked column chart and stacked column chart in 3-D"]]
 * **100% stacked column and 100% stacked column in 3-D** 100% stacked column charts and 100% stacked column in 3-D charts compare the percentage that each value contributes to a total across categories. A 100% stacked column chart displays values in 2-D vertical 100% stacked rectangles. A 3-D 100% stacked column chart displays the data by using a 3-D perspective only. A third value axis (depth axis) is not used. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102204121033 caption="100% stacked column chart and 100% column chart in 3-D"]]
 * **3-D column** 3-D column charts use three axes that you can modify (a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, and a depth axis), and they compare 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.) along the horizontal and the depth axes. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102204131033 caption="3-D column chart"]]
 * **Cylinder, cone, and pyramid** Cylinder, cone, and pyramid charts are available in the same clustered, stacked, 100% stacked, and 3-D chart types that are provided for rectangular column charts, and they show and compare data exactly the same way. The only difference is that these chart types display cylinder, cone, and pyramid shapes instead of rectangles. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102208161033 caption="Cylinder, cone, and pyramide chart"]]

Create an elaborate column chart
So, how did we create this column chart? The following procedure will help you create a column 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 into a column 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.



> 1|| **Sales Territory** || **Qtr 1** || **Qtr 2** || **Qtr 3** || **Qtr 4** || > 2|| Northwest || 3,767,341 || 3,298,694 || 2,448,772 || 1,814,281 || > 3|| Northeast || 2,857,163 || 3,607,148 || 1,857,156 || 1,983,931 || > 4|| Central || 3,677,108 || 3,205,014 || 2,390,120 || 1,762,757 || > 5|| Southwest || 4,351,296 || 3,366,575 || 2,828,342 || 1,851,616 || > 6|| Southeast || 2,851,419 || 3,925,071 || 1,853,422 || 2,158,789 || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the column chart.
 * 2) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Column**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * 3) Under **3-D Column**, select **Stacked Column in 3-D**.
 * 4) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Layouts** group, select the layout that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102203331033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used **Layout 3**.
 * 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=ZA102203371033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used **Style 34**.
 * 1) In the chart, click the title, and then type the title text that you want.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used the title **Regional Sales in North America**.
 * 1) In the chart, click the vertical (value) axis, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Format** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**.
 * 3) Under **Axis Options**, in the **Display units** box, click **Millions**, and then click **Close**.
 * 4) In the chart, click a data series, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Format** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 5) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click **Shape Effects**, and then click **Bevel**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653931033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * 6) Click **3-D Options**, and then under **Bevel**, click the **Top** and **Bottom** bevel options that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used **Soft Round**.
 * 1) In the **Width** and **Height** boxes for **Top** and **Bottom** bevel options, type the point size that you want.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used **12 pt** for top width, **4 pt** for top height, **6 pt** for bottom width, and **6 pt** for bottom height.
 * 1) Under **Surface**, click **Material**, and then click the material option that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used **Plastic**.
 * 1) In the chart, click another data series, and then repeat steps 13 through 16.
 * 2) Keep the last data series selected and the dialog box open after you have formatted all data series, and then click **Series Options** in the **Format Data Series** dialog box.
 * 3) Under **Gap Width**, drag the slider to the gap width that you want.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we dragged the slider to **No Gap** (0%).
 * 1) Keep the dialog box open, and then click the chart area of the chart.
 * 2) In the dialog box, click **Border Styles**, and then select the **Rounded corners** check box.
 * 3) If you want to use theme colors that are different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 4) 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"]]
 * 5) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our column chart, we used the **Median** theme.

Change the spacing between the columns
You can enlarge or reduce the space between the data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) or columns in a column chart. In a 2-D column chart, the columns can even overlap each other. This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) In a chart, click the data series  (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) that you want to change, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
 * 2) Click the chart.
 * 1) On the **Format** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click the arrow next to the **Chart Elements** box, and then click the data series. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101940491033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * Tip** You need to select only a single data series to change the spacing of all data series of the same chart type.
 * 1) On the **Format** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**.
 * 2) Under **Series Options**, do one of the following:
 * To change the overlap of columns in a 2-D column chart, drag the slider to the percentage of series overlap that you want, or enter a percentage between -100 and 100 in the **Series Overlap** box.
 * Tip** The higher the value, the greater the overlap within the category.
 * To change the spacing between categories of data markers in a 2-D or 3-D column chart, drag the slider to the percentage of gap width that you want, or enter a value between 0 (zero) and 500 in the **Gap Width** box.
 * Tip** The higher the value, the greater the spacing between the columns.
 * To change the spacing between the data series in a 3-D column chart, enter a value between 0 (zero) and 500 in the **Gap Depth** box.
 * Tip** The higher the value, the greater the distance between the columns.

Simulate a floating column chart
Floating charts are useful when you want the columns in the column chart to depict minimum and maximum values. Excel does not provide a floating column chart type. However, when you create a stacked column chart that contains two (or more) data series, you can make the first data series invisible to give the second data series a floating column chart effect. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) On the worksheet, select the data that you want to plot into a floating column chart.
 * 2) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Column**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * 3) Under **2-D Column**, click **Stacked Column**.
 * Tip** For a 3-D effect, under **3-D Column**, click **Stacked Column in 3-D**.
 * 1) In the chart, click the first data series, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Format** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101940491033 caption="Excel Ribbon Image"]]
 * 3) Click **Fill**, and then click **No fill**.

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 [|Reuse a favorite chart by using 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.