5/27: Charts and Graphs in Documents

Charts and Graphs tutorial...

Practicing Chart

Below is the data that we will use to familiarize ourselves with making charts and graphs. Though the process can be intimidating (at least it is to me, the professor!), and involves using both Word and Excel, once you get the hang of making the graphics, you'll find them not as hard to really make.


1) Having your data handy is the very important first step. You need:

• The numerical values (money spent, intervals)
  
• The items whose values you are comparing (on Excel they call these "categories")
  
• How many times you plan to compare the items (one year, two year, etc.)
  

Example: 2009 Budget for Nike-Apple Integration for Apple

1. Project Management combined salary (executive personnel): 200,000

2. Software Design Team combinedsalary: 450, 000

3. Chicago Technology Lab (new division/area): 1 million

4. Ground transportation of product: 300, 000

5. Air Transportation of product/ team members: 150, 000

Okay, above are example budget concerns that may show up in a proposal. All of this numerical data can be better displayed using graphics. Below are steps outlined for using Word 2003.


Microsoft 2003 steps for making a chart:

1) On the Insert menu, click Object, and then click the Create New tab.

2) In the Object type box, click Microsoft Graph Chart, and then click OK.

Microsoft Graph displays a chart and its associated sample data in a table called a datasheet.

3) To replace the sample data, click a cell (cell: A box formed by the intersection of a row and column in a worksheet or a table, in which you enter information.) on the datasheet, and then type the new text or numbers.


Note: If you close the datasheet you can reopen it by double-clicking the chart and then clicking Datasheet on the View menu.