Part III: Creating Charts and Other Visualizations
Why rename a chart? If a worksheet has many charts, you may prefer to activate a particu-
lar chart by name. Just type the chart’s name in the Name box and press Enter. It’s much
easier to remember a chart named Monthly Sales as opposed to a chart named Chart 9.When you rename a chart, Excel allows you to use a name that already exists for another chart. Normally, it doesn’t
matter if multiple charts have the same name, but it can cause problems if you use VBA macros that select a chart by
name.Printing charts
Printing embedded charts is nothing special; you print them the same way that you print a
worksheet. As long as you include the embedded chart in the range that you want to print,
Excel prints the chart as it appears on-screen. When printing a sheet that contains embed-
ded charts, it’s a good idea to preview first (or use Page Layout view) to ensure that your
charts don’t span multiple pages. If you created the chart on a chart sheet, Excel always
prints the chart on a page by itself.If you select an embedded chart and choose File ➪ Print, Excel prints the chart on a page by itself and does not print
the worksheet data.If you don’t want a particular embedded chart to appear on your printout, access the
Format Chart Area task pane and select the Size & Properties icon. Then expand the
Properties section and clear the Print Object check box.Understanding Chart Types
People who create charts usually do so to make a point or to communicate a specific mes-
sage. Often, the message is explicitly stated in the chart’s title or in a text box within the
chart. The chart itself provides visual support.Choosing the correct chart type is often a key factor in the effectiveness of the message.
Therefore, it’s often well worth your time to experiment with various chart types to deter-
mine which one conveys your message best.In almost every case, the underlying message in a chart is some type of comparison.
Examples of some general types of comparisons include the following:■ (^) Comparing an item to other items: A chart may compare sales in each of a com-
pany’s sales regions.
■ (^) Comparing data over time: A chart may display sales by month and indicate
trends over time.