Chapter 20: Getting Started with Excel Charts
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Figure 20.20 shows the same data plotted with a 3-D clustered column chart (on the left).
The name is a bit deceptive because the chart uses only two dimensions, not three. Many
people use this type of chart because it has more visual pizzazz.FIGURE 20.20
3-D column charts.Compare this chart with the chart on the right. This is a “true” 3-D column chart (which
has a second category axis). This type of chart may be appealing visually, but precise com-
parisons are difficult because of the distorted perspective view.Bar charts
A bar chart is essentially a column chart that has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise. One
distinct advantage to using a bar chart is that the category labels may be easier to read.
Figure 20.21 shows a bar chart that displays a value for each of ten survey items. The cate-
gory labels are lengthy, and displaying them legibly with a column chart would be difficult.
Excel offers six bar chart subtypes.Unlike a column chart, no subtype displays multiple series along a third axis. (That is, Excel does not provide a 3-D
Bar Chart subtype.) You can add a 3-D look to a bar chart, but it will be limited to two axes.
You can include any number of data series in a bar chart. In addition, the bars can be
“stacked” from left to right.Line charts
Line charts are often used to plot continuous data and are useful for identifying trends. For
example, plotting daily sales as a line chart may enable you to identify sales fluctuations
over time. Normally, the category axis for a line chart displays equal intervals. Excel sup-
ports seven line chart subtypes.