Part III: Creating Charts and Other Visualizations
FIGURE 21.8
Using shapes as callouts in lieu of a legend
Copying Chart Formatting
You created a killer chart and spent hours customizing it. Now you need to create another one just like
it but with a different set of data. What are your options? You have several choices:
Copy the formatting Create your new chart with the default formatting. Then select your original
chart and choose Home ➪ Clipboard ➪ Copy (or press Ctrl+C). Click your new chart and choose Home
➪ Clipboard ➪ Paste ➪ Paste Special. In the Paste Special dialog box, select the Formats option.
Copy the chart and change the data sources Press Ctrl while you click the original chart and drag.
This creates an exact copy of your chart. Then choose Chart Tools ➪ Design ➪ Data ➪ Select Data. In the
Select Data Source dialog box, specify the data for the new chart in the Chart Data Range field.
Create a chart template Select your chart, right-click the Chart Area, and choose Save as Template
from the shortcut menu. Excel prompts you for a name. When you create your next chart, use this template
as the chart type. For more information about using chart templates, see “Creating Chart Templates”
later in this chapter.
Working with Gridlines
Gridlines can help the viewer determine what the chart series represents numerically.
Gridlines simply extend the tick marks on an axis. Some charts look better with gridlines,
while others appear more cluttered. Sometimes horizontal gridlines alone are enough,
although XY charts often benefit from both horizontal and vertical gridlines.
To add or remove gridlines, activate the chart and click the Chart Elements button to the
right of the chart. Place a check mark next to Gridlines. To specify the type of gridlines,
click the arrow to the right of the Gridlines item.
