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Working with graphs


    Once you create a graph, you can customize it by using colors and designs, and you can select options for the type. Each time you change the graph data, the graph is updated. However, certain graph options--such as font size and column markers--revert to their defaults if you change the graph data.

    Graphs are created as grouped objects. You can select elements of a graph with the direct-selection and group-selection tools, and you can change the elements. However, if you ungroup a graph, you cannot change the graph's type or modify the graph's data. (See Selecting parts of a graph.)

To create a graph:

  1. Do one of the following:
    • To create a graph using the current settings, select a graph tool  a graph tool .
    • To set graph options before creating the graph, double-click a graph tool. In the Graph Type dialog box, select options and click OK. (See Selecting graph options.)
  2. Create the graph:
    • Drag diagonally from the corner where you want the graph to begin to the opposite corner. Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) to drag from the center of the graph.
    • Click the graph tool in the artwork where you want to create the graph, and then specify the dimensions for the graph in the Graph dialog box. Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) to specify a point as the center of the graph. By default, the Graph dialog box displays the dimensions of the most recently drawn graph. Dimensions are displayed in the units of measure specified in the Edit > Preferences > Units & Undo dialog box (Windows and Mac OS 9) or Illustrator > Preferences > Units & Undo dialog box (Mac OS X).
  3. Enter the graph data. (See Entering graph data.)