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Entering labels and data for particular graph types


    Labels can be words that describe columns of data, or they can be years, months, or days for comparing data over time.

    Follow these additional guidelines for entering data for the selected graph type:

    Column and stacked column graphs

    Enter numbers along the vertical (y) axis; enter labels for the data along the horizontal (x) axis.

    Bar and stacked bar graphs

    Enter numbers along the horizontal (x) axis; enter labels for the data along the vertical (y) axis.

    Column, stacked column, bar, and stacked bar graphs

    The height of the column or the length of the bar corresponds to the amount being compared. For column or bar graphs, you can combine positive and negative values; negative values appear as columns extending below the horizontal axis. For stacked column graphs, numbers must be all positive or all negative.

    Line graphs

    Enter numbers representing quantities along the y axis; enter numbers representing time along the x axis. Each column of data corresponds to one line in the line graph. You can combine positive and negative values in a line graph.

    Area graphs

    Plot at least two rows of data; values must be all positive or all negative. Each row of data entered corresponds to a filled area on the area graph. Area graphs add each column's values to the previous column's totals. Therefore, even if area graphs and line graphs contain the same data, they appear substantially different.

    Scatter graphs

    Enter y axis data in the first column and x axis in the second column. A scatter graph differs from the other kinds of graphs, because both axes measure values; there are no categories. If the first column contains labels, it is ignored, and the second column produces values for the y coordinates.

    Pie graphs

    Plot only one row of data, either all positive or all negative values. If you plot additional rows of data, a separate pie graph is created for each additional row. You cannot combine positive and negative values. The size of the individual pie graphs is proportional to the total of each graph's data.

    Radar graphs

    Enter labels for the axes in the first column and a set of numbers in each successive column. Each label results in a separate axis; unlike other graphs, a radar graph can have more than two axes per graph. Each number is plotted on an axis and connected to the others in the same axis to create a "web." (See Selecting graph options.)