Creating a graph design
Creating a graph design is similar to creating a pattern. (For design ideas that you might use when creating graphs, see Creating and working with patterns.) When you create a design or use a design in a file, the design is saved. To use that design in another file, either open the file in which you created the design or use the Window > Swatch Libraries > Other Library command and choose the file whose designs you want to import. (When the designs are imported, you will see the colors, gradients, and patterns in the new file, but the actual graph designs will only be visible in the Graph Design dialog box.)
To create a graph design: - Create a rectangle as the backmost object in the design. The rectangle represents the boundary of the graph design.
- Paint the rectangle as desired, or fill and stroke it with None so that it is invisible.
Copy and paste the smallest column in your graph to use it as the bounding rectangle for your design.
- Create the design using any of the drawing tools, or position an existing design in front of the rectangle.
- To display column totals with the graph design, skip to that procedure later in this section.
- Using the selection tool
, select the entire design, including the rectangle. - Choose Object > Group to group the design.
- Choose Object > Graph > Design.
- Click New Design. A preview of the selected design appears.
Graph Design dialog box Only the portion of the design that fits inside the backmost rectangle appears, but the whole design appears when used in the graph. - Click Rename. Name the design, and click OK. Then click OK again.
- To apply the design to a graph, see Applying graph designs to a graph.
To create a sliding graph design: - Create a rectangle as the backmost object in the design. This rectangle is the boundary for the graph design.
- Create the design using one of the drawing tools, or place an existing design in front of the rectangle.
- Use the pen tool
to draw a horizontal line to define where the design is stretched or compressed. - Select all parts of the design, including the horizontal line.
- Choose Object > Group.
- Use the direct-selection tool
or group-selection tool to select the horizontal line. Be sure to select only the horizontal line. - Choose View > Guides > Make Guides.
- Choose View > Guides > Lock Guides to remove the check mark next to Lock so you can unlock the guides. Move the design around to make sure that the guide moves with the design.
- Use the selection tool
to select the whole design. - Choose Object > Graph > Design.
- Click New Design. You see a small preview of the selected design.
- Click Rename. Name the design, and click OK. Then click OK again.
To display column totals with the graph design: - Create the graph design.
- Select the type tool
. Position the pointer at a point where you want the value to appear, near or in the rectangle that defines the design. For example, you can place the value in, above, below, to the left, or to the right of the design. - Click and type a percent sign (%) followed by two digits from 0 to 9. The digits control how the data is displayed.
The first digit determines how many places appear before the decimal point. For example, if your total was 122, a digit of 3 would display 122. If you enter 0 for the first digit, the program adds the number of places necessary for the value. The second digit determines how many places appear after the decimal point. Zeros are added as necessary, and values are rounded up or down as necessary. You can vary these numbers, depending on how many digits you need. - To change the type attributes, choose Window > Type > Character, specify the attributes you want, and close the palette.
- To align the decimal points, choose Window > Type > Paragraph and select Right Alignment.
- Using the selection tool
, select the entire design, including the rectangle and any type. - Choose Object > Group to group the design.
- Choose Object > Graph > Design.
- Click New Design. You see a preview of the selected design.
- Click Rename. Name the design, and click OK. Then click OK again.
Sliding graph design with data totals
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