Using the Graph Data window


    You use the Graph Data window to organize the data for your graph. You can enter graph data manually or import it from another application. Whichever method you use, the data must be arranged in a specific order to generate the desired results. For more information on how to organize data in the Graph Data window, see About organizing graph data.

    The Graph Data window stays open until you close it. This allows you to easily switch between editing graph data and working on the artboard.

    Illustration of Graph data window with these callouts: A. Entry text box B. Import data C. Transpose row/column D. Switch x/y E. Cell style F. Revert G. Apply
    Graph data window A. Entry text box B. Import data C. Transpose row/column D. Switch x/y E. Cell style F. Revert G. Apply

    Displaying the Graph Data window

    The Graph Data window appears automatically when you use a graph tool. To display the Graph Data window for an existing graph, select the entire graph with the Selection tool, and then choose Object > Graph > Data.

    Manually entering data into cells

    Select a cell in the worksheet, and enter the data in the text box at the top of the window. When you're done, press Tab to input the data and select the next cell in the same row; press Enter or Return to input the data and select the next cell in the same column; use the arrow keys to move from cell to cell; or simply click another cell to select it.

    Importing data into cells

    If you first save data as a tab delimited text file from another application, you can import the data into the Graph Data window. You can also cut and paste data from a spreadsheet application such as Lotus® 1-2-3 or Microsoft Excel using your computer's cut and paste commands.

    Important: When importing text files, each cell must be separated by a tab, and each row must be separated by a paragraph return. The data can only contain decimal points or decimal commas; otherwise, the data is not plotted. For example, enter 732000, not 732,000.

    To import data from a text file, click the cell that will be the top-left cell of the data that you import. Then click the Import Data button Import Data button , select the file you want to import, and click OK.

    To copy and paste data from another application, open the application and file containing the data you want to copy, select the data, and choose Edit > Copy to copy the data to the Clipboard. In Illustrator's Graph Data window, click the cell that will be the top-left cell of the data you paste, and choose Edit > Paste.

    Editing data in cells

    Select the cell or cells you want to edit. Then use the Cut or Copy commands to move data to the Clipboard, the Paste command to move data from the Clipboard into the selected cells, the Clear command to erase data from a cell, and the Delete key to delete data from a cell.

    Transposing data in cells

    If you accidentally enter graph data backward (that is, in rows instead of columns, or vice versa), click the Transpose button Transpose button to switch the columns and rows of data.

    Before and after transposing graph data
    Before and after transposing graph data

    Switching the x and y axes of scatter graphs

    Click the Switch X/Y button Switch X/Y button .

    Before and after switching the graph axes
    Before and after switching the graph axes

    Adjusting the width of columns

    Click the Cell Style button Cell Style button , enter a value between 0 and 20 in the Column Width text box, and click OK. Adjusting the column width has no effect on the width of columns in the graph; it only lets you view more or fewer digits in a column.

    Alternately, you can adjust the width of columns by dragging. Position the pointer at the edge of the column you want to adjust. The pointer changes to a double arrow pointer changes to a double arrow . Then drag the handle to the desired position. To reset the column width, you must drag the column width again; you cannot use the Cell Style dialog box. If you drag the column width to zero, the column reverts to the column width set in the Cell Style dialog box.

    Adjusting the width of columns
    Adjusting the width of columns

    Adjusting decimal precision in cells

    Click the Cell Style button, enter a value between 0 and 10 in the Number of Decimals text box, and click OK. The default is 2. With the default settings, the number 4 entered in a cell appears in the Graph Data window box as 4.00; the number 1.55823 entered in a cell displays as 1.56.

    Regenerating the graph

    Click the Apply button Apply button or press the Enter key on the numeric keypad to regenerate the graph and keep the Graph Data window open.

    Reverting the graph data

    Click the Revert button Revert button to return data to its state when you last regenerated the graph.

    Minimizing the Graph Data window

    Click the minimize box on the title bar to hide the body of the window and display only the title bar; click again to redisplay the window.

    Closing the Graph Data window

    Click the close box on the title bar. A dialog box appears giving you a choice of regenerating the graph with the current data or closing the window without regenerating.