To begin this section, you should still have the information from section 8 entered in your spreadsheet.

When creating a graph in Excel the columns of data must be in the order
X Y1 Y2 Y3 .... X values in first column, Y values in the second column and there can be multiple columns of Y values.  

Highlight A1 - B6  (or wherever your data is located)

Go to Insert


Chart

Follow these instructions to go through the four step chart wizard:

Step 1: Select XY plot and select the first type of XY graph on the right hand side
Click on Next>

Step 2: Follow the directions for selecting your data range to be graphed. (Your data is in columns.)
Click on Next >
Step 3: Fill the titles for the graph, and for the x and y axes.
Click on Next >
Step 4: Select whether you want your graph on your data sheet, or on a new sheet.
Click on Finish


A chart will appear!

We want to get rid of the gray area:

Double click anywhere in gray area (not on any line or square)
Under Area Click on None
Click OK

To get rid of those ugly grid lines: Move the cursor slowly up the right hand side of your graph until a little box that says, "major Y gridlines", then click your mouse. A format Gridlines box will appear.

Select white as the color, and the gridlines will be history.
Alternatively, go to Chart, then chart options and a chart options box will appear. You can format the gridlines from that box.  The above graph is still not done.  What is missing?


To put a legend on the graph: Go to Chart, then chart options and you can insert a legend.


To return to your worksheet:


Click on sheet1 at the bottom left hand corner


This tutorial was written by Dr. Laura Maki, it was last updated for Excel2000 on February 25th by Koni Stone

 

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This tutorial was written by Dr. Laura Maki, it was last updated for Excel2000 on February 25th by Koni Stone.