This article is a Mac-specific guide to effectively using chart elements in Excel. Chart elements are vital for simplifying complex data into visual formats, but their diverse nature can be confusing. Our aim is to demystify chart elements, emphasize their role in clear data communication, and provide step-by-step instructions for Mac users to seamlessly incorporate them into their visual presentations.
What are Chart Elements in Excel?
Chart elements in Excel refer to the various components that make up a chart or graph, enhancing its visual clarity and communicative power. These elements help users interpret and understand the presented data in a graphical format. Excel provides a range of chart elements that can be added, customized, and manipulated to create effective visualizations.
Axes
Axes are the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) lines that establish the reference points and scales for plotting data in a chart.
Chart Title
The chart title clearly and concisely describes what the chart represents. It helps viewers understand the context of the data being presented. You can change the position of the chart title at the place of your convenience. However, placing it at the chart's top is good for ease and visibility.
The latest Excel versions automatically add a chart title. You can name the chart the way you want; it will help you make your presentations look amazing and appropriately define what your chart is about.
Axis Title
Axis titles describe the X and Y axes, helping viewers understand what each axis represents. Axis titles are a great help to inform your viewers regarding what is plotted against what and which axis represents which variable.
Data Labels
Data labels are numeric values directly displayed on the chart, indicating the specific data points. They can provide additional information and context to the viewer. Here’s a pro tip, only use data labels if you have fewer data points. Large amounts of data, especially if you are plotting hundreds of data points, can make your graph clustered.
Gridlines
Gridlines are horizontal and vertical lines that run across the chart, corresponding to the values on the axes. They help read data points accurately and align them with the appropriate scales. Grid lines are more helpful when you have many data points jumbled up in the same chart.
Here's a bonus tip while working with gridlines. The scale plays an important part in gridlines. As shown in the following example, the scale on the vertical axis is set at 0.050, so Excel shows grid lines corresponding to that scale. If you want widely spread grid lines, then you will need to adjust the scale according to your requirements. It can be easily done in Chart Format options.
Legend
The legend identifies the data series within the chart and associates them with their respective colors or patterns. It aids in clarifying which data corresponds to which element in the chart. Legends can be helpful if you work with various functions, data series or trend lines based on certain variables.
Where to Add Chart Elements in Excel on Mac?
In Excel, you might want to include a data table alongside the chart itself when making a chart. It helps users view the actual data behind the chart. Below, you will find how to add and format data tables within your Excel charts on Mac.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to add chart elements in Excel on a Mac.
Step 1: Open Excel and Create a Chart
Start by opening Microsoft Excel on your Mac and creating a chart using your data. Select the data you want to visualize, then navigate to the "Insert" tab in the Excel ribbon.
Step 2: Select a Chart Type
You can either choose a chart type from the Recommended Charts section or directly select a specific chart type and then pick the desired style (e.g., Column, Line, Pie, etc.).
Click on the chart to select it. When selected, you'll notice handles around the chart indicating that it's active.
Step 3: Access the "Chart Elements" Button
You'll see a small "+" (plus) icon in the upper-right corner of the chart. Click on this icon to open the "Chart Elements" dropdown menu.
Check the boxes next to the chart elements you want to add to your chart. For instance, check the corresponding boxes if you want to add data labels and a legend,
Step 4: Customize and Finish Adding the Elements
Once you've added the desired chart elements, you can customize them further. For instance, you can click on each element within the chart to adjust its formatting, position, font size, color, and other properties.
After customizing the elements, click outside the "Chart Elements" dropdown menu to close it. Your chart will now display the selected chart elements based on your customization.
Step 5: Save or Export Your Chart
Once satisfied with the added chart elements, save your Excel workbook or export the chart as needed.
How to Add Chart Title in Excel on Mac?
Suppose you are tracking the monthly sales of a small bakery for the past year. Your data might look like this:
Using this data, you can create a bar chart to visualize the sales trends over the months. Each month will be on the X-axis, and the sales amounts will be on the Y-axis.
In Excel 365 version 2013/2016, when a chart is inserted, it comes with a default "Chart Title" already in place. To modify the title text, all you need to do is click on that box and enter your desired title.
There are a few methods to adjust the placement and formatting of your chart title in Excel:
Using the Chart Title Options
By clicking the arrow next to "Chart Title," you can choose from the following options:
"Above Chart": This is the default setting that positions the title at the top of the chart and adjusts the chart's size accordingly.
"Centered Overlay": This overlays the title at the center of the chart without changing the chart's size.
For additional formatting choices, you can navigate to the "Design" tab, click "Add Chart Element," select "Chart Title," and then choose "More Options."
Using the Chart Elements Button
Alternatively, you can click the "Chart Elements" button on the chart itself. Then, select "Chart Title" and click "More Options."
Clicking the "More Options" option, whether from the ribbon or the context menu, opens the "Format Chart Title" pane on the right side of your worksheet. In this pane, you can fine-tune your title's formatting by selecting the options that suit your preferences.
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FAQs
Where is the Change Chart Type in Excel Mac?
You can transform a chart's presentation from one style to another. That means converting it from a column chart to a bar chart or shifting it from a two-dimensional representation to a three-dimensional one.
Select the chart first, then access the Format sidebar and navigate to the Chart tab.
Open the Chart Type dropdown menu located at the bottom of the sidebar, and proceed to pick a choice from the available options.
How can we customize and Edit Charts?
Customizing and editing charts allow you to tailor their appearance and behavior to convey your data effectively.
Before making any changes, include gridlines in line, area, column, bar, scatter, waterfall, histogram, radar, or candlestick charts.
To begin, access a spreadsheet in Google Sheets on your computer.
Double-click on the specific chart you wish to customize.
Navigate to the right-hand side and select the Customize option.
Locate and click on the Gridlines section.
If applicable, you can select horizontal or vertical gridlines based on your chart's configuration.
Proceed to adjust the gridlines according to your preferences.
Display data labels on data points to provide precise values.
Customize data markers to highlight specific points of interest.
Some charting tools allow you to add annotations, such as text boxes or shapes, to provide additional context to the data.
Depending on the software, you can add interactive elements like tooltips or data points.
Summary
In this article, we have covered how to make charts in Excel easier to understand and create, especially for Mac users. Charts are helpful because they show information in terms of visual cues.
The different parts of charts, like lines and labels, are like building blocks that help us understand the data better. The article explains what these parts are, like axes, titles, labels, lines, and the thing that shows what each color means. It then shows how to put these parts into your chart step by step. WPS Office offers an accessible and cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Office, boasting features, ease of use, capability, and customer service that make it a worthy contender in productivity software.
