Word is the text editor in Microsoft's Office suite, and only some know it can create a chart. A chart is a tool with which you can present data or figures in a graphically visual way. It visualizes the document's figures and compares data or shows trends according to the user's needs.
Dealing with complicated data or a lot of information can be challenging when making charts in Word. Users who are not familiar with the process often ask how to create and manage a chart in Microsoft Word effectively. How can users create charts with ease? This article explains how to create a chart in Word regardless of the type you want.
How to Create and Customize a Chart in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step)
Adding an illustrative image to your documents is helpful most times. Microsoft Word has built-in chart capabilities, saving you the trouble of creating a chart in a separate program. Since you will be making it in Word, there is no need to embed or copy and paste it from another app.
How To Create a Chart in Microsoft Word
Statistical charts form conceptual or numerical data and show the relationship that these data have with each other. We must know that Word has multiple types of charts depending on the information you want to illustrate. Hence, you can use the process we'll explain to make a table and column chart in Word.
If you are still confused about how to make a chart in Word, a detailed tutorial is provided below:
Step 1: Open the document you want to make a chart in with the Word App.
Step 2: Put your cursor at the point you want the chart to appear, then click the "Insert" button and choose "Chart" from the Illustration area.
Step 3: Choose the "Chart Type" on the window's left side; select between one of the chart types (columns, bars, pie, lines, etc.).
Step 4: On the top tabs, you can change the style of the chart. Select the desired model and click "OK."
Step 5: Once you insert the chart, a spreadsheet will appear where you can input the data that should go in the graph. Any changes you input reflect in real-time.
Step 6: When you are through using the spreadsheet, press the "X" to end the window.
How To Customize a Chart in Microsoft Word
Even after closing the spreadsheet window, you can still customize the chart to your taste. You can customize your chart's title, color scheme, theme, and legend. We've only seen how you can create a chart in Word. But it's necessary to customize it so that you can extract and express everything we want to do.
Following the steps below will help you customize a chat in Word to your preference:
Step 1: To customize your chart, you will find a series of boxes on the right, which will allow you to modify its color, add legends and labels, or use design options.
Step 2: The first icon represents the "Layout options"; this will help you move the graph wherever you want. It is recommended to select "in front of the text."
Step 3: To change the layout of a chart, select it and click "Chart Design," then choose the "Quick Layout" option on the chart layout ribbon.
Step 4: Add the chart elements from the second box with the cross or plus sign or the "Chart Design" option. After clicking chart design, select the "Add Chart Element" tab on the chart layout ribbon.
Step 5: You can apply preset styles, change the background color, and apply borders, shading, and other design effects by clicking the third box with the brush icon. You can also do all these in the "Chart Design" options ribbon.
Step 6: You can use the last icon, "Chart filters," to show and remove your desired data points and names on the chart.
Best Free Alternative to Microsoft Word——WPS Office
WPS Office is an excellent choice if you're looking for a free substitute for Microsoft Word. WPS Office offers a variety of chart types and styles to suit your needs and present data in a visually appealing way.
WPS Writer, the text editor included with WPS Office, makes it simple to insert, modify, and format charts. Here are some features of WPS Office that make it the best free alternative to MS Word:
Powerful Office Suite: WPS Office is an office suite that lets you create and edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. You can use templates to jumpstart your work in a time-efficient manner.
High Compatibility: WPS Office's compatibility with other applications is broad, as seen by the 47 file types it supports, including all of Microsoft's supported file formats. It can convert files easily and work with any format.
Cloud-Based File Sharing and Storage: WPS Office includes 1 GB of free cloud storage for sharing and storing files online. You can also work in real time with others by sharing and collaborating on files.
PDF Editing: WPS Office's Writer supports native PDF file editing, eliminating the requirement for a third-party program. Once your document is complete and the chart is inserted, exporting it as a PDF is just one click away.
Download for free and Other Extras: WPS Office's plethora of optional add-ons can help you get more done and spark new ideas. You can download and use WPS Office by visiting their website or searching for the app on Google Play.
How to Create and Customize a Chart in WPS Writer (Step-by-Step)
How To Create a Chart in WPS Writer
In most cases, having a table representation of a large data set can be boring alongside the bulky text in the document. In this scenario, you can insert a graphical chart to intuitively spice up the reader's thoughts and capture their attention.
And that's just what the WPS Writer does for you with the collections of beautiful and colorful chart types available for your document. If you're looking to substitute WPS Office for MS Office, you may wonder if you can easily make a chart in WPS Writer. Well, you can, and here's how to create a chart in WPS Writer:
Step 1: Open the document you want to insert a chart into with WPS Writer.
Step 2: Click "Insert" at the top toolbar, then select "Chart" from the options available.
Step 3: An "Insert Chart" dialogue pops up, and you can choose the one you see fit from the types of chart (i.e., column, bar, pie, line, etc.) at the left-hand side. At the top of the dialogue pop-up, you can choose how you want the chart to look (i.e., clustered, stacked, or 100% stacked).
How To Customize a Chart in WPS Writer
After inserting the chart into your document with the steps above, you'll wonder if it's also easy to customize it in WPS Writer. Customizing a chart to your taste in WPS Writer is as easy as the insertion process. Below are the steps to follow if you want to customize a chart in WPS Writer:
Step 1: The first customization you'll want to make to a chart is to input your preferred data, and you can do this by creating a table. To create a table, select the chart and click on the "Edit Chart" in the highlighted Chart Tools tab. A new table named Charts in WPS Writer is automatically created in WPS Spreadsheet.
Step 2: You can now edit the chart content by pasting the table in your document to the spreadsheet. Go to the document, highlight the table content, and press Ctrl + C. Then go back to the "Charts in WPS Writer" window and press Ctrl + V to paste the table data; you can also type in the data manually. This automatically updates the chart data in the document.
Step 3: The chart is always fixed "In Line with Text" and cannot be moved or dragged unless you change the "Wrap Text" around it. To do that, click "Layout Options" (the first icon on the right of the chart) and choose any of the six wrap-text options.
Step 4: You can customize the legends and labels on the chart via the "Chart Element." To do this, click "Chart Element" (the second icon on the right of the chart), and then check the "Data label or table" box and any other box you wish to show on the chart. You can also select different chart layouts with some specific elements highlighted by clicking "Quick Layout" in the "Chart Element" icon.
Step 5: Make your chart stylish and colorful by clicking the third icon on the right that represents the "Chart Style." After clicking "Chart Style," select a suitable style from the list of options available. You can also click the "Colors" option beside style to give your chart a befitting color.
All these options to customize your chart in a WPS Writer are also available in the Chart Tools tab once you select it. You can add chart elements and change the chart layout, colors, style, and lots more from the Chart Tools tab.
FAQ
Solving Common Chart Dilemmas
Can I Create 3D Charts in Word?
Unfortunately, you can't make 3D charts with Word. In most cases, users will have to use third-party applications or Microsoft Excel's built-in charting capabilities in order to produce a 3D chart. However, kindly check a more recent version of Word for any changes or if the ability to create 3D charts is now included.
How Can I Add Trendlines to My Chart?
Treadlines are just another chart element like legends, data tables, and many more. To add trendlines to your chart in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:
Click on the chart to select it.
Go to the "Chart Elements" button (the plus icon) on the top right of the chart.
Check the "Trendline" box to add the trendline to your chart.
Double-click on the Treadline to get the "Trendline Options" pane, and adjust the trendline options to meet your specific requirements.
Is It Possible To Animate Charts in Word?
Unfortunately, creating dynamic or interactive animations in Word documents requires a third-party add-on. An animated chart is typically reserved for presentation programs like Microsoft PowerPoint. Another option that gives the same effect is to make animated charts in PowerPoint and embed them in Word documents.
Summary
Although charts are an effective means of visualizing data, they may be difficult to design and format to meet individual needs. We've covered using Microsoft Word and WPS Writer to create and customize document charts.
This article discussed using built-in chart tools and options to insert, modify, format, and design a chart. You'll also pick out some strategies for improving your charts' visual appeal and readability. We've also shown how you may use WPS Office instead of Microsoft Office and how its features stack up against MS Office.
We also determined that WPS Writer provides superior and aesthetically pleasing chart designs. WPS Office also offers more chart options than other software. WPS Office's user-friendly interface also lets anyone operate and design charts without prior knowledge or formal tutorials.
