Chapter 6. Charts
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Chapter 6. Charts

Using Charts and Graphs

Abstract

Create different types of charts/graphs from spreadsheet data: column chart, bar chart, line chart, pie chart

Charts and graphs provide us with a more visual representation of one or more sets of numbers, making the interpretation of these numbers simpler and more intuitive.

The following screen shows some data that we wish to represent graphically.

We start with the data in row 4. In creating the chart we will make use of the fact that the names of the months are in row 3.

  1. Select B3:G4

  2. Insert->Chart

  3. Make sure First row as label has been checked.

  4. If you wish to insert the chart into a different worksheet, select the worksheet in the Chart result in worksheet window.

  5. Click Next.

    [Note] Note

    If you click the Create button, Calc will make a series of choices for you. This is not a good idea since these may not be what you had in mind.

  6. Select the appropriate chart type. In this case we have selected column.

  7. Make sure the Rows radio button is checked. (If the data had been organised in a column, we would have needed to check the Columns radio button).

  8. Click Next.

  9. Select the variant of the basic chart type. In this case we have selected normal.

  10. If you wish to select gridlines, check the X axis and Y axis check boxes.

  11. Click Next.

  12. Fill in appropriate title for the chart and for the X and Y axis as shown on the following screen.

  13. Click Create.

  14. Drag the chart to the position you desire.

In the above example, we created a column chart. We could have created a number of other charts in the same way by making the appropriate choice in the Choose chart type window. Other common chart types are line, pie and bar. These are illustrated below.

Line chart

Pie chart

Bar chart

3D Pie chart

Creating graphs with more than one data series

In the previous example, only a single data range (the rainfall) was displayed. We can display more than one data range.

The only change we really need make is to select the data labels and data when we start. In the example above:

  1. Select B3:G5

  2. Insert->Chart

  3. Follow the process through as before.

Add / Remove a title, label to the chart/graph

The previous example illustrated how to add titles and labels to graphs during the creation process.

Suppose a graph had been created without labels and titles as shown in the following screen.

There are no labels or title on this chart. The processing of adding them is quite simple.

  1. Double click on the chart. A thick grey border will appear round the chart.

  2. Insert->Title

  3. Make sure the Main title, X axis and Y axis check boxes are ticked and add appropriate text as shown in the screen above.

  4. Click OK.

The result is shown on the following screen.

To remove labels and titles

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Insert->Title

  3. Uncheck the labels and / or titles check boxes.

To change labels and titles

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Insert->Title

  3. Edit the contents of the labels and titles.

    If you delete the contents of the labels or titles this will also have the effect of removing them.

To add x axis labels

As you will notice from the chart, the x-axis labels indicate the column of the data. What we would like is for the months to be displayed. These are indicated in row 3. The reason the graph in this example did not contain the x axis labels is as a result of only the data row being selected when creating the graph.

To add x axis labels:

  1. Single click on the chart.

  2. Right click on the chart to display a context sensitive menu.

  3. Select Modify data range.

  4. Tick the First row as label check box.

  5. Select two rows of data – the x axis labels and the data itself.

    The range in the Modify chart data range dialogue will change accordingly.

    [Note] Note

    In setting up data for creating graphs, it is important that the data labels are in the row above the data.

  6. Click Create.

There are some further related actions that can be carried out using this method.

To change the gridlines

In the above example, only horizontal gridlines are displayed. This can be changed as follows:

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Insert->Grids ...

  3. Edit the check boxes as desired.

To show the value of data

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Insert->Data labels ...

Change the background colour in a chart/graph

By default, there is no background colour to the chart. To add colour to or change the background colour of a chart:

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Right click on the chart.

  3. Select Chart area.

  4. Click the Area tab.

  5. Select the colour for the background background.

  6. Click OK.

Change the column, bar, line, pie slice colours in the chart/graph

When we create a line, bar or column chart, Calc assigns default colours to the different data series. It also applies default colours to the different segments of a pie chart. These default colours can be changed as follows:

  1. Tools->Options

  2. Expand Chart.

  3. Select Default colours.

  4. Select the data series you wish to change.

  5. Select the desired colour from the palette.

  6. Click OK.

    The new colours will apply to future charts you create.

To change the colours of an existing chart

  1. Double click on the chart. This will display a thick grey border around the chart.

  2. Double click on the data series or pie segment whose colour you wish to change.

  3. Click on the Area tab.

  4. Select the new colour.

  5. Click OK.

Change the chart/graph type

Once a chart has been created it can be changed to another type of chart quite simply as follows:

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Right click on the chart to display a context sensitive menu.

  3. Select Chart type.

  4. Select Chart type and Variant.

  5. Select 2D or 3D.

  6. Click OK.

Duplicate, move charts/graphs within a worksheet, between open spreadsheets

Charts can be copied and moved just like any other object.

Moving a chart within a worksheet by dragging

  1. Position the cursor over the chart.

  2. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the chart to its new position.

  3. Release the left mouse button.

Moving / duplicating a chart within a worksheet using cut / copy and paste

  1. Click on the chart.

  2. To move: Edit->Cut OR To duplicate: Edit->Copy.

  3. Select a target cell.

  4. Edit->Paste.

Moving / duplicating a chart between worksheets within a spreadsheet

  1. Click on the chart.

  2. To Move: Edit->Cut OR To duplicate: Edit->Copy.

  3. Click on the tab of the target worksheet.

  4. Select a target cell in the worksheet.

  5. Edit->Paste.

Moving / duplicating a chart between open spreadsheets

  1. Click on the chart.

  2. To Move: Edit->Cut OR To duplicate: Edit->Copy.

  3. Click on the Window item in the menu bar and select the desired spreadsheet.

  4. Click on the tab of the target worksheet in the new spreadsheet.

  5. Select a target cell in the worksheet.

  6. Edit->Paste.

Resize, delete charts/graphs

Deleting a chart

  1. Click on the chart.

  2. Press the Del key.

Resizing a chart

  1. Click on the chart.

  2. Position the cursor over any of the eight handles.

  3. Drag the handle by holding down the left mouse button and moving the cursor.

  4. Release the left mouse button when the desired size has been achieved.

    A resizing symbol will appear. The side handles allow you to resize the chart horizontally and the top and bottom handles vertically. Using these will cause the chart to appear flatter or longer.

    The corner handles allow you to resize the chart either horizontally or vertically. By dragging these diagonally, you are able to resize a chart and keep its scaling.

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