Chapter 4. Charts, Graphs and Drawn Objects
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Chapter 4. Charts, Graphs and Drawn Objects

Using Charts/Graphs

Abstract

Input data to create, modify different kinds of built-in charts/graphs in a slide: column, bar, line, pie

Create a column chart

Suppose we wished to show how the number of visitors to the Andromeda Science Centre has grown over a period of time. The following table shows the data we wish to present.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

9210

9807

11219

9174

14792

17148

  1. Open the Andromeda presentation.

  2. Insert a new slide at the end. Give the slide the name Visitors and use the Title, Chart layout.

  3. Click OK.

  4. Add the title Growth of Visitors to the Centre.

  5. Change the colour of the title to blue.

  6. Double click on the Chart icon displayed on the chart.

  7. Double click on the chart.

  8. Right click to display a context menu and select Chart data.

The first four icons on the chart are add row, add column, delete row and delete column.

Modify the table so that it contains seven columns and two rows. Then add the data shown on the next screen.

  1. Click the close icon on the chart.

  2. Click Yes to apply the changes.

    This will insert a chart based on the data into the slide.

  1. Double click on the Main title and delete the contents.

  2. Resize the chart by double clicking on it and dragging the handles on the borders.

You may modify the chart. For example, we can change the scale of the Y-axis so that fewer horizontal grid lines are displayed.

  1. Double click on the chart to select it.

  2. Right click to display a context menu.

  3. Select Axis then Y axis.

  4. Click on the Scale tab.

  5. Uncheck Automatic for the Major interval.

  6. Change the Major interval to 1500.

  7. Click the Font Effects tab.

  8. Change the font colour of the Y axis to blue.

  9. Click the Characters tab.

  10. Change the font to 12pt bold.

  11. Click OK.

[Note] Note

You may add a chart to an existing slide as follows with Insert->Chart. This will insert a chart which can be moved or resized. The creation of the chart follows the same steps that were outlined above.

Modify chart data

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Right click to display the context menu.

  3. Select Chart data.

  4. Modify the data for Apr.

  5. Click Close and accept the changes.

  6. Click outside the chart to deselect it.

  7. File->Save

Modify column

You can modify the data series, ie columns, to change the fill colour and the outline colour.

  1. Double-click on the column you want to change.

  2. A dialog box will appear with tabs to allow you to change the border, area or transparency of the column.

Create a pie chart

  1. Click on the Visitors slide.

  2. Insert->Slide.

  3. Select the Title, Chart layout, give the slide the name Ratios, click OK.

  4. In the Title text box type the words Ratios of types of exhibits.

  5. Double click on the chart icon, then right click and select Chart data.

  6. Complete the data spreadsheet as shown on the next screen. For a pie chart you must insert the data in a column, not a row.

    Close and accept the changes.

  7. Format->Chart type.

  8. Select Pie chart (Pies) and click OK.

  9. Click outside the chart.

Add labels to a pie chart

  1. Double click the chart to select it.

  2. Double click on a segment the pie chart itself.

  3. Click the Data labels tab.

    The screen illustrates one way of adding labels.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Repeat this process for the other segments.

  6. Click on the Legend and press Del.

  7. Click outside the chart.

  8. File->Save.

[Note] Note

Using the same dialogue, you could have changed the font size, style and colour of the pie segment labels.

[Note] Note

You can use the same method to add data labels to any of the other types of charts.

Change the background colour in the chart/graph

Change the colour of the chart area

  1. Open the Andromeda presentation.

  2. Go to the Visitors slide.

  3. Double click on the chart.

  4. Format->Chart area.

  5. Click the Area tab.

  6. Click the Color radio button.

  7. Select a colour.

  8. Click OK. The background colour of the chart area will change.

You could use the same method to insert a Gradient, Hatching or Bitmap background.

Change the colour of the chart wall

The chart wall is the inner area of the chart. It excludes the chart area containing the legend, x and y axis titles and the title. When you change the colour of the chart area, Impress assigns the same colour to the chart wall. You may, however, give the chart wall a different colour.

  1. Double click on the chart to select it.

  2. Format->Chart wall.

  3. A similar dialogue to the Chart area dialogue will be displayed.

  4. Click the Area tab.

  5. Select a colour and Click OK.

  6. Click outside the chart.

  7. File->Save

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

Change default colours in charts

  1. Tools->Options

  2. Expand Chart and click Default colors.

  3. Make changes as desired and Click OK.

    The changes will apply to all future charts you create.

Change the colour of an individual bar or pie segment

The method described for changing the colour of a single bar of a chart can also be applied to changing the colour of a segment of a pie chart.

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Double click on the bar whose colour you wish to change.

  3. Click the Area tab.

  4. Click the Color radio button.

  5. Select a colour and Click OK.

Change the chart/graph type

Change chart type

  1. Double click on the chart.

  2. Format->Chart type.

  3. Select a Chart type and Variant.

  4. Click OK.

    The chart will be converted to the type selected.

  5. Double click outside the chart to deselect it.

  6. File->Save

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