Add & Format Charts

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Charts are an effective way of representing data. Long list of confusing numbers can instantly become trends which can be spotted when they are captured as charts. PowerPoint supports the addition and formatting of charts.

Given below are the steps to add a chart to PowerPoint.

Step 1 − Go to the Illustrations group under the Insert ribbon.

Step 2 − Click on the Chart option to open the Insert Chart dialog. You can choose the chart category and pick individual chart types from the list.

Step 3 − Select the chart type and click OK or double-click on the chart type to insert the chart in the slide.

Step 4 − Along with the chart, an Excel spreadsheet is also launched. This spreadsheet is the source for your chart. You can change the category names, series names and individual values to suit your needs.

As you edit the values and the table in Excel the chart gets modified accordingly.

The PowerPoint chart formatting features have been grouped under three ribbons: Design, Layout and Format. The sections below discuss the features under each ribbon. To access these ribbons you must select the chart first.

Chart Design Features

We will now understand the various chart design features in PowerPoint.

The table given below describes the various chart design features −

Feature	Sub Features	Description
Type	Change Chart Type	Changes the chart type retaining the same data.
	Save As Template	Saves current chart type as a template.
Data	Switch Row/Column	Transposes current excel data - this is enabled when you have the source data excel sheet open.
	Select Data	Changes the data range covered in the chart.
	Edit Data	Changes the chart source data.
	Refresh Data	Refreshes the chart to show the latest data.
Chart Layouts	Chart Layouts	Offers a list of predefined layouts which can be instantly applied to current chart with a single click.
Chart Styles	Chart Styles	Offers a list of predefined styles which can be instantly applied to current chart with a single click.

Chart Layout Features

We will now understand the various chart layout features in PowerPoint.

The following table describes the various chart layout features in PowerPoint.

Feature	Sub Features	Description
Current Selection	Drop down	Shows the currently selected chart element.
	Format Selection	Shows the selection format dialog to update the selection.
	Reset to Match Style	Discards all the chart customizations and matches the chart with the overall presentation theme.
Insert	Picture	Superimposes an image on top of the chart.
	Shape	Adds a shape to the slide.
	Text Box	Adds a text box to the slide.
Labels	Chart Title	Defines the visibility, position and style of the chart title.
	Axis Titles	Defines the visibility, position and style of the axis titles.
	Legend	Defines the visibility and position of the chart legend.
	Data Labels	Defines the visibility and position of the data labels.
	Data Table	Defines the visibility, position and format of the data table.
Axes	Axes	Defines the position and scale of axes.
	Gridlines	Defines the visibility and scale of axes.
Background	Plot Area	Toggles chart plot area - available only for 2D charts.
	Chart Wall	Toggles the chart wall - available only for 3D charts.
	Chart Floor	Toggles the chart floor - available only for 3D charts.
	3-D Rotation	Toggles the chart 3D rotation- available only for 3D charts.

Chart Format Features

We will now understand the various chart format features in PowerPoint.

The following table describes the various chart format features in PowerPoint.

Feature	Sub Features	Description
Current Selection	Drop down	Shows the currently selected chart element.
	Format Selection	Shows the selection format dialog to update the selection.
	Reset to Match Style	Discards all the chart customizations and matches the chart with the overall presentation theme.
Shape Styles	Shape Fill	Offers different shades to be added to selected chart series item. You can pick from solid shade, texture, image or gradient shading.
	Border	Offers different border options for selected chart series item. You can edit the border color, thickness and style.
	Effects	Offers the ability to add special effects to selected chart series item.
Word Art Styles	Text Fill	Allows you to change the color of the text within the chart.
	Text Outline	Allows you to add an outline to the text within the chart and change the outline color, weight and style.
	Text Effects	Allows you to add special effects (like reflection, shadow etc.) to the text within the chart.
	Quick Styles	Contains a list of pre-defined Word Art styles that can be applied to the selected text within the chart with a single click.
Arrange	Bring Forward	Allows you to move the chart up by one layer or right to the top.
	Send Backward	Allows you to move the chart down by one layer or right to the bottom of the slide.
	Selection Pane	Toggles the Selection and Visibility sidebar.
	Align	Allows you to align the entire chart with reference to the slide.
	Group	Allows you to group multiple charts as one group object, or split a group object into individual charts.
Size	Height	Allows you to adjust the chart height.
	Width	Allows you to adjust the chart width.