Creating a Chart

Apache OpenOffice 4.1 Calc Guide

Chapter 3: Creating Charts and Graphs

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• Introduction
• Creating a Chart
  • Choosing a Chart Type
  • Changing Data Ranges and Axes Labels
  • Selecting Data series
  • Adding or Changing Titles, Legend, and Grids
• Editing Charts
  • Changing the Chart Type
  • Adding or Removing Chart Elements
    • Data Labels
    • Trend Lines
    • Mean Value Lines
    • Y Error Bars
• Formatting Charts
  • Moving Chart Elements
  • Changing the Chart Area Background
  • Changing the Chart Graphic Background
  • Changing Colors
• Formatting 3D Charts
  • Rotation and Perspective
  • Appearance
  • Illumination
  • Rotating 3D Charts Interactively
• Formatting the Chart Elements
  • Formatting Axes and Inserting Grids
  • Formatting Data Labels
  • Hierarchical Axis Labels
  • Choosing and Formatting Symbols
• Adding Drawing Objects to Charts
• Resizing and Moving the Chart
  • Using the Position and Size Dialog
• Gallery of Chart Types
  • Column Charts
  • Bar Charts
  • Pie Charts
  • Donut Charts
  • Area Charts
  • Line Charts
  • Scatter or XY Charts
  • Bubble Charts
  • Net Charts
  • Stock Charts
  • Column and Line Charts

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Creating a Chart

Figure 64: Table of data for charting examples

To create a chart, first highlight (select) the data to be included in the chart. The selection does not need to be in a single block, as shown in Figure 65; you can also choose individual cells or groups of cells (columns or rows). See Chapter 1 (Introducing Calc) for more information about selecting cells and ranges of cells.

Figure 65: Selecting data for plotting

Next, open the Chart Wizard dialog using one of two methods.

• Choose Insert → Chart from the menu bar.
• Or, click the Chart icon on the main toolbar.

Figure 66: Insert chart from main toolbar

Either method inserts a sample chart on the worksheet, opens the Formatting toolbar, and opens the Chart Wizard, as shown in Figure 67.

Before choosing the Chart Wizard, place the cursor anywhere in the area of the data. The Chart Wizard will then do a fairly good job of guessing the range of the data. If the Chart Wizard struggles to select the data you want, select the cells manually before starting the Chart Wizard.

Figure 67: Chart Wizard, Step 1—Choose a chart type