How to Create a Chart from a PivotTable

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How to Create a Chart from a PivotTable
How to Create a Chart from a PivotTable
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Charts are used to provide a graphical representation of a concept. Pivot charts created in Microsoft Excel can be more useful than traditional ones, because they are easier to manipulate to show different information and summaries. Learning how to create a pivot chart may not be easy and you will need to make some decisions before you begin. Here's how to create a chart from a pivot table, step by step, so you can take advantage of this useful tool.

Steps

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 1
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 1

Step 1. Open the Microsoft Excel application

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 2
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 2

Step 2. Browse your folders and open the file that contains the pivot table and the source data from which you want to create a chart

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 3
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 3

Step 3. Decide which topic you want to represent with your pivot chart

  • This decision will determine how the chart is created.
  • The style of the chart and the columns you use will depend on the conclusions you want to draw from it. For example, a bar chart is useful for representing data under various conditions, such as sales by region, while a pie chart can be used to show percentages or parts of a whole.
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 4
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 4

Step 4. Find and open the PivotChart Wizard

  • In Excel 2003, you will find that item in the "Data" menu.
  • In Excel 2007 and 2010, you will find it on the "Insert" tab.
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 5
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 5

Step 5. Set the range for your pivot chart

It should be the same one you used for its pivot table.

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 6
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 6

Step 6. Drag a column label that represents the "x" axis of the chart and drop it in the "Axes Field" section of the PivotTable Field List

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 7
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 7

Step 7. Choose a column label that contains the data you want to display along the "x" axis and drag it to the "Values" section of the PivotTable Field List

For example, if your data source is a sales worksheet by product and customer name, you can choose to drag either the customer name or the product name into the "Axis Fields" section. You would drag the sales quantity label into the "Values" section

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 8
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 8

Step 8. Change the chart type by right clicking on the chart background and selecting "Change Chart Type" from the context menu

Try a few different types of graphs until you find the type that best represents the data you want to show

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 9
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 9

Step 9. Add data labels, axis titles and other information to your chart by right clicking on the relevant section of the chart and selecting options from the menu

Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 10
Create a Chart from a Pivot Table Step 10

Step 10. Move your pivot chart to your preferred location in the excel file

You can place it in a corner of the sheet that contains the source data, on the same tab as the pivot table, or on a separate tab

Advice

  • Your PivotChart will be created from the source data provided to the PivotTable, and not from the PivotTable itself. Remember that changes to the data must take place at the origin of the same.
  • The less confusing your pivot chart is, the more effective it will be. Consider creating multiple different charts to represent individual concepts.

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