Understanding chart types

Different chart types convey different messages. To emphasize your message, choose the best chart type for the purpose. See Designing effective charts.



Working with chart types

You can easily change from one chart type to another.



Area charts

Area charts track data over time. You see broad trends, rather than focusing on individual data points.



Bar charts

Bar charts also present data over a period of time, with an emphasis on individual data points.



Line charts

Line charts are a good choice when you have a lot of data points. Here, the slop of the line indicates a general trend.



Pie charts

Pie charts show the relationship of a part to the whole.



Mixed charts

In one chart you can specify a combination of line, bar, or area.



Radar charts