Understanding chart series
A series is a set of values plotted on a chart. In bar, line, and area charts, each row or column of data represents a series. In pie charts, each pie represents a single series, with each slice showing a data value for that series.
How charts are generated from data
Each series corresponds to a row or column of data.
- Bar, line, and area chart. The values in the first column (or row) are used for the x-axis. Each of the following columns (or rows) is a series.
- Pie chart. A single pie chart uses one column (or row) of data. The labels for the slices are the values in the first column. Extra data is ignored.
- Multiple pie charts. A separate pie chart is created from each column (or row), where each value is a slice.
Working with series
You can:
- Delete data series from a chart.
- Hide a series when it is not needed for your analysis.
- Stack the series.
- Overlap or increase the space between series for visibility and comparisons.
- Show the numeric value for each point in the series.
- Choose a different marker for a series
- Use different colors in a series.
- Add pictures to bars in a chart.
- Plot a series on a second y-axis.
- Change a series from one type to another, such as bars, to lines. The combination of bar, line, or area series is called a mixed chart.
Change the axis scale (min/max; intervals; tick marks)
Changing the appearance (colors, lines)
Changing the way the data is presented (mixed, stacked, overlap/space)
Annotate (labels)