11. Generating Excel Charts

PICTURE YOURSELF TURNING YOUR text-and-number-filled worksheet into a chart, an easily understood graphical representation of your data. Charts turn tons of boring or potentially confusing data into a picture, a snapshot of the information that makes a statement. Sales are up? No need to wade through lots of other numbers to see that if the bar or column is taller than the one for last month or last quarter. Survey responses look good for your candidate? You can tell right away by looking at the Pie chart, and seeing that “Strongly Agree” was the most frequent answer, and shown by that slice being the biggest in the pie. Although charts aren’t always appropriate—or even possible, depending on your data—they can make the difference between data that only those who entered it understand and data that anyone can grasp and make quick, effective use of.