CREATE A CHART WITH ONE CLICK

Gotcha: If there are multiple templates in the folder, you have to hover over each template to see the template name. They are arranged alphabetically, so that might help.

Result: When you select data and press Alt+F1, you will get this chart instead of the clustered column chart.

Additional Details: You can share templates with others. When you click Manage Templates in the

Change Chart Type dialog, you will see the Templates folder. Templates are stored with a .crtx extension.

Save the template in the same folder on your co-workers computer.

Gotcha: the actual text of the chart title is not saved in the template. Microsoft says this is a privacy con- cern. Since templates can be shared, you might accidentally create a template with sensitive content and save that as a template.

MOVE A CHART

Problem: I created a chart and it is in the wrong place. How do I move it?

Strategy: Microsoft always draws the chart in the middle of the visible grid. If you just selected A1:E5000 for your chart data, there is a good chance the chart will be drawn down in row 4980. Cut and paste is the fastest way to get the chart some place.

In fact, I’ve ended up with charts at the bottom of the data so often, I can almost fix it with my eyes closed: 1. Select the data. Press Alt+F1. Realize the chart is in the wrong place.

2. The chart is already selected. Ctrl+x to cut.

3. Ctrl+Home to move to the top.

4. Select the cell where you want the top-left corner of the chart.

5. Ctrl+v to paste in A1. You can then use the mouse to drag the border of the chart to the right place.

Alternate Strategy: I usually end up at the bottom of the data because I am using Ctrl+Shift+Down Ar- row to select the data. If I could start using Ctrl+* instead, I would select the data and stay at the top of the worksheet. You could also use the old method and then press Ctrl+period twice or Ctrl+Backspace once to move to the top of the range.

Gotcha: There is a Move Chart icon. You really only need this when you want to create one of those an- tique full-screen chart sheets that were popularized by Lotus 1-2-3 in 1983. Some people like that these charts print on a full sheet of paper, so if you need to move the chart to its own sheet, use the Move Chart icon.

Figure 1066 Using New Sheet inserts a special chart sheet.

COPY A CHART DETACHED FROM THE DATA

Problem: I want to make a copy of the current chart, detached from the data. I have to chart 100 customers, and I want a quick way to move to the next customer, copy the chart, move to the next customer, copy the chart, and so on.

Strategy: There are two different ways to go. Both methods are covered here.

Is the chart perfectly formatted the way that you want it to be? Will you never have to be changed? If this is true, then you can very quickly copy the chart and paste as a picture.

If you need to be able to edit the colors used in the chart, add labels, and so on, then you will want to convert the series formula to values.

To convert a chart to a picture, use these steps: 1. Click on the chart.

2. Ctrl+C to copy

3. Click in a new location.

4. Press the Right-Click key (or Shift+F10). Type U.

Figure 1067 This key is to the right of the spacebar.

Gotcha: With the pictures, you can never use the chart tools to change the formatting of the chart. If you need to do that, use the following method.

1. Click on one series in the chart. Click on one of the columns, bar, or markers in the chart to select the series.

2. You will see a =SERIES formula in the formula bar.

3. Click in the formula bar and select the entire formula.

4

Figure 1068 Click on a data point to show the SERIES formula.

4. Press the F9 key to convert the formula to an array. 5. Press Enter.

Figure 1069 F9 converts the formula to values.

You now have a chart based on static values, but you can still use all the charting tools to format the chart.

Gotcha: If you have three series in the chart, you have to repeat steps 1 through 5 for each series in the chart.

Problem: I need to create 12 charts every month. It is a real pain to re-create these charts every month.

Strategy: You can easily add data to an existing chart.

The first method is to copy the data and paste it on the chart. Here’s how:

1. Type the new data for your chart adjacent to the old data. Be sure to add a heading. 2. Select the new data, including the heading.

3. Ctrl+C to copy the new data.

Figure 1070 Copy the new data.

4. Click on the chart.

5. Ctrl+V to paste. The new data is added to the existing chart.

Figure 1071 New data added.

The second method is to click the chart and find the blue outline around your data. You can drag one of the right handles to the right to add a new data point, drag the left handle to the right to remove a data point, or drag an edge to chart a different range.

Figure 1072 Drag the blue handle to add data

Additional Details: If you need to show a rolling six months, after adding July to the data, you can drag the blue handle from B5 to the right. You will remove January from the chart.