How to Make a Graph in Excel in Windows 7

In Windows 7 and other operating systems, Microsoft Excel 2010 gives you the ability to add a graph or chart to a spreadsheet. With a graph, Excel gives you a visual representation of numerical data, making interpretation of the data simpler. Use the Charts function in Excel to create charts such as line or bar graphs and pie charts using 2-D and 3-D graphics.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Launch Excel 2010. Click the green "File" tab in the upper-left corner of the screen, select "Open" and then double-click the spreadsheet to which you want to add a graph.
   • 2
     Click and drag with the mouse pointer to highlight the data that you want to create a graph from. To highlight entire columns, click and drag the mouse pointer across the letters at the the top of the window. The highlighted cells turn blue.
   • 3
     Click the "Insert" tab at the top of the window, and then click a button in the "Charts" section of the toolbar to indicate the type of graph that you want to create, such as "Line" or "Pie." When you click a button, a menu appears allowing you to select the visual style of the graph, such as "2-D Line" or "3-D Line."
   • 4
     Click one of the buttons to select a visual style. The graph appears on the spreadsheet.
   • 5
     Hover the mouse pointer over the graph until the pointer turns into a four-pointed arrow. Click and drag to move the graph within the spreadsheet.
   • 6
     Hover the mouse pointer over the graph until the pointer turns into a two-pointed arrow. Click and drag to change the size of the graph.