Most people think of rows and columns of data when they think of Excel. In fact, when many think of Excel, they think of Mark Twain’s saying “Lies, damned lies, and statistics.” As users of Excel charting, the authors want to make sure that your data doesn’t fall into the “damned lies” category. We want you to be able to tell the story from your data in ways that everyone can understand.
Excel 2007 Charts Made Easy is meant to change how you think about the data and the stories that data tells. In this book, we are going to help you learn not just how to make your charts, but also which charts to make.
The authors have drawn on their experience to create scenarios that you would find in the real world. Many of these scenarios are based on things the authors have encountered during their years of working with Excel. We have used these scenarios to help you determine which charts you will want to use with your data. But we know that the data alone won’t help you understand
Excel charts.
In order to truly understand how data fits into the different types of charts, we feel that you need to see the data and the charts built from it. So each chapter contains sample data and sample charts. You can find the actual Excel files on the web site associated with this book (www.mhprofessional.com). Use the sample files to help you learn more about how to make your charts amazing.
Excel 2007 Charts Made Easy is not made for you to read straight through, although you can. When you need to create a chart and aren’t quite sure which one will fit your data best, pick up this book and use it to help you figure out what chart to create. When you need to expand your understanding of something in the charting world, pick up this book. When you know that there is a way to change that little piece that doesn’t look right, pick up this book.
Our goal with this book is to help you become better at creating visual depictions of your data. People retain information better when they understand what they are looking at. Use the tips and ideas in this book to help people looking at your data better understand what you are showing them. There are several pieces you will find in each chapter of the book:
- Memo sidebars make your life with Excel easier. Some are warnings about things you should never do. Others provide a different way to look at what you are doing. Some even provide hints about how to make an unwieldy chart behave the way you want it to.
- The Easy Way sidebars point out alternative ways to do things. Like all applications, there are many ways to do anything. Where there is an easier way, or where there is a quicker way, we have tried to point that out to you. The long way is still included in the chapter so that you understand what is going on behind the scenes.
- Briefings are found in the early chapters to help you understand the language of charting. These notes are intended to guide you through the language of charting. Each briefing contains a labeled chart and the definitions for the terms used on that chart. If you see a term used in a chapter that isn’t clear to you, check the briefings earlier on in the book. Chances are the term is defined there.