Are you looking for an easy way to visualize your data in Excel? A pivot chart might be just what you need. Pivot charts can help you transform and summarize your data in just a few clicks, giving you valuable insights into your information.

Creating a pivot chart in Excel is relatively simple and requires no special tools or technical knowledge. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a pivot chart, including how to set up your data, select the best chart type, and customize your chart to make it look professional. So, let’s get started!

1. What is a Pivot Chart?

A Pivot Chart is a graphical representation of your data that is created and manipulated using a Pivot Table. The Pivot Table summarizes, organizes, and condenses your data, while the Pivot Chart displays a visual representation of the summarized data. With a Pivot Chart, you can easily analyze, compare, and track trends in your data.

2. Creating a Pivot Chart in Excel

To create a Pivot Chart in Excel, you first need to have a Pivot Table. Once you have your Pivot Table set up, click on any cell within the table, and then click on the “Insert” tab in the ribbon. From there, select “PivotChart” from the “Charts” section.

3. Choosing the Type of Pivot Chart

After you have selected “PivotChart”, you will be able to choose from a variety of different chart types, such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and more. Select the chart that best suits your needs and click “OK”.

4. Formatting Your Pivot Chart

Once you have created your Pivot Chart, you can start formatting it to suit your needs. You can change the chart type, add titles, adjust colors, and more. To format your chart, click on it, and then use the “Chart Tools” tab in the ribbon.

5. Adding Data to Your Pivot Chart

To add data to your Pivot Chart, you can simply drag and drop fields from the Pivot Table onto the chart. For example, you could drag the “Sales Rep” field to the “Legend” area of the chart to see how each sales rep is performing.

6. Filtering Your Pivot Chart

You can also filter your Pivot Chart to focus on specific data. For example, you could filter your chart to only show data for the current quarter. To filter your chart, click on it, and then use the “Filter” button in the “Chart Tools” tab.

7. Slicing Your Pivot Chart

Slicing is another powerful tool that you can use with your Pivot Chart. Slicing allows you to “slice” your data by a specific field. For example, you could slice your chart by product category to see the performance of each category.

8. Grouping Your Pivot Chart

Grouping is another way to organize and analyze your data in a Pivot Chart. Grouping allows you to group items together by a specific field. For example, you could group your chart by month to see how your data changes over time.

9. Updating Your Pivot Chart

If you make changes to your Pivot Table, your Pivot Chart will automatically update to reflect those changes. However, if you want to update your chart manually, you can do so by clicking on it, and then clicking “Refresh” in the “Data” section of the “Chart Tools” tab.

10. Conclusion

In conclusion, Pivot Charts are a powerful tool that can help you analyze, compare, and track trends in your data. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to create, format, and manipulate your Pivot Chart with ease. With a little bit of practice, you will be able to use Pivot Charts to gain valuable insights into your data that can help you make informed decisions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Pivot Chart in Excel

Pivot charts are an essential tool to present your data in a visually appealing way. By creating a pivot chart, you can analyze and compare large sets of data, identify trends and patterns, and make informed decisions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a pivot chart in Excel.

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Before you create a pivot chart, it’s important to ensure that your data is in the right format. Make sure that your data is organized into rows and columns, and that there are no empty cells in the data. You should also remove any unnecessary spaces, and ensure that your data is consistent throughout.

Step 2: Select Your Data

To create a pivot chart, you need to select the data you want to include. Click and drag your mouse over the cells containing the data you want to include, ensuring that you include all the necessary columns.

Step 3: Create a Pivot Table

Once you have selected your data, you need to create a pivot table. To create a pivot table, click on the “Insert” tab on the ribbon at the top of Excel, and select “PivotTable”. A new dialog box will open, and you can choose where to place your pivot table.

Step 4: Choose Your Fields

After creating your pivot table, a new “PivotTable Fields” pane will appear on the right side of your screen. From this pane, you can select the fields you want to include in your chart, such as “Row Labels,” “Column Labels,” and “Values.”

Step 5: Drag and Drop Fields

Once you have selected your fields, you can drag and drop them into the relevant fields in the “PivotTable Fields” pane. For example, you may want to drag your data to the “Values” field, which will allow you to analyze and compare your data based on different values.

Step 6: Edit Your Data

If necessary, you can edit your data by clicking on the drop-down menu next to each field in the “PivotTable Fields” pane. For example, you may want to group your data by months or years, or you may want to apply a specific calculation.

Step 7: Create Your Pivot Chart

To create your pivot chart, select the “Insert” tab on the ribbon, and click on “PivotChart.” This will open a new dialog box, where you can choose the type of chart you want to create, such as a column chart, line chart, or pie chart.

Step 8: Customize Your Chart

Once you have created your pivot chart, you can customize it by clicking on the chart and selecting the “Layout,” “Format,” and “Design” tabs on the ribbon. From here, you can change the colors, fonts, chart type, and other chart elements.

Step 9: Refresh Your Data

If you update your data, you may need to refresh your pivot chart to reflect the changes. To do this, simply right-click on the chart and select “Refresh.”

Step 10: Save Your Work

Finally, it’s important to save your work by clicking on the “File” tab on the ribbon and selecting “Save” or “Save As.” This will ensure that you don’t lose any of your data or charts, and that you can access them again in the future.

In conclusion, creating a pivot chart in Excel is a powerful way to analyze, compare, and present your data. By following these simple steps, you can create professional-looking charts that are easy to understand and make informed decisions based on your data.

Creating a Pivot Chart in Excel

After creating a pivot table, the next step is to create a pivot chart in Excel. A pivot chart is a graphical representation of data in a pivot table. It provides a visual summary of the data, which makes it easier to understand and analyze. In this section, we’ll discuss how to create a pivot chart in Excel, step-by-step.

Step 1: Select the Pivot Table

To create a pivot chart, you need to have a pivot table already in place. So, the first step is to select the pivot table that you want to create a pivot chart from.

Step 2: Go to the Insert Tab

With the pivot table selected, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. This is where you’ll find the option to create a pivot chart.

Step 3: Choose a Chart Type

Click on any of the chart types you want to use. Excel offers a variety of chart types, including column, bar, line, pie, and more. The available chart types will depend on the data in your pivot table. Choose the chart type that will represent your data most effectively.

Step 4: Customize the Chart

Once you’ve selected a chart type, Excel will create a default chart for you based on the data in your pivot table. You can then start customizing the chart by changing the chart layout, adding or removing chart elements, and formatting the chart.

Step 5: Move or Resize the Chart

Finally, you can move or resize the chart as needed. You can also save the chart as a separate file or copy and paste it into other documents.

With these five simple steps, you can quickly create a pivot chart in Excel. Pivot charts are an essential tool for data analysis, and they can be used to present complex data in a simplified, easy-to-understand format. So, the next time you need to analyze large amounts of data in Excel, remember to create a pivot chart for a more visually appealing and organized representation.

Chart Type Pros Cons
Column Chart Best for comparing data over time or for comparing data with distinct categories Can become cluttered if there are too many columns or data points
Bar Chart Best for comparing data with long category names or for showing data in descending order May not be as intuitive for some readers
Line Chart Best for showing trends over time or for showing continuous data May not be suitable for categorical data
Pie Chart Best for showing proportions or percentages of a whole Can be difficult to read and compare data points
Area Chart Best for showing trends over time, especially for analyzing overlap between data sets Can be difficult to read if there are too many data points

Wrapping It Up

Well folks, that’s about it for making pivot charts in Excel. Hopefully, this article helped you understand the basics of creating pivot charts and how to make them work for your data. Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering this skill, so don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different things. Thanks for taking the time to read this article and we hope to see you again soon for more Excel tips and tricks!