The following list contains the definitions of basic terms used in
charting in Microsoft Excel.
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Autoformat
Similar to a template or style, an autoformat can change the entire look of the chart but does not affect your data. Autoformats can be custom (user-defined) or built in.
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Category Name
An individual label on the x axis, also known a tick-mark label.
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Chart Area
The entire chart; contains all of the data series, axes, titles, and
legends.
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Chart Sheet
A separate sheet in the workbook devoted solely to the chart.
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Chart Title
The title or name of the chart, usually identifying what the data depicts, and most often found at the top-center of the chart area.
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Chart Type Group
One or more data series of the same type plotted to the same value (y) axis, and listed at the bottom of the
Format menu as
Column Group,
Line Group,
Area Group,
Area Group 2, and so on.
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Chart Wizard
A series of dialog boxes that simplifies creation of a chart into a step-by-step process that verifies the data selection, shows possible chart
types to be used, and gives options for additional items such as titles and
legends.
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Data Label
The value or name assigned to individual data points. Its display on the chart is optional.
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Data Points
Values from cells on worksheets, displayed as bars, lines, columns, pie slices, or other shapes on a chart.
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Data Series
A group of data points, such as the entire line on a chart.
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Drop Lines
Vertical lines extending from the data point to the category (x) axis, which can be used on area and line charts. To set, click the appropriate chart type group on the
Format menu, and then click to select the check box on the
Options tab.
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Embedded Chart
A chart as an object on the worksheet, which can be printed in
association with other data or as a separate item. Best used when the data
needs to be shown in context of the worksheet data.
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Error Bars
Error bars graphically express potential errors relative to each data
marker in a series. Use error bars in charts to indicate the degree of
uncertainty (that is, the
plus or minus range) for the data plotted in a data series. You can add error bars to data series formatted as area, bar, column, line, and xy (scatter) chart groups. All five chart types show y error bars corresponding to the value axis. XY charts can also display x
error bars of the category axis.
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Explode
The action of pulling the pieces of a pie or doughnut chart away from each other; can be done to one or more slices.
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Gap Width
The value that controls the spaces between clusters of columns or bars; the
higher the gap width value, the larger the space between clusters of data
markers.
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Gridline
Lines across the plot area, allowing for easy reference back to the axes.
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High-Low Lines
The lines that connect the highest and lowest value for a category across all series. Can be used on a line chart. To set, select the appropriate chart type group from the
Format menu, and then click to select the check box on the
Options tab.
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Legend
A box that shows identifying names and symbols for each data series.
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Nonadjacent Selections
Also called discontiguous selections; data that is separated by other data
or blank rows or columns not to be used in the chart.
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Orientation
Refers to data to be charted, and particularly to whether it is in rows or columns.
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Overlap Value
The value that controls the overlap of data points within a cluster of columns or bars. The higher the overlap value, the greater the overlap between data markers.
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Plot Area
The part of the chart bound by the vertical and horizontal axes and their
opposing sides.
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Secondary Value Axis
An additional value axis that appears on the opposite side of the plot area
from the primary value axis. Used when plotting mixed types of data, such as quantity and price, where different scales are required.
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Series Lines
The lines between stacked columns that connect the top of each series
within the stack. Can be used on stacked bar charts. To set, click the
appropriate chart type group on the
Format menu, and then click to select the check box on the
Options tab.
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Subtype
Variation of a basic chart type.
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Tick-mark
Indicators on the axes used to mark off division of scale and/or category,
or to separate series groups on the x axis.
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Trendline
Trendlines graphically illustrate trends in data series. They are commonly used when charting problems of prediction, a process also called regression analysis.
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Up-down Bars
Bars that extend between the highest and lowest value for a category. Up
bars are white, and down bars are black. They can be used on a line chart.
To set, click the appropriate chart type group on the
Format menu, and then click to select the check box on the
Options tab. Gap width can be set for these bars.
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X-axis Title
Title or name of what the category (x) axis is showing -- for example, an explanation of labels.
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Y-axis Title
Title or name of what the value (y) axis is showing -- for example, an explanation of scale.
The following are set in the
Format 3-D View dialog box:
Elevation Height from which you view 3-D chart data.
Rotation The action of rotating the chart sideways.
Perspective The ratio of the width of the front to the back, or how
distant the rear data markers appear to be.
Corner(s) The points defined by the walls/floor in a 3-D chart plot
area. Can be use to adjust elevation, rotation, and
perspective.
To set the following, click the chart type group on the
Format menu, and then click the
Options tab:
Chart depth The shape of the chart base.
Gap depth The depth between 3-D columns.
Gap width The spacing between 3-D columns.
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