Microsoft Excel 
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CREATING A NEW CHART FROM SCRATCH 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Try This Yourself: 
Open 
File Before starting this 
exercise you MUST open 
the file E1317 
Charting_1.xlsx… 
 
Click in cell A3, hold down 
, then click in cell G7 
to select the range A3:G7 
Note that we have 
selected the data 
including headings but 
excluding the totalling… 
 
Click on the INSERT tab, 
then click on Insert 
Column Chart in the 
Charts group to see a 
gallery of Column chart 
types 
 
Under 2-D Column, click 
on Clustered Column  
The chart will be 
embedded in the 
worksheet. The chart will 
be active (selected) and 
you’ll see additional tabs 
on the ribbon for working 
with the chart… 
 
Point to the chart, then 
click to select it and drag 
the chart so that it is 
underneath the data, as 
shown 
 
Click in cell A1 to deselect 
the chart 
 
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For Your Reference… 
To create a chart from scratch: 
1. Select the range to chart 
2. Click on the INSERT tab, then click on the 
appropriate Insert command in the Charts 
group 
3. Click on the desired chart type 
The easiest way to create a chart is by using the 
Recommended Chart feature. However, you 
can create a chart yourself from scratch using 
INSERT tab of the ribbon. This may be faster if you 
have a specific style of chart in mind. 
Handy to Know… 
 When a chart gallery appears after you’ve 
used the Insert chart command, you can 
point over each image in the gallery to see a 
Live Preview of the chart in the worksheet. 
This will help you to select the right chart for 
your needs. 
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