In business, computer spreadsheets containing data and statistics are a crucial resource that helps decision-makers guide the path of their companies. Unfortunately, the information in a spreadsheet can be overwhelming without a visual element to express the data. One visually pleasing way of presenting data is through the use of graphs. Spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel, offer a solution to quickly create graphs in minutes. One such graph is called a 3-D clustered column graph that gives the illusion of depth.
Step 1
Open Excel. Click the "Office" button.
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Step 2
Click "Open." Double-click the name of the spreadsheet on which you want to create a 3-D clustered column graph.
Step 3
Click the spreadsheet cell in which you want to place the chart.
Step 4
Click "Insert" and "Column." This will open a drop-down menu that gives you the option to choose the format of the column chart.
Step 5
Click "All Chart Types." This will open the "Insert Chart" pop-up window that will display the 19 available column graph options available.
Step 6
Click "3-D Clustered Column."
Step 7
Click "OK." A blank chart will appear in the cell you selected in Step 3. The menu at the top of the spreadsheet screen will automatically switch from the "Insert" to the "Design" tab.
Step 8
Click "Select Data" and "Add." This will open the "Edit Series" pop-up window.
Step 9
Click the blank text box listed under "Series name" to place the text cursor in the text box.
Step 10
Type a label for the first set of columns on your 3-D clustered column graph.
Step 11
Click the text box listed under "Series values." Delete the existing text, shown as "={1}."
Step 12
Find the range of cells on your spreadsheet that you want the first set of columns on your graph to represent. Highlight them. This will automatically add these cell locations to the "Series values" text box on the "Edit Series" pop-up window.
Step 13
Click "OK." This will return you to the "Select Data Source" pop-up window. The first set of 3-D columns on your graph will appear.
Step 14
Click "Add." Click the blank text box listed under "Series name" on the "Edit Series" pop-up window.
Step 15
Type a label for the second set of columns on your 3-D clustered column graph.
Step 16
Click the text box listed under "Series values" on the "Edit Series" pop-up window. Delete the existing text, shown as "={1}."
Step 17
Highlight the range of cells on your spreadsheet that you want the second set of columns to represent. This will automatically add these cell locations to the "Series values" text box on the "Edit Series" pop-up window.
Step 18
Click "OK." This will return you to the "Select Data Source" pop-up window. The second set of 3-D columns on your graph will appear.
Step 19
Repeat Steps 14 through 18 for each additional set of columns you want to add to the graph.
Step 20
Click "OK" on the "Select Data Source" pop-up window. This will return you to the spreadsheet screen and finalize your 3-D clustered column graph.
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