Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Creating a Chart.
When you create a chart using Excel, the value within each cell that is being charted is converted to a datapoint, which is at the intersection of the X and Y axes for two-dimensional charts or the X, Y, and Z axes for three-dimensional charts. This datapoint can be expressed in any number of chart styles, including bars, columns, lines, and pie wedges.
Perhaps the most common method of creating a chart is to use the tools on the Insert tab of the ribbon, in this manner:
That's it; your chart is inserted in your worksheet and Excel adds some additional tabs to the ribbon. If you are using Excel 2007 or Excel 2010, it adds three tabs: Design, Layout, and Format. If you are using Excel 2013 or a later version, it adds only two new tabs: Design and Format. The additional tabs are available whenever you select the chart you just created. You can use the tools on the tabs to change the way your chart looks.
If you want to make a chart even quicker and you want to leave the details to Excel, all you need to do is perform step 1 and then press F11. After that, you can modify any specifics of the chart that you desire.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7928) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Creating a Chart.
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2018-03-03 13:28:36
Penny Edwards
Using the F11 key is a great way to get your chart quickly onto a new worksheet in the workbook. If you want to create the chart in the existing worksheet press Alt F1.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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