Graphical representations of data can help business owners and employees visualize complex concepts, trends, and relationships in ways that words alone cannot. This can make it easier to identify opportunities and problems and to develop solutions. Graphical representations can take many different forms, such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and maps. They can be used to illustrate data that is time-based, such as sales over time or stock prices over days, weeks, or months. They can also be used to compare data between different groups or organizations, or to show the relationships between different factors.
An area chart is a graphical representation of data that shows how much of a given category is represented by different values. The height of the shapes on an area chart represents the value for that category, while the width of the shapes represents the proportion of that value to the total. Area charts can be used to compare values between different categories or to track changes in data over time, making them perfect for data analysis. However, area charts can be tricky to read if they’re not used correctly. In this article, we’ll show you how to use an area chart effectively. Keep reading to learn more!
Create and customize area charts.
As mentioned before, an area chart is a graph that shows how two or more related variables change over time. It can be used to compare values, track trends, or show changes in data. To adjust the appearance of your area chart, you can choose from a variety of colors and styles. You can also add labels, change the axis scale, and add trend lines.
Excel provides several types of area charts, which you can create and customize using the following steps:
- Open a new worksheet and enter the data that you want to graph. For this example, we’ll use quarterly sales data for a fictitious company.
- Select the data range and then click on the Insert tab, then Charts group, then Area Chart button. Excel will automatically create an area chart based on your data.
- If you don’t like the default settings, you can customize the chart by clicking on it to select it and then making changes in the Format Cells dialog box (Formatting Options tab). For example, you can change the fill color, border color, and line style for each segment of the chart.
- To move or resize the chart, drag its borders or corners with your mouse pointer. You can also change its position on the worksheet by dragging it to a new location. Once you understand just how area charts work, your business will be able to reach new heights.
Export and share your area chart.
To export and share your area chart, follow these helpful steps:
- Click on the “Share” button in the upper right corner of your area chart. This will open a sharing dialog box.
- Select the service you want to share your area chart with from the “Share With” dropdown menu. Options include Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, email, and embedding code (for embedding into a website).
- Enter any additional information you want to include in the message box below the sharing options, then click “Share.” Your area chart will be sent as an image file to the chosen service or embedded on a web page according to the code you entered.
Overall, area charts are effective ways to display how a value changes over time or how different values compare to one another. The way they are used to compare values between two or more data sets is integral for any business to function smoothly. Additionally, it’s an easy-to-use data management strategy because it is always clear which data sets have the highest or lowest values. This type of visualization is a better option for any business trying to be successful in the digital age.