Three tips for getting started with Excel Charts

Posted on:  01/08/2021
Three tips for getting started with Excel Charts

Charts in Microsoft Excel are easy. This short video shows three tips for creating charts. I'll cover two keyboard shortcuts for making charts, using Recommend Charts, and creating charts using Quick Analysis.

Tip # 1 - Use Keyboard Shortcuts to create Charts

Windows Keyboard shortcuts

  • F11 to create a chart on a new worksheet
  • ALT + F1 to create a chart on the current worksheet

Mac Keyboard shortcuts

  • FN + F11 to create a chart on a new worksheet
  • FN + ⌥ + F1 to create a chart on the current worksheet

Note: If these shortcuts don't work on the Mac, you must turn off the conflicting Mission Control keyboard shortcut on your Mac by going to System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Mission Control and disabliging Show Desktop [F11].

YouTube Video on Three tips for getting started with Excel Charts

Tip # 2 - Use Recommend Charts

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Steps to use recommended charts

  1. Select the data to chart
  2. Click the insert tab
  3. Click Recommended Charts - screenshot above
  4. Select a chart to preview the chart
  5. Click OK

 

Tip # 3 - Use Quick Analysis to create a Chart

Steps to use Quick Analysis

  1. Select the data to chart
  2. Click the Quick Analysis icon
  3. Click Charts - screenshot above
  4. Mouse over the charts to preview
  5. Click a chart to add to the worksheet
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Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. Chris runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Copilot, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events yearly, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite Conference, the University of Georgia, and CPA conferences. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://chrismenardtraining.com/linkedin or watch his videos on YouTube at https://chrismenardtraining.com/youtube.

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