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Line Chart in Microsoft Excel

Choosing the right chart for the data is important and there are several essential considerations to ensure; otherwise, there is a strong risk that the message may not reach the intended audience. 

It is also important to ensure that the chart is well organized and proportionate. Microsoft Excel offers a variety of graphic charts for data presentation, such as bar, line, pie, area, plot charts, etc. 

Line charts display a variety of raw data in a simple and effective way.

Line Charts are best to show trends over time (years, months, and days.  Also can be use when the order of categories is important & if there are many data points.

In Microsoft office you can get different type of line charts like stacked line charts (To illustrate how the elements of a whole change throughout time.), 100% stacked line (Use it when the percentage contribution of each item can be changed over time, or it can be used to show the percentage contribution to the total over time.) , line with markers (When there are only a few points, it can be taken into consideration), stacked line with markers (Uuse it when the components of a whole change over time.) , 100% stacked line with markers, and 3-D line. Using any of these can effectively liven up raw data.

A line chart uses points to represent data values. If the value is high, the point will be placed higher, and if the value is low, the point will be placed lower accordingly. Best for displaying multiple data points sequentially, a line chart is helpful for observing how data changes over time. 

Line charts are suitable for showing trends over time.

Sales Trend Over Time : This line chart shows the trend of beauty product sales over the course of a year. The x-axis represents months, and the y-axis represents the sales of beauty products in the data.

Beauty Item
Month-2024 Sales
January15000
February16500
March18000
April17000
May19000
June20500
July22000
August21000
September23000
October24500
November26000
December25000

Understand the Audience

 You should create charts according to your audience. If your audience is technical and likes more details, then they will definitely need a complex and detailed chart, but on the contrary, if the audience is general, then a simple chart is enough for them.

Additionally, comparisons between categories can also be seen using line charts.

Temperature
DayLos Angeles , CA, USATokyo, Japan
Monday20°23°
Tuesday18°24°
Wednesday17°28°
Thursday20°25°
Friday21°26°
Saturday22°22°
Sunday23°21°
Tips!

There are some essential tips to consider to keep line charts effective.

Axis Options: Make sure the axis details are clear and easy to read. Both the X-Axis and Y-Axis need to be concise and clear. Microsoft Excel offers a wide range of options for adjusting the axes for bounds, units, horizontal axis crosses, tick marks, labels, and numbers. There are also options for selecting colors (fill and line), effects, size, and properties. Within all of the options mentioned, there are more options.

If we examine only the line color option in depth, we will find the options of No Line, Solid Line, Gradient Line, and Automatic Line. Moreover, you can choose any color of the line as per your requirement. 

The chart title accurately reflects the nature of the data. In Microsoft Excel, you can format the chart title to suit your needs with the help of several options. For example, in the title options, you can adjust the color, effect, size, and properties. Moreover, you get sub-options for all of these.

Like the color option, you get more sub-options for the fill and border.

In the Fill option, you get No fill, Solid fill, Gradient fill, Picture or texture fill, Pattern fill, and Automatic. Similarly, for border, you get No fill, Solid fill, Gradient fill, Picture or texture fill, Pattern fill, and Automatic. Color, transparency, width, compound type, dash type, cap type, join type, begin arrow type, begin arrow size, end arrow type, and end arrow size. In the effect option, you get shadow, glow, soft edges, and 3-D format.

Moreover, you also have title text options, by using which you can edit text effects, text fill, and outline.

These are helpful to create a well-organized chart for your audience.

Color Selection:

Color selection requires a lot of care. Visually appealing color attracts everyone. Colors should be chosen strategically with your audience in mind. As for line charts, contrast between line color and background is crucial. Avoid use same color for multiple categories  lines that create confusing

Excel offers color options for almost every element of the chart, like you can select or change the color of the chart area, plot area, axis, title, label, table, bars, grid lines, etc., as per your wish.

Better to be aware

As line charts are used to show trends, it is important that the data be logical.Too little data may not show the trend clearly; on the other hand, too many data points may confuse the audience. Therefore, there is a need to examine the data and then select the appropriate chart for it. Please review below a example of ‘line chart – In Japan, the most purchased beauty products among women’.

The data must be error-free and reliable. Any sort of error can result in a large number of misleading perceptions.

This line chart containing data on ‘Japan’s maximum temperature extremes‘ is not suitable for the data below, as it fails to show a trend.

Location and dateMaximum temperatures°C
Yonago (28 Apr 2005)33.7
Saroma, Hokkaido (26 May 2019)39.5
Sanjō, Niigata (3 Sep 2020)40.4
Sanjō, Niigata (6 Oct 2018)36
Naze, Amami, Kagoshima (26 Mar 1999)30.4
Minami-Tori-shima (9 Jan 2021)29.7
Minami-Tori-shima (5 Dec 1952)31.6
Minami-Tori-shima (4 Nov 1953)34.2
Kumagaya (23 Jul 2018)41.1
Ishigaki, Okinawa (16 Feb 1898)29.1
Isesaki (25 Jun 2022) [2][3]40.2
Hamamatsu (17 Aug 2020)41.1

Data presentation has become very easy with the help of graphic charts. It is so impressive and has such an effective impact on people that we are seeing its use in many aspects. Due to its numerous benefits, its use has now become a necessity for decision makers to make accurate and timely decisions

Waheed Qaiser

Welcome to gracechoice.com.

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Waheed Qaiser

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