Insert Graphs and Charts into Your PowerPoint Presentations
Data representation makes presentation ideas more persuasive and comprehensive. PowerPoint offers several chart and graph types and various formatting features. There are several ways to add graphs and charts to your presentation.
To insert a graph or chart into an existing slide, from the INSERT menu select CHART.
The Formatting Palette offers another way of adding charts to slides. Under the CHANGE SLIDES heading, select the SLIDE LAYOUT tab. This opens a selection of slide layout templates, three of which provide space for charts.
Here you can select a TEXT/CHART, CHART/TEXT, or CHART slide.
Once you've made your selection, double-click the chart area (where it says DOUBLE-CLICK TO ADD CHART) to proceed.
PLEASE NOTE: When you insert a chart, PowerPoint launches a separate application called Microsoft Graph(shown on the right). It is in this application that you will modify your chart to look exactly as you please and also enter all the data in a spreadsheet-like environment. You can easily switch back and forth by clicking on the desired window.
Keep in mind, that while you have your chart opened in Microsoft Graph, it will appear 'greyed-out' in the PowerPoint window. When you are finished modifying your chart in Microsoft Graph, go to the POWERPOINT menu and select QUIT AND RETURN TO POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. Once you do that, your graph will appear normal in your PowerPoint presentation.
The next step is to choose what kind of chart will best represent your data. In Microsoft Graph, the CHART menu enables you to choose both the chart type and various chart options.
From the CHART menu, select CHART TYPE. In the CHART TYPE window you can choose from several different types of charts. Select the type of chart that best represents your data.
You can also switch between different chart types to see how your data looks when represented in alternative forms.
After choosing your chart type you can then modify information within the chart.
From the CHART menu, select CHART OPTIONS.
Here you can label your data, give your chart axes titles, and modify colors and styles.
Now that you have chosen a chart type and selected options, you are ready to enter your data.
Behind the chart window is a spreadsheet which looks much like those in Excel. Some spreadsheets vary depending on the type of chart you choose. The chart in this example is a bar graph sorted by vertical columns.
Remember that you can always go back and change your chart type to find exactly what you want.
You may also choose to import Excel spreadsheets and charts into your Power Point presentations.
When finished, select QUIT & RETURN TO PRESENTATION from the GRAPH menu to exit chart formatting.
Now your chart appears in your presentation.
Did you know that you can add a special flare to your chart by adding animation? Please continue to the next page to find out how!
Written by Francesca Cedor '01; Revised and updated for PowerPoint 2004 by Jordan McDonnell '08