Page 222 - DCAP101_BASIC_COMPUTER_SKILLS

Unit 11: Operations of MS Excel

Notes
For the sake of consistency, we use the term chart throughout this
chapter to match PowerPoint’s interface—even though the application you
use to create charts is called Microsoft Graph. Essentially, chart and graph
are synonyms for any kind of graphical representation of numeric
information.

Before you start creating a chart using Microsoft Graph from within PowerPoint, you
should become familiar with chart terminology. Table 11.1 lists these terms and their
definitions.

The most powerful aspect of Excel is not the simple calculator abilities,
but rather the ability to take values from cells to be used in your
formulas.

Table 11.1 Chart Object Terminology

Term Definition

Axis A line that frames one side of the plot area. The two most
common axes are the value axis and the category axis.

Datasheet A grid that resembles a spreadsheet, in which you can enter
data for your chart.

Data label Text that describes a specific data marker or series of data
markers. This can be a numeric value, text, a percent, or a
combination of these items.
Data marker A value that represents a single cell or data point in a datasheet.

Data series The main categories of information in a chart—usually reflected
in a chart’s legend and in the first cell of each datasheet row
or column.

Data table A grid in the chart that lists the exact data in the datasheet.

Gridlines Lines that display across the category or value axes to
make a chart easier to read. By default, major gridlines
are in increments of 10 and minor gridlines in increments
of 2.
Legend A box that lists and color-codes all data series.

Trendline A line that forecasts future values based on current data.

Figure 11.1 shows some of these chart objects.

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