The ideal solution for visualizing data in a table is, of course, a histogram. The type of such a diagram is capable of conveying to the ordinary user the basic essence of all the values without even having familiarized themselves with them.
The article will parse the histogram in Excel. How to make it, you will learn after reading the article. In addition, all the nuances that arise during the construction process will be considered. You will also be introduced to four different options that show how the histogram is built in Excel.
Options for building a histogram in Excel
The most popular table editor offers the following options for building a histogram:
- simple histogram;
- stacked histogram;
- using analysis package;
- with conditional cell formatting.
It is immediately worth noting that all of the above options can be performed as a separate object in the table or be part of it. Well, now let's move on to examining how a histogram is built in Excel.
Method 1: Simple Bar Chart
A simple histogram in Excel is more commonly used. Its construction does not take much time, and the process itself does not require in-depth knowledge of the program.
Initially, it will be necessary to select in the table those data that will be used in the schedule in the future. After that, go to the "Insert" tab and click on the "Charts" button. A submenu will open with all available types of diagrams. In our case, you need to click on the "Histogram" tab and select its type in the drop-down menu. It is worth noting that in each row simple histograms go first, after them histograms with accumulation are already located.
So, as soon as you click on the chart you like, the chart itself will be displayed directly on the program sheet with the data previously in the selected area.
Here is a plotted histogram in Excel. How to make an inscription in it, you will learn a little later. For now, it’s worth saying that adjustments can be made using the tools that are in the group of tabs “Working with charts”.
Method 2: Stacked Bar Graph
Now a method will be examined showing how the cumulative histogram is built in Excel. An example you can observe in this article.
In fact, its creation is no different from a simple method, but there is one caveat that is worth highlighting. Before you start working with a histogram, you need to delete the name of the first column, if there is one, otherwise nothing will work.
Now you can start creating. As in the previous method, you need to select a part of the table with the data that will be used for construction. After that, go to the "Insert" tab, on the toolbar in the "Charts" drop-down menu, point to "Histograms" and select the cumulative type. It is worth recalling that in each row it is located on the right side.
After clicking on one of the elements on the sheet, the corresponding cumulative histogram in Excel will appear.
Like last time, you can make some changes to the chart using the tools in the "Working with Charts" tab group. By the way, in both cases, to change the inscription in the chart, you just need to double-click on it and set a new name.
Method 3: Using the analysis package
From more trivial methods, we turn to those that are more complicated. Few people know that using add-ons of the program you can make a histogram, but you can do it.
The first step is to enter the add-ons themselves. To do this, click on the "File" tab and select "Options" in the sidebar. Next, go to the "Add-ons" category.
Pay attention to the dropdown list "Management". In it you need to select the item "Excel Add-ins" and click the "Go" button. The add-ons window will appear. Check the box next to "Analysis package" and click "OK."
Now go back to your table, select the data area and go to the "Data" tab. In this tab you need to click on the "Data Analysis" button, which is located in the "Analysis" area.
In the window that appears, select "Histogram" from the list and click "OK" - a window will appear in which you need to set parameters. In the field "Input Interval" should be indicated area of the table with the data. If you previously selected it, the value will be entered automatically. Next, check the box next to "Graph output" and just above indicate where this graph should be displayed. As a result, click "OK."
Method 4: Conditionally format cells
In order to make a histogram in this way, you need to select the area with the data and click on the "Conditional formatting" button in the "Home" tab. In the drop-down list, move the cursor to the "Histograms" item and select one of the chart types you like from the menu.
After that, the formatted cells will be filled with a scale - this is the histogram. As you might guess, the scale displays the quantitative weight of the data that is in it.
Conclusion
These were four ways you can create a histogram in Excel. All of them are good in their own way and are suitable for different needs, so get acquainted with each in more detail and choose the one you need.