The following list contains the definitions of basic terms used in
charting in Microsoft Excel.
AutoFormat
Similar to template or style, an AutoFormat can change the entire look of
the chart but does not affect your data. AutoFormats can be custom (user-
defined) or built-in.
Category Name
Individual label on x-axis, also known as tick-mark labels.
Chart Area
The entire chart, contains all of the data series, the axes, titles and
legend.
Chart Sheet
A separate sheet in the workbook devoted solely to the chart.
Chart Title
The title or name of chart usually identifying what data depicts, most
often found at center top of chart area.
Chart Type Group
One or more data series of the same type plotted to the same Value (Y)
axis, listed at bottom of Format menu as Column Group, Line Group, Area
Group, Area Group 2, and so on.
Chart Wizard
A series of dialog boxes that simplifies creation of a chart into a step-
by-step process that verifies the data selection, shows possible chart
types to be used, gives options for additional items such as titles and
legend.
Data Label
Value or name assigned to individual data points. Display on chart is
optional.
Data Points
These are values from cells on worksheets, displayed as bars, lines,
columns, pie slices, or other shapes in the chart.
Data Series
A group of data points such as the entire line in a chart.
Drop Lines
Vertical lines extending from the data point to the category (x) axis that
can be used on area and line charts. To set, click the appropriate chart
type group on the Format menu and select the check box on the Options tab.
Embedded Chart
This is a chart as an object on the worksheet which can be printed in
association with other data or as a separate item. Best when the data
needs to be shown in context of the worksheet data.
Error Bars
Error bars graphically express potential errors relative to each data
marker in a series. Use error bars in charts to indicate the degree of
uncertainty (that is, the "plus or minus" range) for the data plotted in a
data series. You can add error bars to data series formatted as area, bar,
column, line and xy (scatter) chart groups. All five chart types show y
error bars corresponding to the value axis. XY charts can also display x
error bars of the category axis.
Explode
This is the action of pulling the pieces of a pie or doughnut chart away
from each other; can be done to one or more slices.
Gap Width
The value that controls the spaces between cluster of columns or bars, the
higher the gap width value, the larger the space between clusters of data
markers.
Gridline
Lines across plot area for easy reference back to axes.
High-Low Lines
The lines that connect highest and lowest value for a category across all
series. Can be used on line chart. To set, choose the appropriate chart
type group from the Format menu and select the check box on the Options
tab.
Legend
Box that shows identifying names and symbols for each data series.
Nonadjacent Selections
Also called discontiguous selections, data that is separated by other data
or blank rows or columns not to be used in the chart.
Orientation
Refers to data to be charted and whether it is in rows or columns.
Overlap Value
Value that controls the overlap of data points within a cluster of columns
or bars. The higher the overlap value, the more the data markers are
overlapped.
Plot Area
The part of the chart bound by the vertical and horizontal axes and their
opposing sides.
Secondary Value Axis
Additional value axis that appears on the opposite side of the plot area
from the Primary Value axis. It is used when plotting mixed types of data,
such as Quantity and Price, where different scales are desired.
Series line(s)
The lines between stacked columns that connect the top of each series
within the stack. Can be used on stacked bar charts. To set, click the
appropriate chart type group on the Format menu and select the check box
on the Options tab.
Subtype
Variation of a basic chart type.
Tick-mark
Indicators on the axes used to mark off division of scale and/or category
or separate series groups on x-axis.
Trendline
Trendlines graphically illustrate trends in data series. Trendlines are
commonly used when you are charting problems of prediction, also called
regression analysis.
Up-down Bars
Bars that extend between the highest and lowest value for a category. Up
bars are white, and down bars are black. They can be used on a line chart.
To set, click the appropriate chart type group on the Format menu and
select the check box on the Options tab. Gap width can be set for these
bars.
X-axis Title
Title or name of what the Category (X) axis is showing, for example, an
explanation of labels.
Y-axis Title
Title or name of what the Value (Y) axis is showing, for example, an
explanation of scale.
The following are set in the Format 3-D View dialog box:
Elevation Height from which you view 3-D chart data.
Rotation Rotates the chart sideways.
Perspective The ratio of the width of the front to the back, or how
distant the rear data markers appear to be.
Corner(s) The points defined by the walls/floor in a 3-D chart plot
area. Can be use to adjust elevation, rotation and
perspective.
To set the following, click the chart type group on the Format menu and
click the Options tab:
Chart depth The shape of the chart base.
Gap depth The depth between 3-D columns.
Gap width The spacing between 3-D columns.