Mastering Pivot Charts in Excel: Quick and Easy Techniques

In this video, you'll learn how to quickly create pivot charts in Excel and customize various properties like shapes, sizes, and types. The session is a step-by-step guide, starting from selecting data to creating and modifying pivot charts. You'll also learn how to adjust these charts to fit your data preferences effectively.

What will you learn

• How to create pivot charts in Excel quickly.
• Steps to change the shapes and sizes of pivot charts.
• Methods to modify the properties of pivot charts.
• Techniques to add different fields to pivot charts.
• How to change the types of pivot charts (e.g., bar, line, combo).
• Understanding the impact of data rearrangement on pivot charts.
• How to manage fields and axis categories in pivot charts.
• Customizing the look and feel of pivot charts.

Takeaway notes

• Creating a pivot chart starts from selecting your data, going to the insert tab, and clicking on the pivot chart button.
• You have the option to create the pivot and chart on the same sheet by selecting 'existing worksheet.'
• Pivot charts are built upon pivot tables and automatically update when the pivot table changes.
• You can add various fields to the pivot table, and the pivot chart will reflect these changes instantly.
• The pivot chart can be adjusted by dragging fields into different areas, such as axis categories or values.
• You can change the type of pivot chart (e.g., line, bar, combo) by selecting 'change chart type' in the design tab.
• Ungrouping data in the pivot table can revert back to original date formats or other data structures.
• More filters and columns can be added to change the pivot chart's appearance.

Practice questions

1. Explain the steps to create a pivot chart using a given data set in Excel.
2. How can you change the shape of a pivot chart in Excel?
3. What are the key differences between a pivot table and a pivot chart?
4. Describe how to add fields to a pivot table and observe their impact on the pivot chart.
5. How can you rearrange fields in the pivot table to alter the pivot chart’s layout?
6. Discuss how to change a bar pivot chart into a line chart in Excel.
7. Provide steps to ungroup data in a pivot table that is reflected on the pivot chart.
8. What are the options available in Excel for changing the type of pivot chart?
9. How would you create a combo graph using pivot charts when you have more than one series?
10. Explain the process to add filters to a pivot chart and discuss its effects.
11. Can you customize the look of a pivot chart? Describe the process.
12. Why is it helpful to have both pivot tables and pivot charts in data analysis?
13. How can you ensure that the data range is correctly selected when creating a pivot chart?
14. What should you do if the default chart type is not suitable for your data presentation?
15. Discuss potential issues that might arise when changing the types of pivot charts and how to resolve them.