How To Create A Graph In Microsoft Excel 2010

Users will appreciate a chart that updates right before their eyes. In Microsoft Excel 2007 and Excel 2010, it's as easy as creating a table. In earlier versions, you'll need the formula method.

Editor's note: In the video, Brandon Vigliarolo uses Microsoft Office 365 and walks through the steps of building dynamic charts in Excel. The steps are very similar to the following tutorial by Susan Harkins.

If you want to advance beyond your ordinary spreadsheet skills, creating dynamic charts is a good place to begin that journey. The key is to define the chart's source data as a dynamic range. By doing so, the chart will automatically reflect changes and additions to the source data. Fortunately, the process is easy to implement in Excel 2007 and 2010 if you're willing to use the table feature. If not, there's a more complex method. We'll explore both.

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The table method

First, we'll use the table feature, available in Excel 2007 and 2010--you'll be amazed at how simple it is. The first step is to create the table. To do so, simply select the data range and do the following:

Click the Insert tab.
In the Tables group, click Table.
Excel will display the selected range, which you can change. If the table does not have headers, be sure to uncheck the My Table Has Headers option.
Click OK and Excel will format the data range as a table.

Any chart you build on the table will be dynamic. To illustrate, create a quick column chart as follows:

Select the table.
Click the Insert tab.
In the Charts group, choose the first 2-D column chart in the Chart dropdown.

Now, update the chart by adding values for March and watch the chart update automatically.

The dynamic formula method

You won't always want to turn your data range into a table. Furthermore, this feature isn't available in pre-ribbon versions of Office. When either is the case, there's a more complex formula method. It relies on dynamic ranges that update automatically, similar to the way the table does, but only with a little help from you.

Using our earlier sheet, you'll need five dynamic ranges: one for each series and one for the labels. Instructions for creating the dynamic range for the labels in column A follow. Then, use these instructions to create a dynamic label for columns B through E. To create the dynamic range for column A, do the following:

Click the Formulas tab.
Click the Define Names option in the Defined Names group.
Enter a name for the dynamic range, MonthLabels.
Choose the current sheet. In this case, that's DynamicChart1. You can use the worksheet, if you like. In general, it's best to limit ranges to the sheet, unless you intend to utilize them at the workbook level.
Enter the following formula: =OFFSET(DynamicChart1!$A$2,0,0,COUNTA(DynamicChart1!$A:$A))
Click OK.

Now, repeat the above instructions, creating a dynamic range for each series using the following range names and formulas:

SmithSeries: =OFFSET(DynamicChart1!$B$2,0,0,COUNTA(DynamicChart1!$B:$B)-1)
JonesSeries: =OFFSET(DynamicChart1!$C$2,0,0,COUNTA(DynamicChart1!$C:$C)-1)
MichaelsSeries: =OFFSET(DynamicChart1!$D$2,0,0,COUNTA(DynamicChart1!$D:$D)-1)
HancockSeries: =OFFSET(DynamicChart1!$E$2,0,0,COUNTA(DynamicChart1!$E:$E)-1)

Notice that first range reference starts with row 2. That's because there's a row of headings in row 1. The second set of references refers to the entire column, enabling the formula to accommodate all values in the column, not just a specific range. The addition of the -1 component eliminates the heading cell from the count. The first formula (for the labels in column A) doesn't have this component.

It's important to remember that you must enter new data in a contiguous manner. If you skip rows or columns, this technique won't work as expected.

You might be wondering why I added the Series label to each range name. Using the name, alone, will confuse Excel. The series headings in row 1 are also names. Because the chart defaults will use the label headings in each column for each series name, you can't use those labels to name the dynamic ranges. Don't use the same labels for both your spreadsheet headings and your dynamic range names.

Next, insert a column chart, as you did before. If you enter new data, the chart won't yet reflect it. That's because the chart, by default, references a specific data range, DynamicChart1:A1:E3. We need to change that reference to the dynamic ranges we just created, as follows:

In the chart, right-click any column.
From the resulting submenu, choose Select Data.
In the list on the left, select Smith and then click Edit. (Remember the naming conflict I mentioned? Excel uses the column heading (cell B1) to name the series.)
In the resulting dialog, enter a reference to Smith's dynamic range in the Series Values control. In this case, that's =DynamicChart1!SmithSeries.
Click OK.

Repeat the above process to update the remaining series to reflect their dynamic ranges: DynamicChart1!JonesSeries; DynamicChart1!MichaelsSeries; and DynamicChart1!HancockSeries.

Next, update the chart's axis labels (column A), as follows:

In the Select Data Source dialog, click January (in the list to the right).
Then, click Edit.
In the resulting dialog, reference the axis label's dynamic range, DynamicChart1!MonthLabels.
Click OK.

You don't have to update February; Excel does that for you. Now, start entering data for March and watch the chart automatically update! Just remember, you must enter data contiguously; you can't skip rows or columns.

This formula method is more complex than the table method. Be careful naming the dynamic ranges and updating the series references. It's easy to enter typos. If the chart doesn't update, check the range references.

For a dynamic chart technique that takes a different route, read Create a dynamic Excel chart and make your own dashboard. Excel worksheets demonstrating these versions of dynamic charting are available as a free download.

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