Here is a simple but vital charting rule.
Start your bar (or column) charts from zero.
To illustrate why you should do this, let me share a personal example.
Over the weekend, the Jon Peltier visited Wellington. He is staying with Jeff (who occasionally guest blogs on Chandoo.org). On Sunday, we all decided to hike up a small mountain near my house for a leisurely family picnic.
While on the top of the mountain, Jo (my wife) took a few pics of us three Excel geeks. As we were standing on a sloping mountain face this is how the pictures look:
Looking at the picture on left, you would confidently say that I am way shorter than other two. But picture on right tells a different story.
Of course, the reality is somewhere between two pictures. It is difficult to conclude who is tall, who is short just looking at the pics simply because the baseline is sloping.
But we can’t have sloping baselines in Excel charts
You are right we can’t. But we can still confuse people with an arbitrary axis start. Like below:
The fix? always start your axis at zero for bar (or column) charts:
Simple. Set the axis start point to zero (Select axis, press Ctrl+1, and from Axis options set minimum to 0).
So there you go. The shortest Excel charting tip ever, but still stands tall when it comes to telling great stories.
More charting principles:
If you are in the mood for some more charting theory and elegant methods, check out below links.
21 Responses to “Make a Pivot Table in Excel [15 Second Tutorial]”
[...] First step is to create Pivot Table. Here is a video tutorial on making pivot tables. [...]
Dear Sir,
I would like to study pivot table from basics detailed.Pls send me the tips of that
merccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc
[...] Click here to see a video tutorial of making pivot tables in excel | One more Pivot Table Video Tutorial [...]
it is very useful
hello sir
please send me some information of pivotable. and how to use it
because I am beginer so how can i learn it the pivotable.
and sir will you send me pivotable data because i have no data and i don't
know how to applyed for the pivotable. give some videos so I learn quikely.
thank you
and my best
anticipation
Hi,
This tutorail was helpful. If possible can you please email me some data, so I can create another pivot table? I am trying to learn ASAP and need some info.
Thank you
@Keri
Have a look at FakeNameGenerator.com
Top of the day to you. can you pls send me a detailed tutorial on the pivot table tutorial? Thanks.
Hi,
please tell me how to use Pivot table.
@Karthick, Yemi
Have a read of: http://chandoo.org/wp/2009/08/19/excel-pivot-tables-tutorial/
Dear Sir,
I visited this website of urs for the very first time and trust me this is fabulous.i learnt pivot table through this.Thanks a lot.In corporate world nobody gonna make u learn these things.m very grateful to u.This is a great initiative from ur side.Commendable job done.Hats off to u.For beginners also this is very helpful.The way this website makes u learn excel is very good.
Pooja
Can you please email me information to put into a pivot table and possibly a complete set of instructions? I am a beginner to pivot tables and am possibly interested in obtaining a position that requires pivot tables. thank you.
[...] Click here to see a video tutorial of making pivot tables in excel | One more Pivot Table Video Tutorial [...]
It's simply great..!!
Cool!
Fast but not furious.
Pls email me details of pivot table. I want to learn it asap because I just got a job that requires this. Thanks
it is very useful..............thanks
Sir please can u send me the complete explanation of pivot tables from basics
hello,
I wanted to know how to put pivot with emp id, emp name, emp position in one row.
Ex:-
cel A4 should have Emp id
Cell B4 should have Emp Name
Call C4 should have Emp Position
many thanks in advance
Nice information, thanx my dear.