33 min read
Charts & Data Visualization
Insert charts, edit data, format axes, and link Excel.
Insert a chart from handbook data
James inserts a column chart showing Year 7 intake by house for the appendix. Insert → Chart opens a spreadsheet grid — type categories in column A and values in column B. Close the data window; the chart stays linked until you break the link.
Chart types: column and bar compare categories; line shows trends; pie shows parts of a whole (use only for few slices). Combo charts mix types on one graph.
Labels, legend, and Excel link
Chart Design → Add Chart Element adds Axis titles, Data labels, and Legend. Edit the Chart title to Year 7 intake by house.
Linking Excel data: copy a range from NorthgateBudget.xlsx, paste into Word with Keep Source Formatting, or Insert → Chart and paste data. When the bursar updates Excel, refresh the chart in Word if linked.
Hands-on steps
Goal
Add a column chart to the handbook appendix.
James Okonkwo adds this to NorthgateHandbook.docx as part of one polished student handbook, policy pack, and open-day collateral before families arrive.
Place cursor
Where
Do this
You should see
- Cursor ready.
More lessons in Microsoft Word · Next: Text Boxes & Advanced Layout · Previous: SmartArt
