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Example

 

A bar chart is a chart used to compare grouped data. Each bar represents a subject and its value. The bars span horizontally across the y-axis and display their values along the x-axis, as seen in the example above.

 

The spreadsheet is made using two sets of values: name of the data being compared + number. The names (see column 1 in the table below) show up as categories along the chart's y-axis. The numbers (see Column 2, 3, and 4 in the table below) form a bar in the chart. Use the table below as a reference on how to format your spreadsheet to create a bar chart.

Spreadsheet Format

Each row represents one category on the x-axis. Learn more about using spreadsheets with Visuals at Use Spreadsheet Data.Spreadsheet Format

 Column 1Column 2Column 3 (and beyond...)

Column 3

Column 4
Data Type
Text  
plain text or numbersnumber
NumberNumberNumber
number
Contents
 

The

name

category of the data

being compared in your chart

point on the y-axis.

Note:

  • These will next to each set of bars

The value of

column 1 as displayed

the data point on the x-axis. This forms the column.

An additional x-axis value for the category in the x-axis.This

column represents a bar in your chart
  • The value of column 1 as displayed on the x-axis
  • This forms a second bar in your chart
  • The value of column 1 as displayed on the x-axis
  • This forms a third bar in your chart

 

 

 

Example

Name of Country
United States
Soviet Union
UK
France

  etc.....

 

 

 

Number of gold medals each country won at the Olympics

 

 

 

Number of silver medals each country won at the Olympics

 

 

 

Number of bronze medals each country won at the Olympics

 

Customization Options

Go to Customize Your Chart

creates a data set with an extra column.

Note:

  • You can have as many additional columns as you want to create new data sets. For example, if you were creating a column chart of Olympic medals per country, and had "USA" and "France" in Column 1, you could create three additional columns for "Bronze", "Silver", and "Gold" medal breakdowns.
Data Label

The title of the x-axis

Note:

  • This will appear next to the individual categories on the y-axis

The bar's group

Note:

  • This determines the color of the bar; bars in the same group will share a color
  • This labels the group (and group color) in the legend

 The bar's group

 

Note:

  • This determines the color of the bar; bars in the same group will share a color
  • This labels the group (and group color) in the legend
Requiredxx 

 

 

 

Your spreadsheet might look like this:                                        

 CountryGold MedalsSilver MedalsBronze Medals

United States

3212278
Soviet Union2114135

Customization Options

Learn about options at Common Customization Options.