In the spreadsheets in general and in Excel in particular, you can make many types of charts, among them, are the so-called pie charts, (also known as cakes or cheese ). It’s not very hard to make a pie chart.
The pie charts are characterized in that the entire pie shape represents 100% of the data to be included and is going to be divided into different portions, generally of different colors, in which each one will represent a different part depending on the value of each specific data.
An example of a pie chart in Excel:
Suppose you want to make a circular graph of the total expenses that exist in your home, so that 100% is the total of your monthly expenses and then these are distributed in different proportions in expenses: mortgage, food, electricity, communications, dress, education, automobile, …
With a circular graph, you will be able to see in a clear and intuitive way the distribution and the part that each of these expenses represents in the total amount.
Other examples:
Of the total expenses of a company, represent each of the concepts in which they are divided: Supplies, Salaries and wages, Insurance, Rentals, Communications, …
Of the total sales of a company, see which part corresponds to each of the sellers.
- Open an Excel sheet or other blank spreadsheet program.
- Write in column A the following headings each in a different cell: A1: Mortgage, A2: Food, A3: Light, A4: Communications, A5: Clothing, A6: Education, A7: Automobile, A8: TOTAL
- Includes the following numerical data from B1 to B7: 500, 300, 150, 100, 50, 50, 100.
- In B8 it performs the Autosum of expenses, whose result is 1,250. You can read about Autosuma in How to do an autosuma?
- Then select the data, for this click and drag with the right button of your mouse from A1 to B7, without including in the selection the boxes of the total or its amount.
- The entire area will be in blue, then go to the Insert tab and then within the Graphics working group click on Circular, choose the 3D Circular Graph.
- The pie chart appears on your spreadsheet, representing each specific expense in each different colored portion. Also on the right is the legend that indicates to each expense what color has been given in the pie chart.
- If you want, you can move the graph by clicking on a blank area within the graph when the pointer turns into double arrows, click and drag it to the desired location.
- You can also edit the graph, including numerical data, change colors, …
Also in Excel 2007 and higher versions, you have a series of automatic customizations for charts, which with a few clicks allow you to give an original and differentiated touch to your work with spreadsheets. Even the Quick Analysis tool shows you in one click different possible charts.
To do this, click inside the graphic, the Graphics Tools tabs will be activated and in Design, Design Styles you can get different colors for the graphic. Or for example click Presentation, Title of the graph, Above the graph, then write on the sign that has appeared in your graph, Household Expenses.
Pie charts are very suitable for use on Dashboards or dashboards, now learn how to create them in Excel: Create a Dashboard or dashboard with Excel.
If you have found this step by step interesting, you may also be interested in reading: Control household expenses. And to fully customize graphics and spreadsheets in general, I recommend: Colors and borders.