How to Create a Table & Graph for Free

Use tables and graphs to display spreadsheet data to your audience. Tables and graphs can be created with spreadsheet software. This software may be available on your computer or online at no charge. Microsoft Excel (available for free trial downloads), OpenOffice and Google have software that you can use to create tables and graphs. The graph can be generated by the data from the table. By using these two features together, they will up linked and updates will be displayed as the table data changes.

Instructions

Excel 2010

1

Open Excel 2010 and "Click" cell "A1." Type "Categories." In cell "A2," type "Home." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A3," type "Office." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A4"," type "Abroad." Using the keyboard, move the cursor to cell "B1." In cell "B1," type "Amount." Press "Enter." Type "120" in cell "B2," "160" in cell "B3" and "76" in cell "B4."

2

Review your table data. Highlight cells "A1" to "B4." The highlighted area turns blue.

3

Select the "Insert" tab and locate the "Charts" group. Select a graph from this group. For example, if you want to create a bar graph, select "Bar." A drop-down list appears. Select "Clustered Bar." A clustered bar graph is created.

Google Documents

4

Access the Google Documents website. Click "Create New." A drop-down list appears. Select "Spreadsheet." "Click" cell "A1." Type "Categories." In cell "A2," type "Home." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A3," type "Office." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A4," type "Abroad." Using the keyboard, move the cursor to cell "B1." In cell "B1," type "Amount." Press "Enter." Type "120" in cell "B2," "160" in cell "B3" and "76" in cell "B4."

5

Review your table data. Highlight rows "1" to "4." The highlighted area turns blue.

6

Select "Insert" on the menu bar, then "Chart." Review the recommended charts on the "Start" tab. Select one of them. A graph is quickly created in your document.

OpenOffice

7

Open OpenOffice Calc. A new spreadsheet appears. "Click" cell "A1." Type "Categories." In cell "A2," type "Home." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A3," type "Office." Press the "Enter" key. In cell "A4," type "Abroad." Using the keyboard, move the cursor to cell "B1." In cell "B1," type "Amount." Press "Enter." Type "120" in cell "B2," "160" in cell "B3" and "76" in cell "B4."

8

Review your table data. Highlight rows "1" to "4." The highlighted area turns blue.

9

Select "Insert" on the menu bar. Select "Chart." The AutoFormat Chart dialog box appears. Select "Next." Select the chart type and click "Next." Check "Chart Title" and type a name for your chart. Click "Create." The chart appears in your OpenOffice Calc spreadsheet.