Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

How to Create a Stacked Column Chart Using

Microsoft Excel 2016

Introduction

A stacked column chart is a bar graph that is utilized for breaking down data and comparing
variables as a whole. Each bar represents a whole, and the different sections of the bar
represent different variables. The instructions below will guide you to create and customize a
stacked column chart.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Setup 1
Part 2: Making a Data Table 2
Part 3: Making the Chart 8
Part 4: Designing/Customizing the Chart 10

Conclusion 16

Part 1: Getting Setup

The first step in creating a stacked column graph using Microsoft Excel 2016 is to open a new
Excel workbook.

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

1. Open Excel.
2. Open a blank workbook.

Part 2: Making a Data Table

The data that needs to be charted needs to be entered into the Excel spreadsheet.

1. Enter the name of x-axis variables in cell A1

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

2. Enter the x-axis variables in the A column cells below A1.

3. Enter y-axis variable names in subsequent columns starting with column B

4. Enter the data under each y-axis variable.

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 Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

5. Format the size of each cell

5.1. Select all data by clicking on the upper left corner of the workbook

5.2. Click wrap text from the alignment section

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

5.3. Click center from the alignment section

6. Resize the cells if necessary

6.1. Click and hold a line between the cell letters

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

6.2. Move the cursor left/right to adjust the width of the cell

6.3. Click and hold a line between the cell numbers

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

6.4. Move the cursor up and down to adjust the height of the cells

7. Add a border

7.1. Select the data, click the all borders icon in the font section

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

Part 3: Making the Chart

A stacked column chart can be created using the data from the spreadsheet.

1. Select all data and open the insert tab

2. Click insert column or bar chart in the graph section

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

Note​:​ The following window will appear.

3. Select the stacked column option under the recommended chart tab

Note:​ ​Excel will create a stacked column graph. An example is shown below.

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

Part 4: Designing/Customizing the Chart

The stacked column chart can be customized after it has been created.

1. Rename the chart title

2. Click chart elements

2.1. Add axis titles and data labels

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

3. Rename the axis

4. Format the axis

4.1. Right click on the axis

4.2. Click format axis

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

Note:​ ​The following window will appear on the right side

4.3. Change the axis bounds by typing in the minimum and maximum values

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

5. Change the color of the graph

5.1. Right click on the bars and select fill

5.2. Choose a desired color from the theme colors, standard colors, or the
more fill colors option

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

6. Change the color of the data label font

6.1. Click on a data label

Note:​ ​The following window will appear on the right side

6.2. Select text options

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

6.3. Open text fill

6.4. Click color and choose a color from the theme colors, standard colors, or
more colors options

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Tyler Anderson, Cem Havlioglu, Koua Lor, Team Instructions Project 1, 3/20/2018

Conclusion

As a result of following the instructions above, you have successfully created and customized a
stacked column chart.

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