You can insert a Data Table directly into an Excel chart to display the source data used to create the chart. This feature adds a table below the chart that shows the numerical values for each series and category.
Adding a Data Table is a straightforward process using the chart elements options in Excel. It's a visual way to present both the graphical representation and the underlying numbers together, enhancing the chart's informative value.
Steps to Add a Data Table to Your Chart
Follow these steps to add a Data Table to an existing Excel chart:
- Select the Chart: Click on a blank area of the chart to select it. This activates the chart design tools.
- Access Chart Elements: Locate and click on the Chart Elements button (it looks like a green plus sign) that appears next to the upper-right corner of the selected chart.
- Select Data Table: In the Chart Elements menu that pops up, find the Data Table option. Click the checkbox next to it to add the default Data Table to your chart. You might see a small arrow next to "Data Table"; clicking this arrow often provides style options (like including legend keys).
- Add or Remove Legend Keys: If you clicked the arrow in Step 3, you can choose whether to include Legend Keys in your Data Table. Including legend keys helps viewers easily identify which data series corresponds to which row in the table.
- Format Your Data Table: Once the Data Table is added, you can click on it directly to select it. This allows you to access formatting options through the "Format Data Table" pane (usually accessed by right-clicking the table or selecting it and using the Chart Elements menu again for more options). Here, you can adjust borders, fill, font, and other visual aspects to match your chart's design.
Reference information included from: Step 1: Click on a blank area of the chart. ... Step 2: Click on the Chart Elements button next to the chart. ... Step 3: Select Data Table from the Chart Elements window. ... Step 4: Add or Remove Legend Keys to your Data Table. ... Step 5: Format your Data Table. (Source: businesscomputerskills.com)
Understanding the Excel Data Table Feature
The Data Table feature in Excel charts is designed specifically to display the source data points used in the chart. It's automatically generated based on the data range the chart is linked to.
- Purpose: It allows viewers to see the exact numbers behind the chart's bars, lines, or columns without having to refer back to the original data source worksheet.
- Integration: The Data Table is directly linked to the chart's data. If you update the source data, both the chart and the Data Table will update automatically.
- Appearance: By default, the Data Table appears directly below the chart, extending its overall height on the worksheet.
While you can certainly insert a completely separate Excel table object onto the same sheet as your chart and place it nearby, the "Data Table" feature accessible via the Chart Elements button is the built-in method for attaching a table of the chart's source data directly to the chart object itself.
