13.3.3 Using Text Labels in Bar Graphs

 

Sometimes bar graphs have text labels along the X axis.

To use text labels on the X axis:

1. Enter the following into columns A, B, and C of the new spreadsheet.

   A B C

   1 cars 1000 3000

   2 boats 2000 4000

   3 trains 300 500

   4 planes 4000 6000

   1. Select the range A1..C4. The columns should now be highlighted.

   2. Select New Graph from the Graph menu and display its submenu.

   3. Select Bar Graph from the New Graph submenu. Within a second or two, another window containing a bar graph will appear on your screen as shown in Figure 13.7.

   This data might represent how far you traveled each of the past two years using cars, boats, trains, and planes, respectively. Selecting and plotting this data will produce a graph containing two interspersed bars (of different colors). A bar of each color will be centered over each text label, and will have a height proportional to the number of miles traveled using that mode of transportation over the past two years.

   Note: You could also have text strings in the X data range of a line graph, but this occurs less frequently than with bar graphs. In addition, you could also have text strings in the Y data ranges, though there is seldom a use for that.

     
   Figure 13.7: Bar Chart