# Excel graph -- Need answer fast.  Should be simple.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 9, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620 "2012-06-09T14:43:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620/21 "2014-11-01T21:05:07Z")

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> [@Saintly\_Loser](#):
>
> I think that’s probably a view setting in Excel on your computer, and has nothing to do with the chart. At least that’s how I make my chart look like that. In the View tab, turn off gridlines and headings (probably everything).

I don’t think that’s it. The second chart (number of pilots) seems to have the chart and nothing else on the sheet. The first one, I can get rid of grid lines, but the spreadsheet is still there. (I can click outside of the chart, and a cell is highlighted.)

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620/22 "2014-11-01T21:08:26Z")

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> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> 1. What I was getting at was that I want the sheet to look like the other one. That is, no spreadsheet behind the chart. i.e., I just want the chart on the sheet, and nothing else.

Right click the chart

select “location” from the menu

select “as new sheet” option

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620/23 "2014-11-01T21:11:36Z")

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> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> Right click the chart
> 
> select “location” from the menu
> 
> select “as new sheet” option

Oops. Tried that. It split the chart between two spreadsheets. Deleted it, and now it’s gone. Can’t undo. I’ll have to re-make the chart.

EDIT: Or just close it and opened the saved file…

.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620/24 "2014-11-01T21:18:03Z")

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OK…  
To:  
Display the chart in a new chart sheet

Do this:  
Select the New sheet option, and then in the New sheet box, type a name for the new chart sheet.

Close enough for government work.

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-graph-need-answer-fast-should-be-simple/624620/25 "2014-11-01T21:29:42Z")

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When you have a table of data in Excel, always format the heading rows and columns (if you have them) differently than the data itself. That will help Excel when it makes assumptions about how to create charts, how to sort, etc.

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