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Create a PowerPoint 2007 Line Chart

By , About.com Guide

Edit Line Chart Data for PowerPoint Slide
Chart data for PowerPoint line chart

Chart data for PowerPoint line chart

© Wendy Russell

Edit the Line Chart Data

Add Your Data

Line charts can display multiple types of data.

  1. Click on the Excel 2007 window to make it the active window. Notice the blue rectangle that surrounds the chart data. These are the cells that are used to create the line chart.
  2. Edit the first column heading (cell B1) and edit the text to reflect your own data. In the example shown, this column heading has been changed to Sedan. Repeat to edit the other column headings.
  3. Edit the row headings in the generic data to reflect your own information. In the example shown, these row headings have been changed to 2008, 2009, 2010 to reflect car sales for those models.
  4. Replace the generic data with your own numerical data.

Add More Columns or Rows in the Spreadsheet

If the generic chart data does not have enough columns and/or rows, you can easily add additional ones to accommodate your own data.

  • Method 1
    1. Type a new heading in the next available column/row.
    2. Press the Enter key to enter the data. Notice that the blue rectangle will expand to incorporate this new column/row.
    3. Add the appropriate data for this new entry.
    4. Repeat this process for each new column/row you need.
  • Method 2
    1. Drag the bottom right corner handle on the blue rectangle to enlarge the selection of data to include as many extra columns/rows as you need. Notice that the blue rectangle will expand to incorporate these new columns/rows.
    2. Type headings in the new available columns/rows.
    3. Add the appropriate data for the new column/row heading(s).

Delete Columns/Rows from the Generic Data

  1. Drag the bottom right corner handle on the blue rectangle to reduce the selection of data cells.
  2. Notice that the blue rectangle will become smaller to incorporate these changes.
  3. Delete any information in the cells outside the blue rectangle that is not wanted for this line chart.

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