Insert a chart or graph in your presentation

Do the following when you want to create a new chart or graph in PowerPoint:

1. In PowerPoint, click the placeholder (placeholders: Boxes with dotted borders that are part of most slide layouts. These boxes hold title and body text or objects such as charts, tables, and pictures.) that you want to contain the chart.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Chart.
3. In the Insert Chart dialog box, click a chart, and then click OK.Office Excel 2007 opens in a split window and displays sample data on a worksheet.
   

Sample data on an Excel worksheet
4. In Excel, to replace the sample data, click a cell on the worksheet, and then type the data that you want. You can also replace the sample axis (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) labels in Column A and the legend (legend: A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.) entry name in Row 1.
   
 Note   After you update the worksheet, the chart in PowerPoint updates automatically with the new data.
5. When you are finished inputting the data in Excel, on the File menu, click Close.

 Note   To change the data in a chart you've inserted,   use the Edit Data command. To learn more about the Edit Data command, see Change the data in an existing chart.