One of the more impressive and dynamic feature presentation features in MS Excel is charting. However, in successive versions, the folks at Microsoft have been unable to stop themselves from expanding and complicating Excel’s charting feature to the point where it has become possibly the best exemplar of ‘program bloat’ in the Office family.
For the average Excel user, henceforth, chart creation and modification can be, at best, a time-consuming diversion and, at worst, a confusing and confused labyrinth of excessive choice. There is, happily, good news for user who is time-poor and seeking to adhere to the sacred principles of KISS.
It is possible to generate a useful chart in Excel via just one keystroke. You need only select the range of cells in your spreadsheet containing the labels and values that you wish to portray on your chart. Then, just press the F11 function key on your keyboard and stand back to be amazed!
Excel will instantaneously create a brand new sheet in your workbook, containing a chart based on your selected range of data
You will immediately have a default 2 dimensional column chart. Of course, this chart might not be be of a type or format that meets your needs; if so, you can then modify your chart by employing the vast and diverse range of tools to be found on the Chart Tools tab that will appear at the top of the screen whenever your chart window is active.
But if the default chart is enough to meet your needs, very possibly the F11 key is all that you will need. A knowledge of this little-known simple Excel maneuver is also likely to impress your colleagues and workmates, who will likely view you with a new respect and, dare one hope, awe.
For more on charting and other Excel presentation strategies, look for upcoming posts…