Reusable chart templates in Excel

Chart templates can save you a lot of time, especially if you need to create reports regularly. This guide shows you how to create effective chart templates in Excel that you can easily reuse. This way, you can keep track of your data and present it in an appealing way.

Key Insights

• Using chart templates allows for quicker report creation.
• Customizing and saving chart templates is easy and efficient.
• Once created, templates can be easily reused and adjusted.

Step-by-Step Guide

Create a Chart

First, open your revenue list in Excel. This is the table from which you want to create your charts. To create a chart, select the revenues. You can do this by choosing the corresponding cells of monthly revenues.

Choose Chart Type

After selecting the data, go to the "Insert" tab. Here you will find a section for different types of charts. You can choose between bar charts, column charts, pie charts, and more. For this tutorial, select a column chart.

Design the Chart

Once the chart is created, you can customize the design. Click on the chart and then go to "Chart Styles". Here you can try out different designs. A visually appealing design ensures that your data is presented more clearly.

Customize Individually

Now it's time to customize the chart individually. For example, you can change the color of the bars to highlight the highest revenue. Right-click on the bar and choose the desired color. Highlighting the highest revenues in color helps them stand out immediately.

Insert Logo

To further customize your chart, you can also insert a logo or an image. Click on the chart again, go to "Insert," and choose "Image." Select your logo and insert it into the chart. You can then scale and position the image as needed.

Save Template

Once your chart is created and customized, you can save it as a template. This is important as you will want to reuse the same formatting and design in the future. Right-click on the chart and choose "Save as Chart Template." Assign a name like "Annual Revenue" and confirm.

Use Template

Now you have the option to use the saved template for new charts. To do this, delete the current chart and create a new one. Again, go to "Insert," choose "Chart," and click on "Templates." Your saved template "Annual Revenue" will be displayed. Select it and click "OK."

Create Profit Chart

To create a profit chart as well, select the months and the profit. Once again, go to "Insert" and choose a column chart. By directly using the previously saved template, you now have a profit chart that resembles the revenue chart.

Manage Templates

If you need an overview of all your chart templates, go to "Insert" and click on the "Show All Charts" icon. Here you can manage your templates and access all saved templates. This is particularly useful when you need different templates for different purposes.

Set Default Template

If you frequently use a specific template, you can set it as the default template. Right-click on the template and choose "Set as Default Chart Template." This will be used every time you create a new chart.

Summary

Creating and customizing reusable chart templates in Excel is a simple process that helps you work more efficiently. With just a few clicks, you can create attractive charts that clearly represent your data. By saving and reusing templates, you save time, especially when you need to create reports regularly.