Mastering Excel: Applying Chart Templates in a Snap

Excel is a powerful tool for data visualization, and one of the best ways to present data is through charts. Excel offers a wide range of chart templates that can help you create professional-looking charts with ease. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of how to apply chart templates in Excel.

Before we dive into the steps, it's important to understand that Excel's chart templates are designed to save you time and effort. They provide pre-set chart styles, colors, and layouts that you can apply to your data with just a few clicks. So, let's get started.

Accessing Excel's Chart Templates

Excel's chart templates are located in the 'Chart Styles' group on the 'Design' tab of the 'Chart Tools' ribbon. To access them, you first need to insert a chart into your worksheet. Here's how:

1. Select the data range you want to chart. This should include the headers.

2. Go to the 'Insert' tab in the ribbon.

3. In the 'Charts' group, click on the type of chart you want to create. For this guide, let's choose a 'Column' chart.

Browsing and Applying Chart Templates

Once you've inserted a chart, you can browse and apply chart templates. Here's how:

1. After inserting the chart, go to the 'Design' tab under 'Chart Tools'.

2. In the 'Chart Styles' group, you'll see a gallery of chart templates. Click on the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the gallery to see more templates.

3. Browse through the templates. Each template shows a preview of what your chart will look like with that style applied.

4. To apply a template, simply click on it. Your chart will instantly update with the new style.

Customizing Chart Templates

While Excel's chart templates provide a great starting point, you might want to customize them to better fit your needs. Here's how you can do that:

1. After applying a template, you can change the chart type by clicking on the 'Switch Row/Column' button in the 'Design' tab. This will swap the row and column data in your chart.

2. You can also change the chart style by clicking on the different style sets in the 'Chart Styles' group. Each set contains several styles that you can apply with a single click.

3. To customize the chart elements further, you can use the other tools in the 'Chart Tools' ribbon. For example, you can add chart elements like titles, axes, and data labels, or format the chart elements to match your organization's branding.

Applying Chart Templates to Existing Charts

If you've already created a chart and want to apply a template to it, the process is just as easy. Here's how:

1. Select the chart you want to apply a template to.

2. Go to the 'Design' tab under 'Chart Tools'.

3. In the 'Chart Styles' group, browse through the templates and apply the one you like.

Changing the Chart Type While Keeping the Template

Sometimes, you might want to change the chart type but keep the same template. Here's how you can do that:

1. Select the chart you want to change.

2. Go to the 'Design' tab under 'Chart Tools'.

3. In the 'Type' group, click on the chart type you want to change to.

4. After changing the chart type, you can apply a template from the 'Chart Styles' group if needed.

And there you have it! You've now learned how to apply chart templates in Excel. Whether you're creating a new chart or updating an existing one, Excel's chart templates can save you time and help you create professional-looking charts. So, go ahead and experiment with different templates and styles to find the perfect look for your data.