Microsoft Excel – Lesson 8

Activity Overview

The following activity illustrates how spreadsheets can be used to analyze data and use charts that illustrates the data distribution.

New Skill

In this activity, you will practice how to:

1. Create a pie chart.
2. Enhance charts by changing colors and font sizes.

Lesson

1. Open the AMERICAN IDOL.xls file.
2. Create a Pie Chart as follows:
   a. Select cells A1 – B8.
   b. Create an Exploded Pie in 3-D.
   c. Move the location of the chart to a New Sheet. Name the new sheet AMERICAN IDOL CHART.
   d. Enter the chart title “AMERICAN IDOL FAVORITES” above the chart. Use all caps.
   e. Do NOT show a legend.
   f. Show category name and percentage data labels. Place Outside End.
3. Format the Chart Area with a background color of yellow.
4. Format the colors of each piece of the pie chart as follows:
   a. Kelly Clarkson – purple
   b. Reuben Studdard – green
   c. Clay Aiken – red
   d. Fantasia Barrino – blue
   e. Carrie Underwood – pink
5. Format the chart’s title font color to blue and change the font size to 24 point.
6. Select the Data Labels (category name and percentage). Format as follows:
   a. Shape Fill Color – Blue
   b. Font Color – White
   c. Font Size – 14
   d. Shape Outline Color – Black
   e. Shape Outline Weight – 2 ¼ pt
   f. Shape Effects – Shadow – Inner, Inside Center
7. Insert a header for the chart using Left section: Your Name, Center section: AMERICAN IDOL, and Right section: Current Date.
8. Insert a footer using Center section: PAGE number.
9. Print Preview your worksheet.
10. Save your document.
11. Optional: Print a copy for review.