Line Chart

 

Line charts are used to display trends over time. Use a line chart if you have text labels, dates or a few numeric labels on the horizontal axis. Use a scatter plot (XY chart) to show scientific XY data.

To create a line chart, execute the following steps.

1. Select the range A1:D7.

Select a Range in Excel

2. On the Insert tab, in the Charts group, click the Line symbol.

Insert Line Chart

3. Click Line with Markers.

Click Line with Markers

Result:

Line Chart in Excel

Note: only if you have numeric labels, empty cell A1 before you create the line chart. By doing this, Excel does not recognize the numbers in column A as a data series and automatically places these numbers on the horizontal (category) axis. After creating the chart, you can enter the text Year into cell A1 if you like.

Let's customize this line chart.

To change the data range included in the chart, execute the following steps.

4. Select the line chart.

5. On the Chart Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

Select Data

6. Uncheck Dolphins and Whales and click OK.

Select Data Source

Result:

Line Chart with One Data Series

To change the color of the line and the markers, execute the following steps.

7. Right click the line and click Format Data Series.

Format Data Series

The Format Data Series pane appears.

8. Click the paint bucket icon and change the line color.

Change Line Color

9. Click Marker and change the fill color and border color of the markers.

Result:

Customized Line Chart

To add a trendline, execute the following steps.

10. Select the line chart.

11. Click the + button on the right side of the chart, click the arrow next to Trendline and then click More Options.

Add Trendline

The Format Trendline pane appears.

12. Choose a Trend/Regression type. Click Linear.

13. Specify the number of periods to include in the forecast. Type 2 in the Forward box.

Format Trendline

Result:

Line Chart with Text Axis

To change the axis type to Date axis, execute the following steps.

14. Right click the horizontal axis, and then click Format Axis.

Format Axis

The Format Axis pane appears.

15. Click Date axis.

Click Date Axis

Result:

Trendline

Conclusion: the trendline predicts a population of approximately 250 bears in 2024.