making a table into a chart

[DocRock]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

I'm new to Macs and the 2008 versions of Office, especially Excel, which I only ever use to enhance PP. I've made a simple table in Word. I click on charts and pick an appropriate line chart. Then Excel opens with a sample table that does not have my data in it. When I scroll around I finally find my data with the chart inside it (which messes with the columns of course). But even then it doesn't have the data displayed properly (i.e., the y axis has values that don't correspond to the data). Any suggestions?

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah, IMHO 2008 takes what used to be a simple straightforward process &
turns it into a real PITA to create a chart from a Word table Of course
you can always use Insert> Object> MS Graph Chart instead, but then you're
giving up all the new & cutesy SmartArt enhancements. Try this:

First, turn on the non-printing characters (¶) in your Word document so you
can tell where your paragraphs are, then select & copy your table.

Next - very important - Do Not leave the table selected & Do Not leave the
insertion point *in* the table. Instead, click in the empty paragraph where
you want the chart to go. Then click the icon for whatever type of chart.

Once Excel launches, paste your data into the sample data area & then adjust
the frame around the cells as necessary using the lower right corner of the
cell range. [Have a look at Word Help on: Create a Chart]

That should give you the chart you want where you want it

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac