Lesson: Working with Tables and Charts

Inserting a Table

To insert a table in a slide:

1. On the INSERT tab, in the Tables group, click Table.
2. Move your mouse pointer over the rows and columns squares until the number of rows and columns you need are highlighted, then click.

Formatting Tables

After you insert a table into a slide, you may want to modify its appearance. PowerPoint offers many options for formatting tables. The tools you will need can be found on the TABLE TOOLS DESIGN tab and the TABLE TOOLS LAYOUT tab.

The tools available on the TABLE TOOLS DESIGN tab affect the visual aesthetics of the table.

Table design tools are categorized in the following groups:

• Table Style Options - These settings determine if special formatting is applied to specific regions of a table. See Table Styles.
• Table Styles - Built-in table styles that can be used as is or as an initial style that you can modify using tools such as Border, Shading, and Effects.
• WordArt Styles - A variety of effects that you can apply to the text in your presentation.
• Draw Borders - Tools for formatting the borders of your table.

The options in the TABLE TOOLS LAYOUT tab affect the structure of the table.

Table layout tools are categorized in the following groups:

• Table - These tools help you work with the table structure. You can select specific areas of the table and turn gridlines on and off.
• Rows & Columns - Delete and insert rows and columns.
• Merge - Merge and split table cells.
• Cell Size - Manage the height and width of table cells.
• Alignment - Position text within table cells, change the text direction, and set cell margins.
• Table Size - Manage the height and width of tables.
• Arrange - Manage the position and orientation of objects on a slide.

Using the tools on the TABLE TOOLS DESIGN and TABLE TOOLS LAYOUT tabs, you can produce tables that suit your presentation needs functionally and aesthetically.

Modifying Number or Rows and Columns

You can add rows or columns to a PowerPoint chart:

1. To add a row or column, select a row or column near where you want the insert it in the table, and select the TABLE TOOLS LAYOUT tab.
2. From the Rows & Columns group, select an option to add a row above or below the current row, or add a column to the left or the right of the current column.

Importing Tables from External Sources

To copy a table from another Microsoft Office application into PowerPoint:

1. Open the file you want to copy a table from in its native application (e.g., Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel).
2. Highlight the data to copy and press Ctrl + C.
3. In your PowerPoint presentation, select the slide to copy the data into and press Ctrl + V.
4. Format the table according to your needs using the TABLE TOOLS options.

Working with a Table

In this exercise, you will copy a table from an Excel file and use the Table Tools options to modify its design and layout in Microsoft PowerPoint.

1. Locate and open the PowerPoint file named "My Table" in your Webucator/PowerPoint2013.1/Exercises folder.
2. Locate and open the Excel file named "Commission" in your Webucator/PowerPoint2013.1/Exercises folder.
3. Copy the table from Excel into the slide titled "Commission Table".
4. Change the design of the table to Themed Style 1 - Accent 1.
5. Make sure that the Header Row and Banded Rows options are checked.
6. Center the header text in the table.
7. Add the following data to the table:
   1. Representative: Peter Kale
   2. Commission: 4.5%
   3. Amount: 9000
8. Save the PowerPoint file "My Table" for future use.
9. Close the Excel file "Commission" without saving any changes.

Solution:

Inserting a Chart

To insert a chart in a slide:

1. On the INSERT tab, in the Illustrations group, click Chart.
2. In the Insert Chart dialog box, select the type of chart to insert from the chart gallery. (You can click a category in the left pane to quickly move to that part of the gallery.)
3. Click OK.

After you insert a chart, a Microsoft Excel file opens with categories and series which correspond to the chart that is in your slide. These values can be edited according to your needs. Once you finish adding and editing the values for the chart, you can close the Excel file. For more detailed information on the use of charts in Excel, please refer to the Microsoft Excel 2013 courses.

Formatting a Chart

After you insert a chart into your slide, you may want to customize its appearance.

When a chart is selected in your slide, numerous tools become available. These tools can be found on the CHART TOOLS DESIGN and CHART TOOLS FORMAT tabs.

The tools available on the CHART TOOLS DESIGN tab affect the way chart data is presented.

Chart design tools are categorized in the following groups (these are in a different order in PowerPoint 2007/2010):

• Chart Layouts - Provides a gallery of chart layouts which can be applied to your chart.
• Chart Styles - Provides a gallery of chart styles which can be applied to your chart.
• Data - Work with the data a chart is based on.
• Type - Change to a different chart style or save a chart as a template.

The tools available on the CHART TOOLS FORMAT tab affect the visual aesthetics of the chart.

Chart formatting tools are categorized in the following groups:

• Current Selection - Select specific areas of the chart for formatting.
• Insert Shapes - Add shapes to your chart.
• Shape Styles - Depending on the chart component currently selected, provides a gallery of shape styles which can be applied to the component. Other tools in the group allow you to format individual properties of the chart.
• WordArt Styles - Provides a gallery of text formats which can be applied to selected text on your chart or to all text in a particular component.
• Arrange - Manage the position and orientation of objects in a chart.
• Size - Manage the height and width of the chart.

In PowerPoint 2007 and 2010, there is a third CHART TOOLS tab that appears: the CHART TOOLS LAYOUT tab. In PowerPoint 2013, this tab is replaced with chart pop-up options, which appear next to the chart when it is selected. Use these options to modify chart elements, styles, and filters.

Using the commands and tools from the CHART TOOLS DESIGN and CHART TOOLS FORMAT tabs, as well as the pop-up chart options, you can produce a chart that suits your presentation needs functionally and aesthetically.

Modifying Chart Type

Once inserted, you can easily change the type of your chart.

1. With the chart selected, select the CHART TOOLS DESIGN tab.
2. From the Type group, select Change Chart Type.
3. In the Change Chart Type dialog box, select an option under All Charts, and then further customize the chart with the options on top.
4. To change the chart type, click OK.

Adding Legends to Charts

You can add a legend to a PowerPoint chart.

1. With the chart selected, click the plus sign (+) icon, the Chart Elements option, to the right of the chart.
2. Check the Legend check box to display the chart's legend.

Importing Charts from External Sources

To copy a chart from Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel:

1. Open the Word or Excel file that contains the chart you want to copy.
2. Highlight the chart and press Ctrl + C to copy it.
3. In your PowerPoint presentation, select the slide to copy the chart into and press Ctrl + V.
4. Format the chart according to your needs using the CHART TOOLS options.

Working with Charts

In this exercise, you will copy a chart from an Excel file and use chart tools to modify the design and layout of the chart in Microsoft PowerPoint.

1. Locate and open the PowerPoint file named "My Chart" in your Webucator/PowerPoint2013.1/Exercises folder.
2. Locate and open the Excel file named "Business" in your Webucator/PowerPoint2013.1/Exercises folder.
3. Copy the chart from Excel into the slide titled "Commission Chart". Ensure that the Link option is checked.
4. Change the chart style to Style 42. (If you are using PowerPoint 2007 or 2010, choose a style with a black background.)
5. Save the PowerPoint file "My Chart" for future use.
6. Close the Excel file "Business" without saving any changes.

Solution: