Google Docs has a simple chart creation tool built right into the browser version of the app. Here, we’ll dive into the basics of creating and editing these charts quickly.
Uses for Charts in Google Docs
The uses for the charts inside Google Docs are virtually endless. Whether for work or for play, you can create charts to visualize:
Comparisons between different data sets. Increases or decreases in data sets. Percentages of data sets. Changes in data over time.
And more. Charts are great for sharing project updates, gathering and analyzing feedback, or even using them as good infographics to share with others. If you need a visually appealing way to showcase data, a chart is the best option.
Types of Charts Available in Google Docs
Google Docs offers four different types of charts built right in, including:
Bar Column Line Pie
Tip: Does a table better suit your needs? You can do that by selecting Insert > Table from the toolbar.
How to Make a Quick Chart in Google Docs
Making a chart inside Google Docs is simple. First, open a new document and then follow these steps:
From the toolbar, select Insert > Chart. Select the type of chart you’d like to insert, or From Sheets to find a chart you’ve already created inside Google Sheets. Once you make your selection, the chart will populate inside your Google document.
How to Edit a Chart Inside Google Docs
The chart isn’t editable from inside Google Docs. Instead, you’ll need to edit the data inside the chart using Google Sheets. To do so:
Select the chart. Then, select the dropdown menu in the top right corner. Select Open source. Google Sheets will open. Enter the information you wish to appear in your chart using the appropriate cells. When you’re done editing your data, simply return to Google Docs and select Update next to the dropdown menu.
You can also change the color of your chart and other options by selecting Image Options from the toolbar.
What Else Can You Create With Google Docs?
That’s it! It’s truly that simple to visualize your data using Google Docs. Google’s word processing tool is so much more than a document creation app. What will you create?
