 Are numbers and tables hard to read and understand? Rod here, and in this video we will show you how Excel charts make numbers and tables come to life, easier to see and interpret. For example, here's some data on third quarter regional sales in 2015 for the National Baking Company where you are the National Sales Director. The table shows sales by region and product categories and you want to present these results to your Executive Committee. Let's show you three ways to create a basic chart based on the table that will make the numbers very visual and easier to understand. The first way that will give you a chart immediately is to select the data in the table and then press Alt F1. Excel gives you your chart immediately, but it might or might not be the best chart. Notice in the menu there is a section called chart tools with a design tab and a format tab. The design tab is important for choosing from many design options for your chart. The format tab is important for adding visuals to your chart. Alt F1 always gives you what is called a clustered column chart. So now you know how to create a chart using the Alt F1 method. We're going to delete this chart by placing the cursor in the chart and hitting delete. Now we're going to show you the second way to quickly create a chart by using a quick analysis approach. Select the third quarter regional sales data again and a quick analysis box appears down here. Click on the box and options appear. Now click on the chart option and several recommended charts appear. Hover your mouse over each chart option and you will see what the option looks like. Click the option you like best. We're going to click the first one. See how the numbers are easier to understand when in a picture of a chart. You can quickly see that English Muffins is the top seller in the southwest and mountain regions and sliced bread is tops everywhere else. Now we will show you a third way. First select the data in this new chart called third quarter sales by Unitype 2015. Then go up and click on the insert tab and scroll over to the section called charts. Now go over to the left of the section called recommended charts. Click on recommended charts and this will bring up a dialog box with charts to choose from. When you hover over each one you can see what each looks like in a preview box. Choose the preview you like best. We like the first one. And if you want to see more charts of this type click on all charts. You can hover over each chart to get a better preview. Choose the chart you like best and then click OK. And Excel quickly creates that chart. Now you can make changes to your chart. For example click on add chart element and then add data labels. You can also add a legend to the top center or bottom of your chart. You can put the legend wherever you want. We are choosing to put it at the bottom. And you can also give the chart a new title. For example third quarter sales by Unitype 2015. You can move your chart next to the data for your presentation. Or if you want you can present the chart on a separate worksheet simply by pressing F11. And there you have your chart on a separate page for your presentation. Now you know three methods for making numbers and tables easier to understand and come to life visibly in charts. Please tell us if this video was helpful by commenting below. And be sure to visit burn to learn dot com. And watch other videos in our Microsoft Excel series. If you want personal direct coaching support click on our one-on-one coaching link. Also please subscribe to Burn to Learn. Subscribing is free and helps a lot. And click on our Patreon link to help us keep our videos free of charge. Be sure to watch our next video where we take a look at creating pivot tables.