Creating a bar chart in Numbers

Add a table that has the first row and first column set as headers (use the top-left selection from the Table menu):

now add some data:

now select the data:

now insert the chart:

Choose the bar chart from the charts menu after you have selected the range of cells that contains your data(choose the top-left chart):

Hi Craig,

Second point first: The chart and the table holding its data are both moveable objects. If you want to print only the chart, the easiest wa to set that up is to select the table and drag it down or right far enough to put it on a second page, then select the chart, expand it by dragging the small square handles at each corner of the rectangle showing the boundaries of this object, then position it on the page where you want it.

To aid in positioning the chart, go to the View menu and choose Show Rulers. Then click in the horizontal ruler and drag down to drag a yellow guide line to what will be the vertical centre of the first page. Repeat to drag a vertical guideline from the vertical ruler to the horizontal centre of the first page.

When you have it positioned where you think it should go, press command-P to open Print Setup.

This gives you a picture of the first page, holding the chart, and the second, to which you have moved the table.

If you need to make further adjustments, click Done to return to the editing view.

First point:

Numbers will place the labels in the header column of your table as category labels along the horizontal axis, and use the label(s) in the header row to label the colour(s) used for the bars charting each series of values. The vertical value axis is labeled with a series of evenly spaced numbers noting the quantities represented by the height of the bars. You can control the number of steps in the value axis using the controls in the Chart inspector.

Any further description can be placed in a text box, This box is not attached to the chart, so it will need to be moved and resized separately from the rest of the chart if you make size adjustments.

For other options, explore the (Chart) Format Inspector.

Do explore the controls in the Inspector.

Regards,

Barry

Hi Craig,

I would like to put descriptions on both axes. Not sure whether these should be in the data table or applied somehow after the chart is created.

Do you mean this? Click on the chart to select it.

Format Panel > Axis > Value (Y) > Axis Name

And this for the X axis

To see this

Click on the automatic text box 'Category Axis' and type a description.

Click on the automatic text box 'Value Axis' and type a description.

Those descriptions are attached to the chart and will move with it.

I cannot print just the chart on a single sheet without getting some part of the data set.

Click on the chart to select it.

Menu > Edit Copy (command C) or Cut (command X)..

Insert a new Sheet.

Delete the default table that appears.

Paste (command V).

Print only that Sheet.

Regards,

Ian.