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Note: This article applies to Microsoft SharePoint 2010 versions. If you are using SharePoint in Microsoft 365, see Use the Quick Chart web part.

You can use the Chart Web Part to create and display a chart in a page. Chart Web Parts are useful for visually representing data in line charts, bar charts, and other views. Charts enable you and other users to view performance information at a glance.

When you create and add a Chart Web Part to a page, you typically do this in several phases. First, you add a Chart Web Part to a page. Next, you connect the Chart Web Part to a data source and configure the chart to display data. Finally, you can optionally change the appearance of the Chart Web Part.

In this article

Phase 1: Add a Chart Web Part to a Web Part Page

During this phase, you create or open a page for editing, and then you add a blank Chart Web Part to the page.

  1. Begin by either creating a page or by opening an existing page for editing.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab, and then in the Web Parts group, click Web Parts.

  3. In the Categories section, click Business Data.

  4. In the Web Parts section, click Chart Web Part, and then click Add.

  5. Proceed to Phase 2: Connect to a data source and configure the Chart Web Part.

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Phase 2: Connect to a data source and configure the Chart Web Part

During this phase, you select a data source connection and configure the Chart Web Part.

Note:  Before you begin, make sure that the page that contains the Chart Web Part is in editing mode.

  1. Locate the Chart Web Part that you want to edit, and then click the Data & Appearance hypertext.

  2. In the Data Connection & Chart Appearance Wizards page, click Connect Chart to Data to open the Data Connection Wizard.

  3. In the Choose a Data Source page, select a data source type, and then click Next. You can choose from the options that are described in the following table:

Option

Description

Connect to another Web Part

Use this option to connect the Chart Web Part to another Web Part that is capable of sending data. Examples of such Web Parts include a Document Library or a Contacts list.

Note:  Make sure that the Web Part that you want to use is already on the same page as the Chart Web Part.

Connect to a List

Use this option to connect the Chart Web Part to a list that is located in the same site collection.

Connect to Business Data Catalog

Use this option to you connect the Chart Web Part to a Business Connectivity Services (BCS) component. BCS enables integration with external data, including line of business applications. BCS builds on top of the Business Data Catalog technology that was delivered in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. To learn more about BCS, see Plan for Business Connectivity Services.

Connect to Excel Services

Use this option to connect the Chart Web Part to an Excel workbook that has been published to Excel Services.

  1. In the Connect to Data Source page, select the data source that you want to use, and then click Next.

  2. In the Retrieve and Filter Data page, preview the data that will be used for the Chart Web Part.

  3. To optionally configure parameters to display a subset of the data, use the following procedure:

    1. Click the plus sign (+) next to Filters to expand the Define Filter Parameters section.

    2. Use the Parameter Name list to select an item, such as a column in the data set.

    3. Use the Type list to select an appropriate operator type.

    4. Use the Default value box to specify the criterion that you want to use for the filter.

    5. Click Preview Data to view the filtered data.

    6. Repeat Steps 1-6 for each additional parameter that you want to use for the chart.

  4. After you have finished previewing and filtering the data, click Next.

  5. To optionally specify how you want the data to be displayed, use the Bind Chart to Data page. Do this by specifying one column for the Y Field, and another column for the X Field.

  6. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

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Phase 3: Change the appearance of the Chart Web Part

After you have created a Chart Web Part, you can change how the chart appears. For example, you can select a chart type and specify display settings, including themes, the chart title and legend, axes and grid lines, and so forth.

Note:  Before you begin, make sure that the page that contains the Chart Web Part is in editing mode.

  1. Locate the Chart Web Part that you want to edit, and then click the Data & Appearance hypertext.

  2. In the Data Connection & Chart Appearance Wizards page, click Customize Your Chart to open the Chart Customization Wizard.

  3. In the Select Chart Type page, select a chart type by using the following procedure:

    1. In the Chart Type Categories section, click a chart category.

    2. In the Chart Templates section, click a chart template

    3. Click Next.

  4. In the Chart Appearance Properties page, select a theme by using the following procedure:

    1. In the Appearance Theme section, use the Theme list to select a theme for the chart.

    2. If the Drawing Style list is available, use it to specify how you want the items in the chart to appear. For example, if you selected a pie chart type, then you can use the Drawing Style list to specify how the outer edge of the “pie” will display.

    3. Use the Transparency list to specify the level of opacity of the chart colors. For example, select 0% - Solid to display the chart in rich colors, and 100% - Invisible to display the chart as transparent (without any colors).

  5. To optionally specify the width, height, and image format that you want to use for the chart, use the Size and Format section.

  6. After you have configured the chart appearance properties, click Next.

  7. To optionally specify settings, such as the chart title and legend, axes and grid lines, data labels, and other properties, use the Chart element properties page.
    To configure one or more of the chart element properties, select a tab, and then use the following procedures (as applicable):

    Title and Legend

Section

Procedure

Titles

  1. Select the Show Chart Title check box.

  2. In the Title box, type a name for the chart.

  3. Use the Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the chart title.

  4. Use the color list to select a color for the chart title text.

  5. In the Position section, click to specify where you want the chart title to display.

  6. Do one of the following:

    1. Proceed to the Legend section.

    2. Click another tab, such as the Axes and Grid Lines tab.

    3. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Legend

  1. Select the Show Legend check box.

  2. Use the Legend Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the chart legend.

  3. In the Title box, type a name for the chart legend.

  4. Use the Title Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the title of the chart legend.

  5. Use the color list to select a color for the chart legend title text.

  6. To optionally overlay the chart legend on the chart, select the Dock to Chart Area check box.

  7. Use the Style list to specify whether you want the chart legend to display as a table, a column, or as a row of items.

  8. In the Position section, click to specify where you want the chart legend to display.

  9. Do one of the following:

    1. Click another tab, such as the Axes and Grid Lines tab.

    2. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Axes and Gridlines

Section

Procedure

X-Axis
o r
Y-Axis

Note:  Depending on the chart type that is used for the chart, you might or might not have the ability to format an axis or its gridlines. For example, if the chart is displayed as a pie chart, no options are available on the Axes and Gridlines tab. On the other hand, if the chart is displayed as a bar chart, many options are available on the Axes and Gridlines tab.

  1. In the X-Axis (or Y-Axis) section, use the Show Axis list to show or hide an axis.

    • Select Auto or True to display the axis.

    • Select False to hide the axis.

  2. To display a title for the axis, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Axis Title checkbox.

    2. In the Title box, type a name for the axis.

    3. Use the Title Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the name of the axis.

    4. Use the Alignment list to specify where you want the name of the axis to be displayed.

  3. To show item names in the axis, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Axis Labels checkbox.

    2. Use the Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the axis labels.

    3. Use the color list to select a color for the axis labels.

    4. To optionally modify how the axis labels are displayed, use the Format list. For example, you can select a particular format for dates, if dates are used in an axis.

    5. Select the Reversed checkbox to show axis labels across the top of the chart (as opposed to the bottom of the chart).

    6. Select the Interlaced checkbox to display shaded background rows in the chart. This is useful if the chart is large or contains a lot of bars or columns.

  4. To adjust the scale of the axis, specify one or more of the following Axis Settings options:

    • Select the Start from zero checkbox to include zero (0) in the range of values.

    • Select the Logarithmic scale checkbox to change the scaling of the axis to use logarithmic values instead of actual values. This is useful if the chart covers a large range of values or when the equally spaced values are numbers that increase exponentially (such as 1, 10, 100, etc.) instead of consecutive values that increase linearly (such as 1, 2, 3, etc.).

    • Select the Side margins checkbox to include whitespace on either side of the first and last items in the chart. For example, if the chart displays vertical bars, you might select the Side margins checkbox to configure the chart to show spacing between the edge of the chart and the edges of the first and last bars.

    • Use the Minimum box to specify a minimum value for the axis.

    • Use the Maximum box to specify a maximum value for the axis.

  5. To show grid lines in the chart, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Major Grid Lines checkbox. Major grid lines appear as solid gray lines in the chart and are useful for making it easier to see approximate chart values.

    2. In the Interval box for the major grid lines, type a number that corresponds to the interval that you want to use for the major grid lines. For example, if the chart displays data in units of 100, you might type 100 for the interval to display major grid lines.

    3. Use the Tick Marks list to specify whether and how tick marks will be displayed in the chart. Tick marks appear along an axis to make it easier to see approximate chart values.

    4. To optionally add another set of grid lines to the chart, select the Show Minor Grid Lines checkbox. Minor grid lines typically use smaller intervals than major grid lines.

    5. In the Interval box for the minor grid lines, type a number that corresponds to the interval that you want to use for the minor grid lines.

    6. Use the Tick Marks list to specify whether and how tick marks will be displayed in the chart. Tick marks appear along an axis to make it easier to see approximate chart values.

  6. Do one of the following:

    1. Proceed to the Secondary X-Axis or Secondary Y-Axis section.

    2. Click another tab, such as the Data Labels and Markers tab.

    3. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Secondary X-Axis
or
Secondary Y-Axis

A secondary X-Axis is typically displayed across the top of a chart, whereas a secondary Y-Axis is typically displayed along the right side of the chart.

Note:  Depending on the chart type that is used for the chart, you might or might not have the ability to display a secondary axis or its gridlines.

  1. In the Secondary X-Axis (or Secondary Y-Axis) section, use the Show Axis list to show or hide a secondary axis.

    • Select Auto or True to display the axis.

    • Select False to hide the axis.

  2. To display a title for the secondary axis, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Axis Title checkbox.

    2. In the Title box, type a name for the axis.

    3. Use the Title Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the name of the axis.

    4. Use the Alignment list to specify where you want the name of the axis to be displayed.

  3. To show item names in the secondary axis, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Axis Labels checkbox.

    2. Use the Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the axis labels.

    3. Use the color list to select a color for the axis labels.

    4. To optionally modify how the axis labels are displayed, use the Format list. For example, you can select a particular format for dates, if dates are used in an axis.

    5. Select the Reversed checkbox to show axis labels across the top of the chart (as opposed to the bottom of the chart).

    6. Select the Interlaced checkbox to display shaded background rows in the chart. This is useful if the chart is large or contains a lot of bars or columns.

  4. To adjust the scale of the secondary axis, specify one or more of the following Axis Settings options:

    • Select the Start from zero checkbox to include zero (0) in the range of values.

    • Select the Logarithmic scale checkbox to change the scaling of the axis to use logarithmic values instead of actual values. This is useful if the chart covers a large range of values or when the equally spaced values are numbers that increase exponentially (such as 1, 10, 100, etc.) instead of consecutive values that increase linearly (such as 1, 2, 3, etc.).

    • Select the Side margins checkbox to include whitespace on either side of the first and last items in the chart. For example, if the chart displays vertical bars, you might select the Side margins checkbox to configure the chart to show spacing between the edge of the chart and the edges of the first and last bars.

    • Use the Minimum box to specify a minimum value for the axis.

    • Use the Maximum box to specify a maximum value for the axis.

  5. To show grid lines in the chart, use the following procedure:

    1. Select the Show Major Grid Lines checkbox. Major grid lines appear as solid gray lines in the chart and are useful for making it easier to see approximate chart values.

    2. In the Interval box for the major grid lines, type a number that corresponds to the interval that you want to use for the major grid lines. For example, if the chart displays data in units of 100, you might type 100 for the interval to display major grid lines.

    3. Use the Tick Marks list to specify whether and how tick marks will be displayed in the chart. Tick marks appear along an axis to make it easier to see approximate chart values.

    4. To optionally add another set of grid lines to the chart, select the Show Minor Grid Lines checkbox. Minor grid lines typically use smaller intervals than major grid lines.

    5. In the Interval box for the minor grid lines, type a number that corresponds to the interval that you want to use for the minor grid lines.

    6. Use the Tick Marks list to specify whether and how tick marks will be displayed in the chart. Tick marks appear along an axis to make it easier to see approximate chart values.

  6. Do one of the following:

    1. Click another tab, such as the Data Labels and Markers tab.

    2. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Data Labels and Markers

Section

Procedure

Labels

  1. Select the Show Labels checkbox to display labels, such as values, in the chart.

  2. Use the Label Value list to select the type of labels that you want to display. For example, to show values that are in the data source that is used for the chart, select Show default values.

  3. Use the Font list to specify a font type, size, and style for the data labels.

  4. Use the color list to select a color for the data labels.

  5. To optionally modify how the data labels are displayed, use the Format list. For example, you can select a particular format for dates, if dates are used in the chart.

  6. To optionally display data labels at an angle in the chart, in the Label Angle box, type a number. The number that you type corresponds to how many degrees clockwise that you want to display the data labels. For example, to display the data labels at a slight, downward angle, you might type “10” in the Label Angle box.

  7. Use the Label Alignment list to specify where you want the data labels to appear in the chart. For example, to display the data labels outside actual chart values, select Outside in the Label Alignment list.

  8. Do one of the following:

    1. Proceed to the Data Markers section.

    2. Click another tab, such as the Hyperlinks and Tooltips tab.

    3. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Data Markers

  1. Select the Show Markers checkbox to highlight data points in the chart.

  2. Use the Marker Style list to select the type of marker that you want to use.

  3. In the Marker Size box, type a number to specify the size (in pixels) of the data markers that you want to use.

  4. Do one of the following:

    1. Click another tab, such as the Hyperlinks and Tooltips tab.

    2. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

Hyperlinks and Tooltips

Section

Procedure

Hyperlinks and Tooltips

You can add hyperlinks and tooltips to three types of items in the Chart Web Part:

  • A chart series (which corresponds to bars in a bar chart)

  • The chart legend

  • Data labels in the chart

You can use hyperlinks to direct chart users to other sites that contain additional information. You can use tooltips to display comments or notes as additional information in the chart.

Note:  Chart users will only see tooltips and hyperlinks when they position their mouse over a particular chart element. For example, in order to see a series tooltip or click a hyperlink in a bar chart, the chart user must position the mouse over a bar in the chart.

  1. Use the Data Series list to select the data series for which you want to add a hyperlink or a tooltip.

    Note:  If the chart contains only one data series, the Data Series list contains only Default.

  2. Use the Series Hyperlink box to specify a website address (URL) to a site, such as a website or a team site. In the chart, the hyperlink will be attached to series items, such as bars in a bar chart.

  3. Use the Series Tooltip box to type information, such as a note, that will be displayed when a chart user positions the mouse over a series item, such as a bar in a bar chart.

  4. Use the Legend Hyperlink box to specify a website address (URL) to a site, such as a website or a team site. In the chart, the hyperlink will be attached to the chart legend.

  5. Use the Legend Tooltip box to type information, such as a note, that will be displayed when a chart user positions the mouse over the chart legend.

  6. Use the Label Hyperlink box to specify a website address (URL) to a site, such as a website or a team site. In the chart, the hyperlink will be attached to data labels in the chart.

  7. Use the Label Tooltip box to type information, such as a note, that will be displayed when a chart user positions the mouse over a data label in the chart.

  8. Do one of the following:

    1. Click another tab, such as the Title and Legend tab.

    2. Click Finish to view the chart in its page.

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