Want to share data in numerical form with the help of a graph on google docs but don’t know how to make a graph in google docs? In this article, we have given steps to follow. By using them, one can easily make a chart.

Google Docs is a useful web-based application for creating shareable documents that update in real-time. Google Docs allows you to create documents and access them from any device with an internet connection. You may use Google Docs to create graphs to enrich your work and tailor them to your specific needs.

Google Docs and Sheets are excellent substitutes for Microsoft Word and Excel applications. Although they are free to use, they lack several capabilities that Microsoft’s products have. However, most users will find these Google apps functional enough for their daily needs. Adding charts and graphs to your text documents is one such activity. Unfortunately, you cannot generate graphs directly in Google Docs; instead, you must use Google Sheets.

1. Why are Google Sheets being used to Insert the Graph?

Enter your data into a spreadsheet, select it, and then insert a graph. Graphs, while appearing static, are highly dynamic. You enter the data and instruct the software on how to build the graph. As previously stated, this is the domain of Google Sheets.

2. Uses of Charts in Google Docs

The applications for the charts in Google Docs are essentially limitless. You can make charts to visualize the following, whether for work or fun:

• Comparisons involving several data sets.
• Data sets that have increased or decreased.
• Numbers representing data sets.
• Data that has changed throughout time. A chart is your best bet if you need to present facts in an aesthetically pleasing way. Charts are excellent for communicating project updates, obtaining and analyzing feedback, and even creating infographics that can be shared with others. And more.

3. Types of Graphs in Google Docs

• Bar graph: They display measures close to one another, allowing you to compare them. These measurements can be for defined lengths of time or other metrics that track major changes over time. The following graph types are available in Google Docs:
• Column graphs: Like bar chart, column chart allows you to form metric groupings. Using these column clusters, you can compare measurements within and outside of the cluster.
• Line graphs: A line graph has data points that can illustrate tiny data disparities where lines can overlap. A line chart allows you to track large and tiny data changes over time.
• Pie charts: A pie graph displays the values of specific item pieces that make up a whole item. While these may not alter over time, they can indicate percentages or proportions.

3.1 Which Chart Type Should I Use and When?

• You can create a smooth line chart with dots highlighting the data point. A line chart is useful for tracking the evolution of your data over time. Additionally, it’s excellent for comparing various numbers, comprehending the distribution of your data, and spotting data trends.
• Similar to line charts, column charts have similar applications. The main distinction is that each data point’s size is displayed in columns.
• Bar graphs are identical to column charts, except for how the data is shown. When the label text is lengthy, this arrangement is more practical. Bar graphs can also display negative values because they don’t occupy much vertical space on the page. A stacked bar chart is used for comparative analysis. Here, the entire data range of a is shown in one bar; each parameter has its data set.
• Pie charts are useful for illustrating how a whole is made up of its component components, especially when doing so in percentages. For instance, you might wish to show the percentage of users who use each type of the browser on your website.

4. How to make a Graph in Google Docs

1. Navigate to docs.google.com and, if necessary, enter your Google email account and password.

   

2. Go to Google Docs and open the document in which you want to construct a chart or graph, either selecting an existing one or making a new one by clicking the “+” sign. Locate and click on the “Chart” tab in the drop-down menu to open a sidebar menu with graph-creation options. Click your document’s “Insert” feature to open a drop-down menu.

3. Build a bar, column, line, or pie graph using the sidebar menu. When you select the graph type you wish to build, a generic chart appears that you can alter in Google Sheets. Google docs create charts with generic data sets linked to a Google sheet where you can update the data in your graph.

4.1 Inserting a Graph from a Previously Created Google Sheet

1. If you already have the data you want to insert into the graph on your Doc ready in a graph in a Spreadsheet, go to the top menu in your Doc and select ‘Insert -> Chart -> From Sheets.’ All spreadsheets that are available to you will be presented.

   

2. Choose the one from which you wish to import the graph, then choose the graph and click ‘Import.’ Select the Link to spreadsheet’ option if you want to edit the data dynamically.

   

4.2 How to Customize the Chart or Graph on Google Docs

To make changes to the graph on Google Docs, such as changing the kind of graph and data, you have to open it in Spreadsheets.

1. Click on the graph in Google Docs to choose it. A link icon is displayed in the top right corner of the graph. Select ‘Open source’ by clicking on this. The Google Sheets file will now open.

   

2. Selecting the chain connection icon brings up a drop-down menu with options to “Unlink” your documents graph or view all “Linked objects” in your document.

   

3. Click “Open source” to open the referenced sheet in a new tab and edit your graph. Depending on the type of graph, you can alter the graph title, values, labels, legends, colors, and other graph characteristics while editing it in sheets. You can also make the axis reversed by using the chart editor. If you want to make numerous graphs, you may also choose “Linked objects” to see and edit each linked sheet in your project.
4. Select the graph on this sheet and double-click to access the ‘Chart Editor.’ This section has two tabs: ‘Setup’ and ‘Customize.’ The many types of graphs available are listed under the ‘Setup’ tab under ‘Chart type.’ Choose the one that best fits your chart data.

   

5. Other design components of your graph can be customized in Google Sheets by altering the background, colors, fonts, lines, opacity, and shapes. Right-click the chart in your spreadsheets and select “Customize.” If you wish to add or change your gridlines, go to “Gridlines” and change how many or thick they are.

   

6. Select the available parameters of your graph in the “Chart style” option to personalize and adjust them to your needs. You can alter the font styles, colors, and background opacity. Select “Customize” again and then click on “Chart style” to modify the backdrop or font of your graph.

   

7. If the ‘Link to Spreadsheet’ option were chosen, the graph in your document would show an ‘Update’ option when the data in the Spreadsheet is changed. By selecting this option, you will get an automatically updated chart.

   

8. If you wish to move your graph within your document, left-click on it to open a menu with various placement options. Your graph will automatically be put in the same line as any text you have before it.

4.3 Editing the Graph’s Legend

• To update the legend of the graph, open it from the source Spreadsheet and double-click to activate the ‘Chart Editor.’

  

• Scroll down to the ‘Legend’ section drop-down menu under the ‘Customize’ option. Click on it.
• The Legend section includes the following edit options: Auto/To a certain side/Inside, Legend font, Legend format, Legend font size, and Text color.

5. How to Make a chart in Google Docs on Android and iPhone

Unfortunately, the Google Docs mobile app does not support inserting graphs directly, so you must go through a convoluted method.

Identical to the computer method, you’d first have to create the graph in a Spreadsheet or use an existing one in a Spreadsheet. Make sure you have both applications installed on your phone for this or else visit the google play store to install google docs and google sheets.

1. Open the google sheets app on your mobile device, then choose an existing spreadsheet or create a new spreadsheet by tapping the ‘+’ icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Drag the data you want to use in the graph to choose it.
3. Now, tap the ‘+’ icon on the app’s top menu. This is analogous to the ‘Insert’ command on a computer.
4. Change the relevant attributes in the chart by selecting ‘Chart.’ Tap the checkmark button at the top left of the screen to save your changes.
5. Since you can’t import graphs directly into Google Docs for mobile, you’d have to launch the desktop app on your browser to accomplish this.
6. Open Chrome or another browser you employ on your smartphone. Select “Desktop site” or a similar in your browser’s menu from the browser menu. (If your browser doesn’t appear to have this option, use Chrome.)
7. Now follow the similar process as suggested above.

Check out: https://icytechworld.com/how-to-add-text-box-in-google-docs-guide-2022/

6. Conclusion

I hope this article is useful and you can now adjust the kind, layout, and visual appearance of dynamic graphs in your Google Docs files. Google’s tool, similar to Excel, once again demonstrates that it is a viable option for most users.

Last Updated on December 6, 2022 by AnoushkaRoy