Subject:  Using Excel 2007

My Excel examples were done using Excel 2003.  Some students have said
they've had problems using Excel 2007, especially trying to get more
than one plot (set of data) on the same graph.  Things are actually
very similar to my example.  Here are a few things that may help:

1) To make a graph you highlight your x and y data.  Then go up to "Insert".
   There you will see "Charts".  This will insert a chart in the workspace.

   When you do this you will see something called "Chart Tools" appear above
   the "Design" tab.  Click on this.  You will then get many different functions
   for charts.

2) How to get more than one set of data on the same graph?  There are several
   ways of doing this.

        a) In my example, (done with Excel 2003 on an XP machine) the easiest
           thing is to right click in the graph area and choose "Source Data"
           in the pop-up window.

           In Excel 2007 you essentially do the same thing except choose
           "Select Data".  From there it's pretty much what my example shows.

        b) In Excel 2007 you can also do this by clicking in the graph area and
           then clicking on "Chart Tools" (above the "Design" tab).  Several
           new options appear, one of which is "Select Data".

3) You will also find many other things in "Chart Tools", such as "Move Chart",
   which allows you to move the chart to a new tab (out of the current
   workspace).  I recommend this.

4) Right clicking on the outside edge of the chart itself will bring up a
   pop-up window with lots of options as well.

5) If you ever want to send me your Excel file from Excel 2007 you will need
   to save it as an Excel 2003 (xls) file or I won't be able to look at it.

I guess this brings up something else.  Be inquisitive.  When searching for
things just start clicking.  If you've saved your file you won't lose any
information or mess anything up.  Using the right mouse button is a useful
tool, especially in a chart.  The first time I used Excel 2007 (after the
initial shock of how it looked) it took me about 10-15 minutes to make up
some data, make a chart, find "Select Data", put the chart in a new window
and do the trendline.  Of course I already knew how to use Excel 2003.

Finally, don't wait until the last minute.  If you e-mail me for help at 2 AM
I may see it, but don't count on it.  Even if I do see it, there may not be
enough time for you to make fixes.

Dr. Zellmer