Google Spreadsheets finally gets charts

Setting up a basic pie chart in Google Spreadsheets

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Last week, Google quietly upgraded its online spreadsheet application, Docs and Spreadsheets with a charting function. Like almost everything else about Google's online apps suite, the charting tool is barebones yet useful, and benefits from being part of a suite in which collaboration is easy.

Creating a chart is easy. Just select a range of data, click on the little chart icon, and choose your chart type and a few options. You can't change colors or typefaces, or modify most of things people take for granted in a typical spreadsheet like Excel.

The new charting function is useful to help you visualize basic data, and it's a necessary precursor to Google's upcoming presentation app. But people looking to go beyond the basic representation of data--those wanting to fine-tune their visuals a bit--will find the feature lacking.

With this update to its spreadsheet app, Google made some other enhancements, which are covered in this official Google blog post.

[hypna]

More Google spreadsheet charting

If you need more advanced charts (outside the Google spreadsheet as images), you can also use the free online charting service:

www.chartAll.com

Charts can be created from manually typed data, Google spreadsheets, data linked from url, etc.

Includes basic charts, XY charts, XYZ 3D charts, Gauges, Geographical (mapping / GIS) charts, financial OHLC, and much more.

regards
david
www.chartAll.com

[yogia]

Charting Capability in Google Spreadsheet

The charting capability in Google Spreadsheet is a welcome addition. Charting capability is simple and straight forward. Just because one can not change colors or implement some other enhancements in charts does not take any thing away from the ability to make a visual presentation of data. For on-line use and collaboration of spreadsheet documents, the fewer the frills, the better. I am sure Google will continue to add more features quietly ... as it has done with adding Comments, and Range Names. Good Job Google!

Regards!
Yogi Anand, D.Eng, P.E.
Energy Efficient Building Network LLC
http://www.energyefficientbuild.com

[yogia]

Charting Capability in Google Spreadsheet

The charting capability in Google Spreadsheet is a welcome addition. Charting capability is simple and straight forward. Just because one can not change colors or implement some other enhancements in charts does not take any thing away from the ability to make a visual presentation of data. For on-line use and collaboration of spreadsheet documents, the fewer the frills, the better. I am sure Google will continue to add more features quietly ... as it has done with adding Comments, and Range Names. Good Job Google!

Regards!
Yogi Anand, D.Eng, P.E.
Energy Efficient Building Network LLC
http://www.energyefficientbuild.com