Graphs essentially create a way of visualizing two or more characteristics of the associated data set. For example, a graph might illustrate the date and numeric value of a data item; or depict quantities of data items that fall into a specified category, such as Expenditures or Revenues.
Scales and grids help visually clarify a graph's data. Scales are located along the sides and bottom of a graph, and use a combination of tick marks and labels to indicate the category, time period, or numeric value of each data item in the graph.
Grids are extensions of scale tick marks and labels, and consist of a number of evenly spaced vertical or horizontal lines in a graph's background. Use them like a ruler to judge the value of data items in the graph.
Note: Scales and grids are not used in pie graphs.
The first few sections of this chapter help you conceptually understand how scales and grids work:
The next sections of this chapter deal with each type of scale individually:
The last sections discuss scale and grid features common to all graphs, regardless of the scale types they use: