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Description

Excel — Spreadsheet Charts: Choosing the Right Type, Building and Formatting

Three hours to produce readable charts that genuinely convey what your data shows

  • 0.43 days — 3 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

The monthly report goes out with tables of figures that nobody reads. When a chart is inserted, it appears with default settings: unsuitable scale, illegible legend, series in no particular order. Every month the same reformatting work starts again from scratch, and the reader simply turns the page.

These 3 hours focus on building charts that work in a real working document. Participants prepare their data, select the type of representation suited to their question, adjust axes and labels, then save a template that can be reused on subsequent data sets.

Learning objectives

  • Prepare a usable data range for a chart
  • Select the chart type suited to the comparison required
  • Configure axes, scales and data labels
  • Format a chart so that it is immediately readable
  • Reuse a formatting set-up on a new data set

What makes this programme different

Three charts built during the session using a management data set
A chart template saved and reusable after the programme
Identification of the settings that mislead the reader

Programme

1Source Data and Chart Selection

Before clicking on Insert

  • Organising a data range in rows and columns
  • Handling blank cells and duplicate entries
  • Matching the question asked to the chart type
  • Comparison, trend, distribution and relationship between two series

2Building and Configuring

Taking control of the settings

  • Selecting series and axis labels
  • Adjusting scales and displayed units
  • Adding data labels and the legend
  • Combination charts and a secondary vertical axis
  • Behaviour of filtered or hidden series

3Formatting and Reuse

A consistent output from one report to the next

  • Colour palette and legibility in print
  • Chart title linked to a calculation cell
  • Saving and then applying a chart template
  • Copying into a document or a presentation
  • Updating when new rows are added

Who is it for

Administrative staff, officers, analysts and department heads who produce regular reports containing figures.

Prerequisites

Ability to enter data and navigate within a spreadsheet.

Dates & locations

12 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.