ALS 3202 - Lesson 11
Glossary - Graphing Data

P. M. Choate

self-extracting file: There are at least 2 ways to send groups of files as a single file. One is to use a Zip program to "zip" the files into a single packet. This requires the recipient to have the proper program to "unzip" these files. The other way is to bundle the files into a single self-extracting file. The self-extracting file is an executable file with an extension of .exe. When you download such a file you do not need an unzip program. The unzipping is done within the self-extracting program. All the recipient has to do is double-click on the filename and the files will be extracted. They are then ready for immediate use. I use WinZip, a zipping program that has the ability to generate self-extracting files. If you plan on exchanging groups of files you should look into the purchase of WinZip. Go to WinZip's home page . Be advised that with today's SPAM filters most files with .exe in their name will be blocked as potentially harmful files. That is why placing them in a zipped archive may bypass such filters.

graph: A graphical (visual) representation of data set. There are hundreds of graph types, each with their own requirements.

chart axis: The outer borders ( vertical =Y axis and horizontal = X-axis) of a chart containing scale ranges, labels, titles, etc. See sample graph

chart title: A descriptive title that should inform the viewer of the relevant chart content. See sample graph

chart legend: Legends display the keys to data sets in a chart. Each data set, when graphed, will be coded differently. The codes for these data sets are contained in a legend box. See sample graph

scale: The subdivisions of each axis. Scale may be numerical or categorical. See sample graph

secondary Y-axis: Sometimes data sets contain a subset that is far outside the ranges of the remaining sets. If these were all graphed against the same axis scale one of them might disappear due to values far outside the range of the others. This is where one can use a secondary Y-axis to graph a data set far outside the ranges of the others. See sample graph

Y-axis: The left vertical axis of a chart. Used to plot values against corresponding X-axis (Horizontal) values. See sample graph

X-axis: Horixontal axis of a chart. See sample graph . Many programs "expect" X-axis data to be entered in the first column of your spreadsheet data ranges.

Data Series: One or more data sets contained in a worksheet that is used to create a graph. A single series is defined by its range of cells in a spreadsheet.

Series labels: Labels occur at the top of columns in a spreadsheet. This information is usually the content of a legend box.

Select data: Accomplshed by dragging the cursor (mouse) over a range of cells in a spreadsheet. If the data is contiguous you may simple highlight it with the mouse. If the data is separated by one or more columns or rows, hold down the CTRL key while you highlight each range to graph.

Non-contiguous data: Data may be anywhere on a spreadsheet. Usually you have all data for graphing together. If you need to select data that is separated (non-contiguous) then use the CTRL key while you highlight with the mouse.

Gridlines: A property of the plot area in a chart. These may be used to help the viewer read across a chart to better understand values. However, they frequently add clutter and may not be useful. See sample graph

plot area: The background area of a chart. The plot area may contain fill, and is the area containing gridlines and chart components (lines, bars, etc.).

scale: Increments or subdivions of the chart axes. Scale may be numerical or categorical. See sample graph