Visualizing Data with PivotCharts from Pluralsight

This course explores Excel PivotCharts that display a visual representation of PivotTables. The course shows you how to choose a PivotChart, select the data to visualize and modify the look and feel of the chart to meet your requirements.

A picture is worth a thousand words, and PivotCharts are no exception, providing a neat way of visualizing the data from a corresponding PivotTable. In this course, Visualizing Data with PivotCharts, you will gain the skills to quickly produce charts to a professional standard, which neatly summarize the associated PivotTable, allowing you to visualize the data and spot any trends within it. First, you will learn what PivotCharts are and the different types of charts available for you to use. Next, you will discover how to create PivotCharts, choose the correct chart type, and finesse the look and feel of the chart. Finally, you will explore how to make the chart truly interactive by adding filters, slicers, and drill-up/drill-down capability, helping you answer all those difficult data-related questions that your coworkers and managers just keep on asking! When you are finished this course, you will have the skills and knowledge to use Excel PivotCharts in order to professionally present your data.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Creating Your First PivotChart

Modifying the PivotChart Formatting

Changing How PivotChart Values Are Presented and Displayed

Adding Interactivity with Filters, Slicers, and Drill Down

Exploring Other Excel Capabilities

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the principles of visualization through PivotCharts

Develops proficiency in creating various types of PivotCharts

Emphasizes the importance of customizing PivotCharts for clarity and impact

Explores interactivity features like filters, slicers, and drill-down

Suitable for learners with basic knowledge of Excel and data analysis

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Visualizing Data with PivotCharts with these activities:

Create a Cheat Sheet on PivotChart Features

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Create a cheat sheet that summarizes the key features and options available in PivotCharts.

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Review the documentation for PivotCharts.
Note down the key features and options.
Create a cheat sheet that organizes the information.

Practice Creating PivotCharts

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Practice creating PivotCharts to reinforce your understanding of how to visualize data using Excel.

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Open a dataset in Excel.
Create a PivotTable from the dataset.
Select the data you want to visualize.
Choose a PivotChart type.
Customize the appearance of the PivotChart.

Follow Tutorials on PivotChart Customization

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Follow online tutorials to learn how to customize the appearance and functionality of PivotCharts.

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Search for tutorials on PivotChart customization.
Watch or read the tutorials.
Experiment with the techniques shown in the tutorials.

Five other activities

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Discuss PivotChart Design with Peers

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Engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas and receive feedback on the design and effectiveness of PivotCharts.

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Find peers who have experience with PivotCharts.
Discuss your ideas for PivotChart design.
Share examples of your PivotCharts.
Provide feedback on others' PivotCharts.

Attend a Workshop on Advanced PivotChart Techniques

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Advance your skills by attending a workshop that focuses on advanced PivotChart techniques and best practices.

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Research and find a suitable workshop.
Register and attend the workshop.
Participate actively and take notes.

Develop a Training Guide on PivotChart for Beginners

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Solidify your understanding of PivotCharts by creating a resource that teaches others the basics.

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Plan the structure and content of the guide.
Write clear and concise instructions.
Include examples and visual aids.
Review and edit the guide for clarity.

Create an Interactive Dashboard Using PivotCharts

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Enhance your understanding of PivotCharts by creating an interactive dashboard that showcases data insights.

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Gather relevant data for your dashboard.
Create PivotTables and PivotCharts to visualize the data.
Use slicers and filters to make the dashboard interactive.
Design the dashboard for clarity and readability.

Participate in a Data Visualization Competition

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Test and showcase your PivotChart skills by participating in a competition that challenges you to create effective data visualizations.

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Find a suitable data visualization competition.
Gather and analyze the data.
Use PivotCharts to create data visualizations.
Submit your visualizations to the competition.

Career center

Learners who complete Visualizing Data with PivotCharts will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts interact with data on a daily basis and help businesses make important decisions. Those looking to become a Data Analyst may want to consider this course because it introduces learners to foundational skills in visualizing data, particularly the visual representation of data from PivotTables. Proficiency in data visualization is a common requirement for this role.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts play the important role of improving company performance and efficiency. The skills learned in this course, such as data analysis and visualization using PivotCharts, can greatly benefit a Business Analyst. The ability to create charts and dashboards allows them to present complex data in a clear and concise way for stakeholders to understand.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts help guide financial decisions and they can find value in being proficient in data visualization since a significant part of their job involves presenting and communicating financial information, which often includes the use of charts and PivotTables. This course can teach Financial Analysts how to confidently create visual presentations and charts to help inform financial and company performance.

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Market Research Analyst

Market Research Analysts collect and analyze data to assess market trends and this course is a helpful stepping stone towards building the necessary skills to do this. The course covers how to create and select charts for data visualization, which is important for creating reports with insights into market trends and customer feedback.

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Project Manager

Project Managers often need to visualize the progress and timeline of a project, and this course can teach learners how to create charts, including interactive ones, to provide a concise representation of project data to clients and teams. A Project Manager who is adept in data visualization can be a valuable asset to staying on time and under budget.

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Data Scientist

The responsibilities of a Data Scientist may overlap with those of Data Analysts in some industries. A background in how to create PivotCharts can be a strong supplement to a Data Scientist's abilities, and this course teaches learners how to create and format PivotCharts professionally, increasing their skillset and career potential.

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Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, interpret, and present data, and strong visual communication skills are a plus in this field. This course can teach learners how to visualize data from PivotTables using different types of charts, helping them find insights and trends within their data to communicate to stakeholders in a clear and concise way.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers may have little time for data analysis, but when they need to gather insights from data to improve operations and efficiency, this course may be helpful. The course provides skills on how to quickly create visualizations from PivotTables, which Operations Managers can put into practice to find insights within their operational data.

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Consultant

Consultants may work with many different types of clients and understanding how to visualize data can be a critical skill to have. The ability to create different types of charts (and interactive charts!) can help Consultants communicate recommendations and insights to clients and stakeholders with greater clarity.

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Information Architect

Information Architects may have a use for this course because it teaches the learner how to organize and structure data. Being able to visualize and present complex information in an organized and logical way is an important skill for an Information Architect, and this course can help learners to do this effectively using PivotCharts.

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Marketing Specialist

Marketing Specialists use data to make decisions and create campaigns, and some of this data can be visualized to provide important insights to clients and stakeholders. This course teaches the learner how to create PivotCharts, which can be a valuable skill in demonstrating and explaining marketing campaign performance and returns.

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Product Manager

Product Managers may benefit from this course because it helps learners build a foundation in data visualization. Product Managers can use data visualization to get insights into user behavior, analyze customer feedback, and track product performance. This course can help them create effective charts based on data from PivotTables, which can be invaluable for communicating product insights across teams.

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Data Engineer

Data Engineers build and maintain data infrastructure, and while they may not typically interact with PivotCharts, the skills and concepts learned in this course can still be valuable. This course provides foundational knowledge in organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data, which can contribute to the Data Engineer's skillset in managing data pipelines and data lakes.

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Software Engineer

While Software Engineers may not use PivotCharts on a daily basis, the skills learned in this course can still be useful when working with data. This course teaches learners how to organize and visualize data, helping Software Engineers gain a better understanding of data structures and algorithms.

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Web Developer

Web Developers can benefit from this course because it provides a foundation in data visualization. This is a helpful skill for presenting data-driven insights to clients and stakeholders. Additionally, the course teaches learners how to add interactivity to charts using filters and slicers, which can bring insights to life by allowing users to explore the data.

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