How to Draw Line Graphs on a Computer

The easiest way to draw a line graph using a computer is to use a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice Calc, which is free.

Entering your line graph data

To enter the data for a line graph into your favourite spreadsheet program, follow these steps and look at the figure:

1. Open the spreadsheet program.

2. In the top-left cell, write the name of your independent variable.

   This is the variable you want on the bottom axis – often ‘time’.

3. In the next cell to the right, write what value the line graph represents – maybe ‘sales’ or ‘temperature’.

   If you want to draw a multiple-line graph, give all the lines different names.

4. Below the top-left cell write the values of the independent variable.

5. Below each of the value labels, write the appropriate value for each category.

   This is the value that matches up with the value of the independent variable. Awesome! You now have data the computer will gladly turn into a line graph.

Drawing your line graph

Here’s how to draw a line graph:

1. Select the data, including the labels.

2. From the ‘Insert’ menu, pick ‘Chart . . .’.

3. In the dialogue box that appears, click on ‘Line Graph’.

4. Click ‘OK’ or ‘Finish’.

   You should now have a lovely line graph.