Create Three-Dimensional Graphs in Excel

Excel allows you to create several kinds of charts and graphs to depict your data in a graphical format. These types of charts and graphs include pie charts, line graphs, and three-dimensional graphs, among others.

A pie chart is useful when you need to depict static proportions in a defined time period. For example, you might use a pie chart to depict a given year’s Grant expenses categorized by Fund subtype (Donor advised, designated, field of interest, etc.).

Example:  Pie Chart in Excel

A line graph or a bar graph are better choices to portray a change over time.

Example: Line Graph in Excel

In this line graph we only represent one Fund category (Donor advised Grants). If we added lines to show expenses from all Fund subtypes over the same time period, the graph would become hard to read. A three dimensional graph is the most effective way to view and compare the trends in all six categories, and is easy to produce using a standard FIMS Trends and Analysis report and Excel.

NOTE: This procedure uses the Full Grant Status report as its source. Keep in mind that although specific data is used in this procedure, you can apply these steps to any data you want to use.

1. In FIMS, run the desired Trends and Analysis report. 

NOTE: This example uses the Grants > Trends and Analysis > Full Grant Status Report. The report was run for 4 Years, Beginning 01/01/2004, based on Fund Subtype.

2. Save the report to a text file.

3. Import the data file into Microsoft Excel (refer to Using the Excel Import Wizard for more information). 

NOTE: In Step 1 of the Text Import Wizard, start the import at row 5 instead of row 1.

4. Once the report is imported, change the column labels to the appropriate labels (in this example, 2004 - 2007).

5. Select the entire data area you want to graph (including the row labels) and then select Data > Sort. The Sort window opens.

NOTE: It is generally easier to read a three-dimensional graph or chart when the data with the lowest values is “in front.” The best way to accomplish this is to sort the data before creating the chart.

6. Select the No header row radio button.

In the Sort By section, select the column that you want to base your sort on (in this case, column F), and then click OK. The data series (rows) are now sorted by the grand totals.

7. Click the Chart Wizard button on the toolbar. The Chart Wizard opens.

8. Select the desired 3D Chart Type and Chart Sub-Type, and then click Next to move to the next step.

9. On the Data Range tab, select the Rows radio button, and then click the Series tab.

10. Click the button in the Category (x) axis labels field, and then click and drag to select the appropriate x-axis labels range from the spreadsheet (in this example, the years 2004-2007).

11. Press Enter on your keyboard to return to the wizard, and then click Next to move to the next step.

12. Select the desired options for your chart (in this example, you only need to enter a title in the Chart Title field on the Titles tab), and then click Next to move to the next step.
13. Select the desired location for the chart, and then click the Finish button.

Once you create the chart, you can right-click on any element in the graph to re-format it. You can also right-click in the white space on the graph to rotate it (useful if you have a line of rows and the back row is difficult to see).