◆ Excel · chart

Trend Analysis

Produce an energy trend chart: prepare Date and Energy use series, choose a time-series chart with a trendline, add da…

2heights
2tasks
1roles do it
See the prompt↓More chart workflows

The same job, four prompts

do it · improve it · decide · become
AExecute — “help me do it”Produce an energy trend chart: prepare Date and Energy use series, choose a time-series chart…+
Produce an energy trend chart: prepare Date and Energy use series, choose a time-series chart with a trendline, add data labels for monthly peaks, and format it so the sustainability team can present it in the next update meeting.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.
BImprove — “do it better”Before the client presentation, make the energy chart persuasive — normalise by occupancy or…+
Before the client presentation, make the energy chart persuasive — normalise by occupancy or floor area, add a 12‑month moving average trendline, highlight months where targets were missed with callouts, and include the data range and last update date so the audience trusts the trend.
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid
The tool
Charts

Charts visually represent your data, making complex information easy to understand and analyze.

  1. 1

    Enter your data into a spreadsheet, ensuring it is properly formatted.

    RecommendationOrganize your data with clear headers for optimal chart creation.

  2. 2

    Select the data you want to use for your chart.

  3. 3

    Navigate to the Insert tab on the ribbon.

  4. 4

    In the Charts group, select Recommended Charts.

    Best practiceFor a quick default chart, select your data and press ALT+F1, then adjust as needed.

  5. 5

    On the Recommended Charts tab, scroll through the list to preview chart options.

  6. 6

    Click the chart you want to insert.

  7. 7

    Click OK to create the chart.

  8. 8

    With the chart selected, click the Chart Design tab.

  9. 9

    Click Add Chart Element to customize titles, labels, and other components.

  10. 10

    To add a new data series, right-click the chart and drag sizing handles on the worksheet.

  11. 11

    Save your Excel workbook to commit the chart changes.

To enhance readability, remove grid lines and avoid 3D charts for most professional presentations.

Excel charts can be automated and generated programmatically using VBA or other scripting languages.

Glossary

words on this page
Recommended ChartsExcel suggests suitable chart types based on the selected data range for visualization.ExampleExcel suggests a bar chart or a pie chart after you select your sales figures.

The real tasks

1 of them
Produce a chart that highlights a project's trend in energy use over time so we can present progress against sustainability targets.

Who does this

1 roles
Architect

Questions people ask

honest answers

Because you rarely think 'I want the redaction tool'. You think 'I have to share this without leaking the client's details'. Start from the need, and the feature finds you.

Real. Every job here was drawn from what people in real roles were actually seen doing in Excel — not a feature checklist.

No. Each page gives you a ready prompt you can paste into an AI assistant, plus the plain steps to do it yourself. Start with either — the goal is the finished job, not the tool.