Smoothing Out Data Series

Summary: When creating a line chart, you may want to have the lines plotted by Excel "smoothed" so that there are no sharp edges at data points. This is easy to do, and can be configured for each of your data series. (This tip works with Microsoft Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, Excel 2003, and Excel 2007.)

When you are creating line charts in Excel, the lines drawn between data points tend to be very straight. (This makes sense; the lines are meant to connect the points.) You can give your graphs a more professional look by simply smoothing out the curves Excel uses at each data point. Follow these steps:

In your chart, right-click on the data series that you want to smooth. Excel displays a Context menu.
Choose Format Data Series from the Context menu. Excel displays the Format Data Series dialog box.
Make sure the Patterns tab is displayed. (Click here to see a related figure.) (In Excel 2007, make sure that Line Style is selected.)
Select the Smoothed Line check box.
Click on OK.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3194) applies to Microsoft Excel versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Smoothing Out Data Series