Adding Charts to a Workbook

See your numbers, not just read them

A chart turns a column of figures into a shape people understand instantly. StretchSheets lets you drop charts directly onto the grid so a summary lives right next to the data it's built from. The chart engine supports bar, line, and pie styles.

Inserting a chart

1. Enter the data you want to visualize — typically a column of labels and one or more columns of numbers.
2. Select the range that holds your data (click and drag, or use Shift + Arrow).
3. Click Insert chart (the Chart button) in the editor toolbar.
4. StretchSheets places a chart on the grid, rendered as a bar chart by default.
5. Click Save to store the chart with your workbook.

The chart is drawn as an overlay on the grid, so it sits alongside your data rather than in a separate tab.

Chart styles

• Bar — the default. Best for comparing values across categories (for example, spend by department, or units by SKU).
• Line — best for trends over time, such as monthly revenue or a running total.
• Pie — best for showing parts of a whole, such as budget share by category.

Choose the style that matches the story: comparisons lean bar, trends lean line, and composition leans pie.

A realistic example

You have a budget sheet with Category in column A and Actual spend in column C. Select A2:A7 and C2:C7 (labels and their values), click Insert chart, and a bar chart appears comparing spend across your six categories. Save the workbook, and anyone who opens it sees the comparison immediately — no need to read down the column. If you're instead tracking a running monthly total, a line chart makes the upward trend obvious at a glance, and a pie chart works well when you want to show what share each category takes of the total.

Tips

• Keep labels and values in adjacent, clearly-headed columns so the chart reads cleanly.
• Match the chart to the question: "which is biggest?" (bar), "which way is it trending?" (line), "what's the split?" (pie).
• Place the chart near the data it summarizes so viewers can cross-check the numbers.
• Because charts are saved with the workbook, they're visible to everyone you collaborate with and included when the workbook is reopened.

Troubleshooting

• My chart looks empty or wrong. Confirm the range you selected actually contains numeric values (a chart can't plot text-only columns). Re-select a range with labels in one column and numbers in another.
• The chart didn't persist. Click Save after inserting it — charts are stored as part of the workbook content.
• I need a different style. The engine supports bar, line, and pie; insert a chart and use the chart style that best fits your data. Bar is applied on insert as the default starting point.

FAQ

Which chart types are available?
Bar, line, and pie.

Where does the chart live?
On the grid itself, as an overlay next to your data, and it's saved with the workbook.

Will collaborators see my chart?
Yes. Once saved, the chart is part of the workbook and visible to everyone with access.