Google Slides is a great way to create graphs in your slides. You can create a graph in three ways:
- By using the drag-and-drop feature.
- By using the menu options.
- By using the tools available in the slide editor.
- Drag and drop a graph onto your slide: To drag and drop a graph onto your slide, first select it from the list of slides (if it’s not already selected). Then use the drag-and-drop feature to move it around on your slide. The graph will automatically resize to fit on your slide, but you can still resize it if you need to.
- Use the menu options: The menu options are available in the slide editor when you first open it, or by pressing F5 on your keyboard when you’re working on a large slide (like an overview of a data set). The following table shows how they work: Option Description Option 1 Drag and drop a graph onto your slide This will add a new layer to your Slide Show that can be used for graphs or other data visualizations later on (see below). If you want to keep this layer active, press F5 again when finished creating the graph so that it stays active throughout your presentation!
- Use tools available in the Slide Editor: The tools available in the Slide Editor include:
- A grid of bars which can be used to help organize data on your slides - A zoomed-in view of individual bars which can be used for more detail or analysis than what’s shown in the grid alone - An undo/redo button so that you can quickly correct any errors during playback (or during editing)
A chart or graph is a terrific way to show a snapshot of your data. So when you couple a chart with another visual tool like Google Slides, you can create the perfect presentation of data to your audience.
You can certainly make a graph in Google Sheets and then insert it into your Google Slides presentation. But you can also do the reverse and start the chart from Slides. Here’s how to create a graph in Google Slides.
Create a Graph in Google Slides
Visit Google Slides, sign in, and open your presentation. Go to the slide where you want to insert the chart. Because the graph will cover the entire slide by default, you may want to start with a blank slide. You can then resize and move the chart afterward as needed.
RELATED: How to Add Flowcharts and Diagrams to Google Docs or Slides
Open the Insert menu, move to Chart, and choose the type you want to use from the pop-out menu. You can use the most common kinds of graphs like bar, column, line, and pie.
You’ll then see a default chart with sample data pop onto your slide. You’ll also notice a brief message at the bottom letting you know that you can edit the chart in Google Sheets. Click the Edit in Sheets link in the message to go directly to the chart in Google Sheets.
If the message vanishes before you can click the link, don’t worry. Select the chart and then click the arrow on the top right of it. Pick “Open Source” and Google Sheets will open in a new browser tab right to the chart and its data.
Edit the Chart and Data in Google Sheets
You can use the sample data for the graph if it fits your purpose. If not, simply use the cells above the chart in the Google Sheets to add your own data.
To adjust what displays on the chart, click the three dots on the top right of it and pick “Edit Chart.” This opens the Chart Editor sidebar for you to adjust the axes, series, and other elements on the Setup tab.
To customize the appearance of the chart, select the Customize tab in the sidebar. You can expand the categories depending on your graph type to change things like the chart style, legend, and series.
When you finish setting up the data, adjusting the chart, and customizing the appearance in Google Sheets, return to the Google Slides tab in your browser.
Update the Graph in Google Slides
Back to your slide, you’ll see an Update button appear on the graph. Click this to apply the changes you made to the chart and data in Google Sheets.
Moving forward, you can update the chart data or the chart itself by opening the corresponding Google Sheet. Again, you can do this by clicking the arrow on the top right of the chart in Google Slides and picking “Open Source.”
But you can also visit Google Sheets directly or Google Drive. The name of the spreadsheet will be the same name as your Slides presentation plus the chart type.
If you want to convert the graph to a static image, you can simply unlink it from the Google Sheets source. Click the arrow on the top right of the chart and pick “Unlink.”
Just note that you cannot update the chart or its data using Google Sheets if you unlink it. It will appear as a static image on your slide.
Adding a chart to your Google Slides presentation might be just the visual you need to enhance the slideshow or show the exact data necessary.
For other types of visuals for your slideshow, take a look at how to add videos and customize the playback or how to draw on Google Slides.
RELATED: How to Add Videos and Customize Playback in Google Slides
