Charts are a great way to visually present complex data. However, the default chart is never, I repeat, never acceptable. You need to format the chart. Here are some simple steps you can take to format a bar chart:

1. Double-click the chart so you can edit it.

2. Click one series of bars once to select the series. (All the bars in a series have the same color.)

3. Right-click and choose Format Data Series. The Format Data Series dialog box opens.

4. On the Patterns tab, click Fill Effects. Then choose a gradient or a picture to fill in the bars. The Diagonal Up gradient style is often effective.

5. On the Shape tab, you can choose a shape other than simple bars. However, make sure the chart is still easily legible.

6. On the Options tab, adjust the gap depth, gap width and chart depth. These little known adjustments can make a big difference in the clarity of your chart. They affect the spacing between the sets of bars and the depth of a 3D chart. Gap width also affects the width of the individual bars (a smaller gap means more room for bars). As you change the numbers the preview shows the results.

7. Click OK when you're done.