---
url: https://flip-chart.ru/knowledge-base/en/charts.md
description: >-
  Build charts right on a flip: add a chart with a ready-made table or create
  one from selected cells, then pick the type, colors and labels. The chart
  updates on its own when the data in the table changes
---

# How to build a chart from table data

A chart on a flip is built from table data and stays linked to it: change a number or a name in a cell — the chart updates on its own. Column, line, pie and other chart types are available, as well as big numbers — widgets with one key figure and its change

## How to add a chart

Option 1. Together with a new table

1. On the toolbar, select “Chart”. If the tool is not on the toolbar, open “All tools”
2. In the “Chart” panel that opens, pick a chart type
3. Click the flip — a chart and a linked table with sample data appear

   ![The “Chart” panel, a new chart and its table](/images/kb/charts/1.png)

   Replace the sample with your own data. Such a chart follows the whole table: add or delete a row or a column in it — the chart changes along with it

Option 2. From an existing table

1. Select the whole table or a range of cells with headers and numbers
2. In the panel above the selection, click “Create chart” and pick a type

   ![The “Create chart” button in the table panel](/images/kb/charts/2.png)

   The headers become series names, and the text values become categories. Such a chart is bound to the selected range: rows and columns added outside it don't get into the chart until you select the range again

How to create and fill in a table is described in the article [How to work with tables](/en/tables). If the cells contain formulas, the chart uses their results — learn more in the article [How to use formulas in tables](/en/table-formulas)

## How to change the data range

1. Select the chart and click “Select range” in the panel above it — the flip moves to the linked table, and the current range is highlighted
2. Select the cells you need in the table or drag the range frame by its corner — the chart shows right away what it will look like
3. Press Enter. To keep the previous range, press Esc or click an empty area of the flip. While the range is being selected, the panels are hidden, and a hint is shown at the bottom of the screen: “Pick a range, then press Enter to confirm or Esc to cancel”

   ![Selecting the data range for a chart](/images/kb/charts/3.png)

The range has to meet these conditions:

* At least 2 and no more than 2000 cells
* A rectangular area within a single table
* At least one numeric value

While the range is being selected, the table can't be edited

The “Switch row/column” button swaps the roles of series and categories; the range itself stays the same

## How to pick a chart type

Select the chart, click “Chart type” in the panel above it and pick another type. The data, the title and the link to the table are kept

* “Column” and “Stacked column”
* “Bar” and “Stacked bar”
* “Line” and “Stacked area”
* “Scatter” and “Bubble”
* “Pie” and “Doughnut”
* “Radar”
* “Funnel” and “Inverted funnel”
* “Big Number with Trendline” and “Big Number”

## How to set up the look of a chart

* Title — click the chart title and type the text. A chart created together with its table shares its name with the table: rename one — the other changes too. This works while only one chart is linked to the table
* “Colors” — the palette of the series
* “Legend” — show or hide the legend
* “Data labels” — show values next to columns, points and slices
* Size — drag a corner of the selection box

![The chart settings panel](/images/kb/charts/4.png)

Hover over a column, a point or a slice — a tooltip with the category, the series name and the value appears. Clicking a series in the legend leaves only this series on the chart; clicking it again brings the others back. Tooltips and series switching also work for participants with view access

## How to show a key figure

The “Big Number” and “Big Number with Trendline” types show the last value of the first series and its change. “Big Number with Trendline” additionally draws a trend line

What the value is compared with is set with the “Compare with” button:

* “Previous value” — used by default
* “First value”
* The value of one of the table categories

If the selected category disappears from the table, the value is compared with the previous one again. “Big Number” has no color, legend or data label settings, and “Big Number with Trendline” only has “Colors”

## How to go from a chart to its table and back

* Select the chart and click “Go to linked table” — the flip moves to the table and selects it
* Select the table and click “Linked charts” — a list of the charts built from this table opens. Clicking a chart in the list moves the flip to it

## What happens when you copy and delete

* If you copy only the chart, the copy stays linked to the original table. If you copy the chart together with the table, the copy of the chart is linked to the copy of the table
* Deleting a chart doesn't affect the table
* When you delete a table that charts are built from, the “Delete the linked table?” window appears. The “Delete” button removes the table together with the linked charts, “Cancel” leaves everything in place. You can undo the deletion — Ctrl + Z (⌘ + Z on macOS)
* If the data the chart needs is gone from the range, the message “The chart could not be built” is shown instead of the chart, and if the range has no numbers yet — “No data yet”

## Limitations

* A chart fits up to 24 series and up to 200 values per series. Data beyond that doesn't get into the chart — flip tells you about it with a notification
* The data range is up to 2000 cells
* A chart that is not linked to a table shows the message “No data source”. Instead of the “Select range” button it has the “Link data to a table” button
* On a phone you can't change the chart type, the data range or the value to compare with