Using Surface Charts to Show Contrast in Excel 2007:-

Not many datasets can be plotted as surface chart, which look like topographic maps. Because you use a surface chart to represent a 3-D surface on a 2-D piece of paper, it is particularly important that your surface be generally sloping toward the front of the chart. Otherwise, you will never see the details hidden by the hill at the front of the chart.

Before you start to build a dataset, you should look at the Figure (given below). The data for the chart is in C3;L12. Each data point requires two headings. Headings for the front axis are in C2;L2. Headings for the side axis are in B3;B12.



(You should study this table and chart to understand how surface charts work.)

Data at the top of the table appears at the front edge of the chart. Data in the last row of the table appears at the back of the chart. The Front and Back labels in column A are there to help you keep track of this. Data in the left column of the table appears in the left side of the chart. The four arrows point out where each corner of the data table ends up in the chart.

To create this chart, you select cells B2;L12. From the Insert ribbon, you choose Other Charts, Surface, 3-D Surface. Many datasets are not designed to have the smallest numbers at the front of the chart. In the Figure (given below), for example, the top-left chart has the highest numbers along the front wall of 5 the chart.



(All four charts represent the same data. Each chart provides a different view angle.)

When the front wall of the surface chart is higher than the other points, you can use the techniques that follow to create the other three charts.