Appendix A: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 18:38, 11 June 2009
APPENDIX A: Generating Graphs and Error Bars with Microsoft Excel 2008
APPENDIX A: Generating Graphs and Error Bars with Microsoft Excel 2008
1. To launch Excel, click on the icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen. An Excel Workbook will open. If Microsoft Excel is already open, select New Workbook from the File menu to display a new spreadsheet.
2. To determine the mean and standard deviation, write Average in cell A2 and Standard Deviation in cell A2. List variable 1 in cell B1, variable 2 in cell B2… Now enter the number of filled vacuoles per cell for variable 1 in cells B4, B5, B6... Enter the number of filled vacuoles per cell for variable 2 in cells C4, C5, C6… (see below)
3. Be sure that the formula bar under view is selected.
4. To determine the average value for variable 1 (10 mM inhibitor), click on cell B2, press the = symbol, click on the upper left pull down menu and select AVERAGE, highlight cells B4-Bxx and press return. The average value should now appear in cell B2.
5. To determine the standard deviation for variable 1, click on cell B3, press the = symbol, click on the upper left pull down menu and select STDEV, highlight cells B4-Bxx and press return. The standard deviation value should now appear in cell B2.
6. To determine average and standard deviation values for variables 2 and 3 (1 and 0.1 mM inhibitor), highlight cells B2 and B3, select the lower right square on the highlighted box with the black + symbol, drag to the right until you reach cells D2 and D3, and then release the mouse. The average and standard deviation values for variables 2 and 3 should now appear in cells C2, D2, C3 and D3.
7. To make your graph, first open a new sheet by selecting Insert on the menu bar and then selecting sheet and blank sheet. Assign a title to column A (the x-axis) of spreadsheet and enter variable titles values in ascending order. Assign a title to column B (the y-axis) and record the average vacuole values that correspond to each concentration.
8. To select data to be plotted, highlight both columns, including headers.
9. Click on the Charts tab below the toolbar. A gallery of chart types will appear below. Press the Column button on the far right to display the appropriate charts in this so-called Elements Gallery.
10. To select the proper chart type from the Elements Gallery, press the “Clustered Column” thumbnail (all the way to the left). A chart will appear on the worksheet.
11. Open the Formatting Palette by pressing on the Toolbox icon. Under Chart Options you can label the axes and provide a title. You can also show or hide the gridlines in this section.
12. The chart may be created as an object in the worksheet, or it may be displayed as a new sheet. Under the Chart menu select Move Chart... to choose between these two options.
13. Double-clicking on either axis will allow you to change the scale, font and other features of the axis.
14. When you are ready to print, from the File menu select Page Setup... Choose the Orientation of the printout (portrait or landscape). Adjust the Scaling to a figure other than 100%, if desired. A 50% scaling works well for inserting graphs into your lab notebook.
15. The printer is called "Hallway HP4200" and is located outside the lab (L-310). Students in room L-304 will use another printer closer to their lab. Ask your instructor about the location of the printers.