How To Make a Pie Chart in Google Sheets

Did you know you can make a pie chart with AI on Google Sheets?

Creating pie charts in Google Sheets can be challenging, especially if you are new to charting. However, you can streamline the process using an AI tool like ChatGPT. This guide will cover how to create and customize a pie chart in Google Sheets using AI.

Steps to Make a Pie Chart in Google Sheets Using AI

Here's a simple step-by-step guide you can follow to start making pie charts in Google Sheets using ChatGPT:

Step 1: Organize your data for the pie chart.

Before creating a pie chart, ensure your data is well-organized in Google Sheets. A clear layout helps avoid errors and makes the process easier.

1. Structure your data: Place categories in one column (e.g., Column A) and their corresponding values in the next (e.g., Column B). For example:

   • Column A: Product Categories

   • Column B: Sales Figures

2. Label the columns: Make sure each column has a clear header, as this will help Google Sheets recognize data ranges.

Step 2: Ask ChatGPT for chart instructions.

Once your data is set up, you can use ChatGPT to get specific instructions on creating a pie chart.

Example prompt for ChatGPT:
"Can you provide instructions to create a pie chart in Google Sheets with data in Columns A and B?"

Response from ChatGPT:
ChatGPT will provide a step-by-step guide, including how to:

• Highlight the data range.

• Go to the "Insert" menu, select "Chart," and choose "Pie chart."

• Adjust basic settings for the chart’s appearance.

Following these steps will create a pie chart based on your selected data in just a few clicks.

Step 3: Use ChatGPT for a Google Apps Script to Automate the Chart Creation

If you frequently create pie charts, you can ask ChatGPT for a Google Apps Script to automate the process. This is especially useful for repeated tasks, like monthly reports.

Example Prompt:
"Can you write a Google Apps Script that creates a pie chart for data in Columns A and B?"

Response from ChatGPT:
ChatGPT will generate a script similar to this:

function createPieChart() {

var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();

var range = sheet.getRange("A1:B5"); // Adjust range as needed

var chart = sheet.newChart()

.setChartType(Charts.ChartType.PIE)

.addRange(range)

.setPosition(5, 5, 0, 0)

.build();

sheet.insertChart(chart);

}

This code can be pasted into the Script Editor (Extensions > Apps Script) in Google Sheets. Once you run it, the script will automatically create a pie chart based on the specified range.

Customizing the pie chart with AI assistance.

After creating the pie chart, you may want to customize it to match your presentation style or branding. ChatGPT can provide guidance or even modify the Google Apps Script to customize elements like colors, labels, and titles.

Example Prompt for Customization:

"How can I customize the colors in my pie chart to match my brand colors in Google Sheets?"

Response from ChatGPT:
ChatGPT will guide you on selecting the chart, clicking on the “Customize” tab, and changing the colors under “Chart style.” For further customization, ChatGPT can also add lines to the script to set colors or label positions directly.

Read more: How to insert pie charts in Excel.

Automating pie chart creation for future use.

If you regularly add new data and need to update the pie chart, ChatGPT can help you write a reusable script. This script can update the pie chart every time you input new data, saving time and ensuring your visuals are always up-to-date.

Example Prompt:
"Can you modify the previous script to automatically update the pie chart when I add data?"

Response from ChatGPT:
ChatGPT may suggest a dynamic range or automatically resizing the chart to include new data, keeping it current without extra effort.

How To Manually Add Pie Charts in Google Sheets

The traditional way of adding pie charts in Google requires more effort, but you can follow these steps to make it smoother:

1. Enter your data: Begin by typing your data into two columns—one for the categories and one for the corresponding values. For example, this table represents a fictional breakdown of monthly expenses:

2. Select your data: Click and drag to highlight the cells that contain your data. This tells Google Sheets what information to include in the chart.

3. Insert a chart: With your data selected, go to the menu, click on Insert, then choose Chart. Google Sheets will automatically create a chart based on your data, usually defaulting to a bar chart.

4. Change to a Pie Chart: In the Chart editor panel on the right, go to the Chart type drop-down menu. Scroll down to find the Pie chart option and select it.

How To Edit a Pie Chart in Google Sheets

To edit a pie chart in Google spreadsheets, follow these steps:

1. Select the Chart: Click on the pie chart you’ve already created. This will bring up the Chart editor panel on the right side of the screen.

2. Edit basic settings: Under the Setup tab, you can change the data range, modify the chart type, and switch between rows and columns if needed.

3. Edit chart: Click on the Customize tab in the Chart editor. Here, you’ll find various options to adjust your chart’s appearance:

   • Chart & Axis Titles: Add or edit the title of your chart to describe it better. You can also customize the font, size, and color.

   • Slice Style: Change the color of individual slices to make certain categories stand out.

   • Legend: Adjust the position and style of the legend to make your chart easier to read.

4. Adding labels: In the Customize tab, you can add data labels to show the exact values or percentages for each slice. This feature helps viewers understand your data more clearly.

5. Format the chart area: Under Chart style, you can modify the background color, font styles, and border. These visual changes can make your chart more professional and visually appealing.

How To Customize Pie Charts in Google Sheets

Customizing a pie chart in Google Sheets allows you to create a more visually engaging and informative chart. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Chart editor: Click on your pie chart, and the Chart editor will appear on the right side of the screen. If it doesn’t appear automatically, right-click on the chart and select Chart style.

2. Customize Chart style: In the Customize tab, go to Chart style to change the chart's overall appearance. You can adjust:

   • Background color: Choose a background color that contrasts well with your pie chart.

   • Border color: Add a border and pick a color that makes your chart stand out.

   • 3D 0ption: Enable or disable 3D styling for a slight pop to the chart’s appearance.

3. Edit Chart & axis titles: In the Chart & axis titles section, add or modify the chart title to make it more descriptive. You can also:

   • Change the title font, size, and color to match the style of your document or presentation.

4. Adjust the Pie Slices: Go to the Pie slice section to customize each slice individually. You can:

   • Change the color of each slice to visually separate categories.

   • Pull out slices (if available) to emphasize specific segments by making them stand out slightly from the rest of the chart.

5. Add data labels and legend:

   • Data labels: Under Pie chart, toggle on data labels to show the values or percentages directly on each slice, making it easy for viewers to interpret.

   • Legend: In the Legend section, change the legend position (top, bottom, left, or right) and customize its font, size, and color.

Final Thoughts

By using ChatGPT to assist with creating and customizing pie charts in Google Sheets, you can make the process straightforward. AI can provide instructions, generate scripts, and help troubleshoot issues. Try using ChatGPT today to take your Google Sheets operations to a new level.

For more easy-to-follow Excel guides and the latest Excel Templates, visit Simple Sheets and the related articles section of this blog post.

Subscribe to Simple Sheets on YouTube for the most straightforward Excel video tutorials!

FAQ

1. Can I use ChatGPT to create other types of charts in Google Sheets?

Yes, ChatGPT can guide you in creating various charts, like bar, line, and column charts. It can also help automate the setup with Google Apps Scripts.

2. Do I need coding knowledge to use AI for creating charts in Google Sheets?

No, ChatGPT provides simple, step-by-step instructions. For automation, it can generate scripts you can copy and paste without coding experience.

3. Can I customize my pie chart using ChatGPT?

Yes, ChatGPT can help you adjust colors, labels, and titles. It can also modify scripts for advanced customization.

Related Articles

How to Insert a New Line in an Excel Cell

How to Rotate Text in Excel

How to Extract Text from a Cell in Excel