Overview

Graphs (figures) for publication in CDI need to be formatted for consistency and to meet desktopping requirements. For example, thin axes lines may not show up clearly when converted to desktopping requirements. The following format requirements have been worked out to provide the optimum desktopping output./p>

Graphs should be created in MS Excel./p>

The preference is to have all figures in ONE Excel file. The data MUST be included on a separate sheet./p>

Worksheets should be named appropriately, e.g. Figure 1, Figure 1 data. Preferably, only the relevant worksheets should be included in the file. Worksheets can be copied to a new Excel file unless data is linked to formulas in other worksheets.

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Excel figure format

All charts should be created 'As a new sheet' not as an object in a data sheet (with the exception of chart inserts)./p>

These instructions relate to MS Excel 2007 or later versions.

All charts should be created 'As a new sheet' not as an object in a data sheet (with the exception of chart inserts).

Select chart --> Design tab (or Right mouse click)  --> Move Chart Location -->New Sheet

Font

Use Arial Regular (not bold) for all text. Font sizes listed below.

Use sentence case.

Footnotes and titles

Footnotes and headings should be in the document text, NOT in the Excel chart.

Worksheet margins

From the File menu, Select Page Setup\Margins

Change all - Top, Bottom, Right and Left margins to '0'.

Ensure page size is A4 NOT Letter

Axis

Tick mark labels: next to axis

Tick mark type: Major = outside Minor = none

Scale: Varies depending span of x axis, always make number of categories between tick marks and number of categories between tick mark labels the same. When using percentages make sure that the maximum axis scale is 100.

If x , axis is in years the number of categories is usually '6'.  The year should only be used for the first category for each year. e.g., Jan 1996, Jul, Jan 1997, Jul …..

Font size: 18 point. (14 pt for inset charts)

Number: Don't use decimal points if all fields are a whole number

Alignment: The X axis text is always horizontal unless the text doesn't fit horizontally or are too closely spaced. Text should then be Vertical.

Text: Don't use leading zeros. E.g. 1 Jan, NOT  01 Jan,

Axis title

Patterns: Border = None            Fill = None

Font size: 26 point. (20 pt for inset charts)

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Legends

Patterns:Border = None            Fill = None

Font:                22 point, (18 for inset charts)

Do not use abbreviations unless footnoted (states and territories excepted.)

Plot Area

Patterns:          Border = None

Plot area colour:         None

Chart Area

Patterns: Border = None

Chart area colour: None

Gridlines: None

Chart colours

Use the auto colour option if you wish. DO NOT use the same colour for any two series. Do not use gradients or 3D fills or black.

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Chart types

Histograms:     Use a gap width of 0

Stack charts:    Use gap width of 50 and an overlap of 100

Bar charts:      Use a gap width of 50

Line charts:     Use a triangular marker on the 1st series (Top (first) entry in legend)

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Text boxes

Font size: 20 point.