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There are lots of ways to make bar graphs. Which should you use?
Prism offers five distinct types of data tables. Four of these can be used to create bar graphs, as detailed below. If you want to create a bar graph, choose the kind of data table that matches your data.
Column graphs
| • | If you start with a one-grouping variable data table, the columns define your groups. You will enter one group per column, stacking replicates (if any). Each column then becomes a bar, and you'll be able to control the appearance of each bar individually. |
Note: If you want to create a graph like the one above, but you've already calculated your mean and error values, start instead with a Grouped table (see below) and use only the top row.
Grouped graphs
| • | If you start with a grouped (two-grouping variable table), one group is defined by rows and the other group is defined by columns. You enter replicates (if any) in side-by-side subcolumns. Each column will create bars with a different appearance that you can change. Each row becomes another bar. So if you have three Y columns and four rows, you will have three kinds of bars, and you can choose the color, fill, and border of each. You will have four different bars of each type. You can choose whether you want the bars interleaved, stacked, or separated on the Welcome dialog or by clicking Change and then Type of graph. |
Contingency tables
| • | A contingency table is like a grouped table but doesn't have subcolumns for replicate values. |
XY Bar graphs
| • | Both the kinds of bar graphs mentioned above place the bars on the graph in order, with equal spacing. In some cases, you want to position each bar along the X axis with the position determined by an X coordinate you enter. You can do this by creating an XY graph, and then choosing to Show Bars instead of Show Symbols on the graph. |
| • | Double click on any data point on your graph to open the Format Graph dialog. |
| • | Uncheck the box to "Show Symbols" and check the boxes to "Show bars." Choose a bar shape as a pattern. |
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