Charts, Tables and Graphical Objects
Tables
Know how to insert tables, add/delete rows and columns, merge and split cells, adjust row height and column width, and apply table styles. Header rows should repeat across pages when a table spans printed pages. A trap is merging cells and then being unable to sort or apply banding predictably.
Charts
Choose chart type by data story: column/bar for comparison, line for trends over time, pie for parts of a whole (few categories), scatter for correlation. Understand that a chart links to a data range; editing the underlying data updates the chart. Know how to add titles, axis labels, data labels, legends and gridlines, and how to switch row/column plotting. A classic trap is a pie chart with too many slices, or a truncated axis exaggerating differences.
SmartArt and shapes
SmartArt converts bulleted text into diagrams (process, hierarchy, cycle). Shapes can be grouped, aligned, distributed, layered (bring forward/send backward) and formatted with fills, outlines and effects. Alignment and distribution tools create tidy layouts faster than dragging.
Images and media
Insert pictures, crop, resize proportionally (hold Shift), compress images to reduce file size, and add alt text. Understand layering and transparency.
Worked rule of thumb
Match chart to question: "How did it change over time?" → line; "Which is biggest?" → bar; "What share of the total?" → pie with few categories. Always label axes and units.