How to merge a bar graph from excel onto Word template

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Guest

I would like to be able to create a bar graph for school grade cards showing
the average of each student compared to the class average in each subject. I
need this graph to be automatically generated for all the students. I also
need to be able to show this bar graph on the grade card which is created by
merging the excel spreadsheet with a Word template for the grade card.
 
This is a tricky request. I would not expect Word to be able to pull
numbers from Excel and spit out a graph *within* the process of a mail
merge, since Word hands all its graph-making off to a Chart utility. That
seems to be what you are asking. Have you tried experimenting with it? The
Chart utility will pull numbers from Excel, but to automate the chart making
in Word, I think you would need some macros/VBA.

Basically, I think you need to experiment--work out a single example that
works, and then ask about how to automate it for a number of students. Look
up Charts in Help in both Excel and Word, try them both, see which works
better for you.

I think you would be a lot better off doing all this in Excel--get Excel to
spit out results such "class average" and "student average". Create the
graphs you want in Excel, not in Word.

I don't know how this is done in Excel, but since Excel is *designed* to do
stuff like this, it's should do it better, faster, and easier--Excel will
let you automate it easier than Word, I'm sure.

Then design a mail merge from Word to create a sheet for each student that
includes the numbers and the generated chart. That might be a bit tricky
too.

Does your school require this? In that case, ask how they do it. I would
probably avoid the entire question by showing students a chart of all the
class averages, handing it out, and telling them how to compare their grade
to it.
 
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