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Think-cell Quick Reference

Keep this handy while you work!

CHART TYPES — WHEN TO USE WHAT

Chart type Best used for
Column / Bar Compare values across categories or over time
Stacked column Show part-to-whole within categories
100% column Compare proportions across categories
Line chart Show trends over time
Pie / Doughnut Show proportions of a single whole
Waterfall / Bridge Break down how a total builds up or is spent (great for financials)
Gantt / Timeline Project plans, milestones and schedules
Mekko chart Market share with variable-width columns
Scatter / Bubble Relationships between two variables
Area chart Multiple data series tracked over time
 

INSERT YOUR FIRST CHART

  1. Click the Insert tab — find the think-cell group on the right
  2. Click Elements — choose your chart type
  3. Draw a rectangle on the slide — sets the size, resize any time
  4. The datasheet opens automatically — works like Excel, type your values
  5. Close the datasheet — the chart updates live as you type

LEFT-CLICK VS RIGHT-CLICK

Left-click (select)

  • Resize or move the chart
  • Select a segment or label
  • Change colour of selection
  • Format font or number style

Right-click (context menu)

  • Add / remove labels
  • Add CAGR or difference arrows
  • Change chart type
  • Add value lines or connectors

💡 To open the datasheet: double-click the chart

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Shortcut What it does
Del Remove selected label or element
Tab Move to next cell in datasheet
Enter Jump to first cell of next row
Ctrl + Z Undo (works on think-cell elements)
Ctrl + D Duplicate a chart or element
Ctrl + G Group selected objects
F2 Edit selected text label
Esc Deselect / close datasheet

Mac: use ⌘ in place of Ctrl. For F-keys on Mac, press Fn + F key.

ANNOTATIONS & SMART LABELS

  • CAGR arrow — right-click → Add Connector → CAGR. Auto-calculates the growth rate.
  • Difference arrow — right-click → Add Value Line → Two-Level Difference Arrow
  • Value labels — right-click a segment → Add Label. Drag to reposition; connectors draw automatically.
  • 100% labels — right-click → Add % Label to show proportions in stacked charts

LINKING EXCEL DATA

  1. Open your Excel file — the think-cell tab appears in Excel too
  2. Select your data range in Excel
  3. Click Link to Existing in the Excel think-cell tab
  4. Click on the chart in PowerPoint — chart updates automatically when Excel data changes

TIPS TO WORK FASTER

  • Don't round numbers manually — think-cell handles rounding automatically
  • Hide a datasheet row/column to hide it on the chart (no need to delete)
  • Swap Rows and Columns in the datasheet flips the chart orientation instantly
  • Change chart type without rebuilding: right-click → Change Chart Type
  • Use think-cell labels — not PowerPoint text boxes — so labels move with the chart