# Charts

> Map chart series to data columns so charts draw themselves on Collect.

Calc does not invent its own charts - it uses normal Excel charts. You place a
chart on the template, then **map** its series to data columns. When someone
Collects, Calc binds the chart to the collected data and it draws itself.

## The workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Insert a chart">
    On the template sheet, insert an Excel chart as you normally would (Insert ->
    Chart). Give it the series you want.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Open the Charts builder">
    Click **Charts** on the Build group. Pick the table whose data the chart
    uses, and select the chart and series on the right.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Map X and Y">
    For each series, map its **X** and **Y** to columns from the table.
  </Step>
  <Step title="Summary (optional)">
    Mark a series as a **summary** to draw it from an aggregate across tables
    rather than a single one.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="note" title="Map against the table's columns">
  A chart maps to the columns of the table you select. Make sure the fields you
  want to plot are included as [columns](/calc/building-templates/tables#shaping-a-table)
  on that table.
</Callout>

## What happens on Collect

When the template is collected, Calc points each mapped series at the matching
range of collected data, so every chart populates automatically alongside the
sheets. Collect again and the charts refresh with the new data.