The Microsoft Excel® program has many standard plot functions. As the program is icon based, the plotting of a 2D discrete data set requires the selection of the appropriate plot function (scatter). This function does not include interconnecting lines between the points (as required when plotting data points). It is necessary to highlight the x array and y array when prompted. Axis labels can be added during the formation of the plot.

Once the plot has been completed it can be edited by right clicking on an appropriate part of the graph (e.g. axis labels, data points, axis scale, etc). The plot can be selected, copied and placed into another document as part of a report.

Users are directed to the on-line help functions to assist in more complicated plotting operations.