You can use a package Martin-Kumm's is the easiest or you can use pgf/TikZ http://sourceforge.net/projects/pgf/ and creative from prmitives. Personally, I wrote some macro's to get what I wanted. I simplify mine as much as possible and use a very light grey vertical grid for background. Whatever you do don't spoil a good write-up with anything Excel!
The pgf/TikZ package is the best graphics package I have used. Just the fact that it exists is a monument to TeX, Knuth and Lamport.
The pgf/TikZ package is the best graphics package I have used. Just the fact that it exists is a monument to TeX, Knuth and Lamport.