Change the layout or style of a chart

After you create a chart, you can instantly change its look. Instead of manually adding or changing chart elements or formatting the chart, you can quickly apply a predefined layout and style to your chart. Microsoft Office Excel provides a variety of useful predefined layouts and styles (or quick layouts and quick styles) that you can select from. However, you can customize a layout or style of a chart further by manually changing the layout and style of the individual chart elements that are used in the chart.

You cannot save a custom layout or format, but if you want to use the same layout or format again, you can save the chart as a chart template.

Important  To complete the following procedures, you must have an existing chart. For more information about how to create a chart, see Create a chart.

What do you want to do?

Select a predefined chart layout

Select a predefined chart style

Change the layout of chart elements manually

Change the style of chart elements manually

Save a chart as a chart template

Select a predefined chart layout

1. Click the chart that you want to format.

Tip  This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click the chart layout that you want to use.

 Note    When the Excel window is reduced in size, chart layouts will be available in the Quick Layout gallery in the Chart Layouts group.

Tip  To see all available layouts, click More .

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Select a predefined chart style

1. Click the chart that you want to format.

Tip  This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Chart Styles group, click the chart style that you want to use.

Tip  To see all predefined chart styles, click More .

 Note    When the Excel window is reduced in size, chart styles will be available in the Chart Quick Styles gallery in the Chart Styles group.

Tip  Chart styles use the colors of the current document theme that is applied to the workbook. You can change the colors by switching to a different document theme. You can also customize a document them to display a chart in the exact colors that you want. For more information see Apply, customize, and save a document theme in Word or Excel.

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Change the layout of chart elements manually

1. Click the chart, or do the following to select the chart element for which you want to change the layout from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

Tip  This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. On the Layout tab, do the one or more of the following:
   1. In the Labels group, click the label layout option that you want.

2. In the Axes group, click the axis or gridline option that you want.

3. In the Background group, click the layout option that you want.

3.  Note    The layout options that you select are applied to the element that you have selected. For example, if you have the whole chart selected, data labels will be applied to all data series. If you have a single data point selected, data labels will only be applied to the selected data series or data point.

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Change the style of chart elements manually

1. Click the chart.

Tip  This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

3. On the Format tab, do one of the following:
   • In the Current Selection group, click Format Selection, and then select the formatting options that you want.
   • In the Shape Styles group, click the More button , and then select a style.

• In the Shape Styles group, click Shape Fill, Shape Outline, or Shape Effects and then select the formatting options that you want.

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Save a chart as a chart template

If you want to create another chart like the one that you just created, you can save the chart as a template that you can use as the basis for other similar charts.

1. Click the chart that you want to save as a template.
2. On the Design tab, in the Type group, click Save as Template.

3. In the File name box, type a name for the template.

Tip  Unless you specify a different folder, the template file (.crtx) will be saved in the Charts folder, and the template becomes available under Templates in both the Insert Chart dialog box (Insert tab, Charts group, Dialog Box Launcher ) and the Change Chart Type dialog box (Design tab, Type group, Change Chart Type).

For more information about how to apply a chart template, see Reuse a favorite chart by using a chart template.

 Note    A chart template contains chart formatting and stores the colors that are in use when you save the chart as a template. When you use a chart template to create a chart in another workbook, the new chart uses the colors of the chart template — not the colors of the document theme that is currently applied to the workbook. To use the document theme colors instead of the chart template colors, right-click the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then click Reset to Match Style on the shortcut menu.

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See Also

• Add or remove series lines, drop lines, high-low lines, or up-down bars in a chart
• Add, change, or remove a trendline in a chart
• Add, change, or remove error bars in a chart
• Change the chart type of an existing chart
• Print a chart
• Reuse a favorite chart by using a chart template

 

 

 

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Select chart elements

Excel 2007

You can quickly select chart elements on a chart by using the mouse. However, if you are not sure where a specific element is located in the chart, you can select it from a list of chart elements. You can also select chart elements by using the keyboard.

What do you want to do?

Select a chart element by using the mouse

Select a chart element from a list of chart elements

Select a chart element by using the keyboard

Select a chart element by using the mouse

• On a chart, click the chart element that you want to select.

The element that you select will be clearly marked with selection handles.

Tip  To help you locate the chart element that you want to select, Microsoft Office Excel displays an element name when you rest the pointer over a chart element.

 Note    Grouped elements, such as data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) and data labels (data label: A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell.), contain individual elements that can be selected after you select the group. For example, to select a single data marker (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) in a data series, click the data series, and then click the data marker.

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Select a chart element from a list of chart elements

1. Click a chart.

Tip  This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to select.

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Select a chart element by using the keyboard

You can select a chart by using the keyboard as follows:

After you select a chart, you can use the keyboard to select individual chart elements as follows:

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Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Format chart elements

Excel 2007

You can format individual chart elements, such as the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), plot area (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.), data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.), axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.), titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.), data labels (data label: A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell.), or legend (legend: A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.).

1. In a chart, click the chart element that you want to format, or do the following to select the chart element from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then select the chart element that you want to format.

2. On the Format tab, do any of the following:
   1. To format any selected chart element, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection, and then select the formatting options that you want.
   2. To format the shape of a selected chart element, in the Shape Styles group, click the style that you want, or click Shape Fill, Shape Outline, or Shape Effects, and then select the formatting options that you want.
   3. To format the text in a selected chart element by using WordArt, in the WordArt Styles group, click the style that you want, or click Text Fill, Text Outline, or Text Effects, and then select the formatting options that you want.

Tip  To use regular text formatting to format the text in chart elements, you can right-click or select the text, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Ribbon (Home tab, Font group), which is a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface.

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See Also

• Change the display of chart axes
• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the display of chart axes

Excel 2007

Charts typically have two axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) that are used to measure and categorize data: a vertical axis (also known as value axis or y axis), and a horizontal axis (also known as category axis or x axis). 3-D charts have a third axis, the depth axis (also known as series axis or z axis), so that data can be plotted along the depth of a chart. Radar charts do not have horizontal (category) axes, and pie and doughnut charts do not have any axes.

Vertical (value) axis

Horizontal (category) axis

Depth (series) axis

Not all chart types display axes the same way. For example, xy (scatter) charts and bubble charts show numerical values on both the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. An example might be how inches of rainfall are plotted against barometric pressure. Both of these items have numerical values, and the data points will be plotted on the x and y axes relative to their numerical values. Value axes provide a variety of options, such as setting the scale to logarithmic.

Other chart types, such as column, line, and area charts, show numerical values on the vertical (value) axis only and show textual groupings (or categories) on the horizontal axis. An example might be how inches of rainfall are plotted against geographic regions. In this example, the geographic regions are textual categories of the data that are plotted on the horizontal (category) axis. The geographic regions will be uniformly spaced because they are text only. Keep this difference in mind when you select a chart type, because the options are different for value and category axes. On a related note, the depth (series) axis is another form of category axis. For more information about how to change the scaling of value axes, see Change the scale of the vertical (value) axis in a chart.

When you create a chart, tick marks and labels (tick marks and tick-mark labels: Tick marks are small lines of measurement, similar to divisions on a ruler, that intersect an axis. Tick-mark labels identify the categories, values, or series in the chart.) are displayed by default on axes. You can adjust the way that they are displayed by using major and minor tick marks and labels. To eliminate clutter in a chart, you can display fewer axis labels or tick marks on the horizontal (category) axis by specifying the intervals at which you want categories to be labeled, or by specifying the number of categories that you want to display between tick marks.

You can also change the alignment and orientation of the labels, and change or format the text and numbers that they display, for example, to display a number as a percentage.

What do you want to do?

Display or hide axes

Adjust axis tick marks and labels

Change the number of categories between labels or tick marks

Change the alignment and orientation of labels

Change the text of category labels

Change the format of text and numbers in labels

Display or hide axes

1. Click the chart for which you want to display or hide axes.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.

3. Do one of the following:
   • To display an axis, click the type of axis that you want to display, and then click one of the options that show the axis.
   • To hide an axis, click the type of axis that you want to hide, and then click None.

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Adjust axis tick marks and labels

1. On a chart, click the axis that has the tick marks and labels that you want to adjust, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the axis that you want to select.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click Axis Options if it's not selected, and then do one or more of the following:
   1. To change the display of major tick marks, in the Major tick mark type box, click the tick mark position that you want.
   2. To change the display of minor tick marks, in the Minor tick mark type drop-down list box, click the tick mark position that you want.
   3. To change the position of the labels, in the Axis labels box, click the option that you want.

Tip  You can hide tick marks or tick-mark labels by clicking None.

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Change the number of categories between labels or tick marks

1. On a chart, click the horizontal (category) axis that you want to change, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the axis that you want to select.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click Axis Options if it's not selected, and then do one or both of the following:
   1. To change the interval between axis labels, under Interval between labels, click Specify interval unit, and then in the text box, type the number that you want.

Tip  Type 1 to display a label for every category, 2 to display a label for every other category, 3 to display a label for every third category, and so on.

2. To change the placement of axis labels, in the Label distance from axis box, type the number that you want.

Tip  Type a lower number to place the labels closer to the axis. Type a higher number if you want more distance between the label and the axis.

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Change the alignment and orientation of labels

You can change the alignment of axis labels on both horizontal (category) and vertical (value) axes. When you have multiple-level category labels (multiple-level category labels: Category labels in a chart that, based on worksheet data, are automatically displayed on more than one line in a hierarchy. For example, the heading Produce might appear above a row with headings Tofu, Apples, and Pears.) in your chart, you can change the alignment of all levels of labels. You can also change the amount of space between levels of labels on the horizontal (category) axis.

1. On a chart, click the axis that has the labels that you want to align differently, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the axis that you want to select.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. On the Alignment tab, under Text Layout, click the position that you want in the Vertical alignment box.
4. To change the orientation of the text, click the position that you want in the Text Direction box.

Tip  To quickly change the horizontal alignment of selected axis labels, right-click the axis, and then click Align Left , Center , or Align Right on the Mini Toolbar.

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Change the text of category labels

Do one of the following:

• To change the category labels on the worksheet, do the following:
  1. Click the cell that contains the name of the label that you want to change.
  2. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

 Note    Changes that you make on the worksheet are automatically updated in the chart.

• To change category labels on the chart, click the the horizontal axis on a chart, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
  1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the axis that you want to select.

3. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

4. Under Horizontal (Categories) Axis Labels, click Edit.
5. In the Axis Label Range box, specify the worksheet range that you want to use as category axis labels, or type the labels that you want to use, separated by commas, for example, Division A, Division B, Division C.

Tip  You can also click the Collapse Dialog button  at the right end of the Axis Label Range box and then select the range that you want to use as category axis labels on the worksheet. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

 Note    If you type the label text in the Axis Label Range box, the category axis label text is no longer linked to a worksheet cell.

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Change the format of text and numbers in labels

Do one of the following:

• To format text in labels, do the following:
  1. On a chart, right-click the axis labels that you want to format.
  2. On the Mini toolbar, click the formatting options that you want.

Tip  You can also use the formatting buttons on the Ribbon (Home tab, Font group), which is a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface.

• To format numbers in labels, do the following:
  1. On a chart, click the axis that displays the numbers that you want to format, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
     • Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

• On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the axis that you want to select.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click Number, and then in the Category box, select the number format that you want.

Tip  If the number format you select uses decimal places, you can specify them in the Decimal places box.

4. To keep numbers linked to the worksheet cells, select the Linked to Source check box.

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See Also

• Add or remove a secondary axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the depth (series) axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the horizontal (category) axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the vertical (value) axis in a chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change data markers in a line, xy (scatter), or radar chart

Excel 2007

1. In a line, xy (scatter), or radar chart, click the line with the data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) that you want to change.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box.

3. Click the series for which you want to change the data markers.
4. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
5. Click Marker Options if it's not selected, and then under Marker Type, make sure that Built-in is selected.
6. In the Type box, select the marker type that you want to use.
7. In the Size box, select the size that you want to use for the markers.

See Also

• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the scale of the depth (series) axis in a chart

Excel 2007

A 3-D chart, such as a 3-D column chart, will have a depth (series) axis (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) that you can change. You can specify the interval between tick marks and axis labels, change their placement along the axis, and reverse the order in which the series are displayed.

1. In a 3-D chart, click the depth (series) axis that you want to change, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click Depth (Series) Axis.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click Axis Options if it's not selected, and then do one or more of the following:

Important  The following scaling options are only available when a depth (series) axis is selected. Axis Options provides different options for a vertical (value) axis or a horizontal (category) axis.

1. To change the interval between tick marks, in the Interval between tick marks box, type the number that you want.

 Note    The number that you type determines how many data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) are displayed between the tick marks.

2. To change the interval between axis labels, under Interval between labels, click Specify interval unit, and then in the text box, type the number that you want.

Tip  Type 1 to display a label for every data series, 2 to display a label for every other data series, 3 to display a label for every third data series, and so on.

3. To reverse the order of series, select the Series in reverse order check box.

 Note    This reverses the order of the data series that are displayed along the depth axis.

4. To change the placement of the axis tick marks and labels, select the option that you want in the Major tick mark type, Minor tick mark type, and Axis labels boxes.

See Also

• Change the scale of the horizontal (category) axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the vertical (value) axis in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the plotting order of categories, values, or data series

Excel 2007

If the chart for which you want to change the plotting order displays axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.), you can quickly reverse the order in which the categories or values are plotted along those axes. Additionally, in 3-D charts that have a depth axis, you can reverse the plotting order of data series so that large 3-Ddata markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) do not block smaller ones.

You can also change the order in which the individual data series are plotted in a chart.

What do you want to do?

Reverse the plotting order of categories or values in a chart

Reverse the plotting order of data series in a 3-D chart

Change the plotting order of data series in a chart

Reverse the plotting order of categories or values in a chart

1. On a chart, do one of the following:
   • To change the plotting order of categories, click the horizontal (category) axis.
   • To change the plotting order of values, click the vertical (value) axis.
   • You can also do the following to select the axis that you want from a list of chart elements:
     1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Axis Options category, do one of the following:
   • For categories, select the Categories in reverse order check box.
   • For values, select the Values in reverse order check box.

 Note    You cannot reverse the plotting order of values in a radar chart.

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Reverse the plotting order of data series in a 3-D chart

You can change the plotting order of data series so that large 3-Ddata markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) do not block smaller ones.

3-D charts with data series that are displayed in reversed orders

1. On a chart, click the depth axis, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Axis Options category, under Axis Options, select the Series in reverse order check box.

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Change the plotting order of data series in a chart

1. Click the chart for which you want to change the plotting order of data series.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

3. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, click the data series for which you want to change the order.
4. Click Move Up or Move Down to move the data series to the position that you want.

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See Also

• Available chart types
• Create a chart
• Display hidden data and empty cells in a chart
• Overview of charting
• Plot data series on a different axis

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the scale of the horizontal (category) axis in a chart

Excel 2007

Because a horizontal (category) axis (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) displays text labels instead of numerical intervals, there are fewer scaling options that you can change than there are for a vertical (value) axis. You can, however, change how many categories you want to display between tick marks, in which order you want to display categories, and where the two axes cross.

1. In a chart, click the horizontal (category) axis that you want to change, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click Horizontal (Category) Axis.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click Axis Options if it's not selected, and then do one or more of the following:

Important  The following scaling options are only available when a horizontal (category) axis is selected. Axis Options provides different options for a vertical (value) axis.

1. To change the interval between tick marks, in the Interval between tick marks box, type the number that you want.

 Note    The number that you type determines how many categories are displayed between the tick marks.

2. To change the interval between axis labels, under Interval between labels, click Specify interval unit, and then in the text box, type the number that you want.

Tip  Type 1 to display a label for every category, 2 to display a label for every other category, 3 to display a label for every third category, and so on.

3. To change the placement of axis labels, in the Label distance from axis box, type the number that you want.

Tip  Type a lower number to place the labels closer to the axis. Type a higher number if you want more distance between the label and the axis.

4. To reverse the order of categories, select the Categories in reverse order check box.
5. To change the axis type to a text or date axis, under Axis Type, click Text axis or Date axis, and then select the appropriate options. Text and data points are evenly spaced on a text axis. A date axis displays dates in chronological order at specific intervals or base units such as the number of days, months or years, even if the dates on the worksheet are not in order or in the same base units.

 Note    Selected by default, Automatically select based on data determines the axis type that makes the most sense for your type of data.

6. To change the placement of the axis tick marks and labels, select the option that you want in the Major tick mark type, Minor tick mark type, and Axis labels boxes.
7. To change where you want the vertical (value) axis to cross the horizontal (category) axis, under Vertical axis crosses, click At category number, and then type the number that you want in the text box, or click At maximum category to specify that the vertical (value) axis cross the horizontal (category) axis after the last category on the x-axis.

See Also

• Change the scale of the depth (series) axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the vertical (value) axis in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the scale of the vertical (value) axis in a chart

Excel 2007

By default, Microsoft Office Excel determines the minimum and maximum scale values of the vertical (value) axis (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) in a chart. You can, however, customize the scale to better meet your needs. When the values that are plotted in the chart cover a very large range, you can also change the vertical (value) axis to a logarithmic scale (also known as log scale).

1. In a chart, click the vertical (value) axis that you want to change, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click Vertical (Value) Axis.
2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

3. Click Axis Options if it's not selected, and then do one or more of the following:

Important  The following scaling options are only available when a vertical (value) axis is selected. Axis Options provides different options for a horizontal (category) axis.

1. To change the number at which the vertical (value) axis starts or ends, for the Minimum or Maximum option, click Fixed, and then type a different number in the Minimum box or the Maximum box.
2. To change the interval of tick marks (tick marks and tick-mark labels: Tick marks are small lines of measurement, similar to divisions on a ruler, that intersect an axis. Tick-mark labels identify the categories, values, or series in the chart.) and chart gridlines (gridlines in charts: Lines you can add to a chart that make it easier to view and evaluate data. Gridlines extend from the tick marks on an axis across the plot area.), for the Major Unit or Minor Unit option, click Fixed, and then type a different number in the Major unit box or Minor unit box.
3. To reverse the order of the values, select the Values in reverse order check box.

 Note    When you change the order of the values on the vertical (value) axis from bottom to top, the category labels on the horizontal (category) axis will flip from the bottom to the top of the chart. Likewise, when you change the order of the categories from left to right, the value labels will flip from the left side to the right side of the chart.

4. To change the value axis to logarithmic, select the Logarithmic scale check box.

 Note    A logarithmic scale cannot be used for negative values or zero.

5. To change the display units on the value axis, in the Display units list, select the units that you want.

To show a label that describes the units, select the Show display units label on chart check box.

Tip  Changing the display unit is useful when the chart values are large numbers that you want to make shorter and more readable on the axis. For example, you can display chart values ranging from 1,000,000 to 50,000,000 as 1 to 50 on the axis and show a label that indicates that the units are expressed in millions.

6. To change the placement of the axis tick marks and labels, select the option that you want in the Major tick mark type, Minor tick mark type, and Axis labels boxes.
7. To change where you want the horizontal (category) axis to cross the vertical (value) axis, under Horizontal axis crosses, click Axis value, and then type the number that you want in the text box, or click Maximum axis value to specify that the horizontal (category) axis cross the vertical (value) axis at the highest value on the axis.

 Note    When you click Maximum axis value, the category labels are moved to the opposite side of the chart.

Tip  XY (scatter) charts and bubble charts show values on both the horizontal (category) axis and the vertical (value) axis, while line charts show values on only the vertical (value) axis. This difference is an important factor in deciding which chart type to use. Because the scale of the line chart's horizontal (category) axis cannot be changed as much as the scale of the vertical (value) axis that is used in the xy (scatter) chart, you might consider using an xy (scatter) chart instead of a line chart if you need to change the scaling of that axis or display it as a logarithmic scale.

See Also

• Change the scale of the depth (series) axis in a chart
• Change the scale of the horizontal (category) axis in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the shape fill, outline, or effects of chart elements

Excel 2007

You can instantly change the look of chart elements (such as the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), the plot area (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.), data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.), titles in charts (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.), gridlines (gridlines in charts: Lines you can add to a chart that make it easier to view and evaluate data. Gridlines extend from the tick marks on an axis across the plot area.), axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.), tick marks (tick marks and tick-mark labels: Tick marks are small lines of measurement, similar to divisions on a ruler, that intersect an axis. Tick-mark labels identify the categories, values, or series in the chart.), trendlines (trendline: A graphic representation of trends in data series, such as a line sloping upward to represent increased sales over a period of months. Trendlines are used for the study of problems of prediction, also called regression analysis.), error bars (error bars: Usually used in statistical or scientific data, error bars show potential error or degree of uncertainty relative to each data marker in a series.), or the walls and floor (3-D walls and floor: The areas surrounding many 3-D chart types that give dimension and boundaries to the chart. Two walls and one floor are displayed within the plot area.) in 3-D charts) by applying a predefined shape style or by applying custom shape fills, shape outlines, and shape effects.

What do you want to do?

Apply a predefined shape or line style

Use a custom shape fill

Use a custom shape outline

Use a custom shape effect

Apply a predefined shape or line style

1. On a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click a predefined shape style or line style.

Tip  Click the More button to see all available shape styles.

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Use a custom shape fill

You can fill a selected shape (such as data markers, titles, data labels, or a legend) with a solid color, gradient, picture, or texture. You cannot use shape fill to format lines in a chart (such as gridlines, axes, trendlines, or error bars).

1. On a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click Shape Fill.

3. Do one of the following:
   1. To use a different fill color, under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click the color that you want to use.

Tip  Before you apply a different color, you can quickly preview how that color affects the chart. When you point to colors that you may want to use, the selected chart element will be displayed in that color on the chart.

2. To remove the color from the selected chart element, click No Fill.
3. To use a fill color that is not available under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click More Fill Colors. In the Colors dialog box, specify the color that you want to use on the Standard or Custom tab, and then click OK.

Custom fill colors that you create are added under Recent Colors so that you can use them again.

4. To fill the shape with a picture, click Picture. In the Insert Picture dialog box, click the picture that you want to use, and then click Insert.
5. To use a gradient effect for the selected fill color, click Gradient, and then under Variations, click the gradient style that you want to use.

For additional gradient styles, click More Gradients, and then in the Fill category, click the gradient options that you want to use.

6. To use a texture fill, click Texture, and then click the texture that you want to use.

For additional textures, click More Textures, and then in the Fill category, click the texture options that you want to use.

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Use a custom shape outline

You can change the color, width, and line style of lines in a chart (such as gridlines, axes, trendlines, or error bars), or you can create custom borders for selected shapes (such as data markers, titles, data labels, or a legend).

1. On a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click Shape Outline.

3. Do one of the following:
   1. To use a different outline color, under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click the color that you want to use.
   2. To remove the outline color from the selected chart element, click No Outline.

 Note    If the selected element is a line, the line will no longer be visible on the chart.

3. To use an outline color that is not available under Theme Colors or Standard Colors, click More Outline Colors. In the Colors dialog box, specify the color that you want to use on the Standard or Custom tab, and then click OK.

Custom outline colors that you create are added under Recent Colors so that you can use them again.

4. To change the weight of a line or border, click Weight, and then click the line weight that you want to use.

For additional line style or border style options, click More Lines, and then click the line style or border style options that you want to use.

5. To use a dashed line or border, click Dashes, and then click the dash type that you want to use.

For additional dash-type options, click More Lines, and then click the dash type that you want to use.

6. To add arrows to lines, click Arrows, and then click the arrow style that you want to use. You cannot use arrow styles for borders.

For additional arrow style or border style options, click More Arrows, and then click the arrow setting that you want to use.

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Use a custom shape effect

You can apply visual effects (such as a shadow, glow, or bevel effects) to selected shapes (such as data markers, titles, data labels, or a legend) and lines (such as gridlines, axes, trendlines, or error bars).

1. On a chart, click the chart element that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Shape Styles group, click Shape Effects.

3. Click an available effect, and then select the type of effect that you want to use.

 Note    Available shape effects depend on the chart element that you selected. Preset, reflection, and bevel effects are not available for all chart elements.

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See Also

• Format chart elements

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Change the display of a 3-D chart

Excel 2007

To make a 3-D chart (such as a 3-D column, 3-D cylinder, 3-D cone, 3-D pyramid, 3-D line, or 3-D surface chart) easier to read, you can change the 3-D format, rotation, and scaling of the chart. If smaller data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) are hidden behind larger ones, you can reverse the order of the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) that are plotted in the chart, or you can use transparency to improve the visibility of all data markers.

What do you want to do?

Change the 3-D format of chart elements

Change the depth and spacing in a 3-D chart

Change the rotation of a 3-D chart

Change the scale of a 3-D chart

Reverse the order of data series in a 3-D chart

Use transparency in a 3-D chart

Change the 3-D format of chart elements

1. On a 3-D chart, click the chart element for which you want to change the 3-D format, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. Keyboard shortcut  You can, instead, click the chart element for which you want to change the 3-D format, and then press CTRL+1. Continue with step 3.
3. On the Layout tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
4. Click 3-D Format, and then select one or more of the following options.
   1. Under Bevel, click Top and Bottom, and then click the bevel format that you want to use. In the Width and Height boxes, select the point size that you want to use.
   2. Under Surface, click Material, and then click the effect that you want to use.

 Note    Availability of these options depends on the chart element that you selected. Some options that are presented in this dialog box are not available for charts.

Tip  You can also use this procedure to change the 3-D format of chart elements in a 2-D chart.

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Change the depth and spacing in a 3-D chart

You can change the chart depth in 3-D charts that have axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.), the gap depth in 3-D perspective charts, and the gap width in 3-D bar or column charts.

1. Click the 3-D chart that you want to change.
2. On the Format menu, click Selected Data Series.
3. On the Options tab, select the depth and width options that you want to use.

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Change the rotation of a 3-D chart

1. Click the chart area of the 3-D chart that you want to rotate, or do the following to select the chart area from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. Keyboard shortcut  You can, instead, click the chart area, and then press CTRL+1. Continue with step 3.
3. On the Layout tab, in the Background group, click 3-D Rotation.

4. In the 3-D Rotation category, under Rotation, do one or more of the following:
   1. To change the rotation, click the degree of rotation that you want in the X and Y boxes.

 Note    Charts can be rotated around the horizontal and vertical axes but never around the depth axis. Therefore, you cannot specify a degree of rotation in the Z box.

2. To change the field of view on the chart, click the degree of perspective that you want in the Perspective box, or click the Narrow field of view or Widen field of view buttons until you have reached the result that you want.

 Note    Some options that are presented in this dialog box are not available for charts. You cannot reset the options that you changed to previous settings.

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Change the scale of a 3-D chart

You can scale a 3-D chart by specifying its height and depth as a percentage of the base of the chart.

1. Click the chart area of the 3-D chart that you want to scale, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. Keyboard shortcut  You can, instead, click the chart area, and then press CTRL+1. Continue with step 3.
3. On the Layout tab, in the Background group, click 3-D Rotation.

4. In the 3-D Rotation category, under Chart Scale, do one of the following:
   1. To change the depth of the chart, specify the percentage of depth in the Depth (% of base) box.
   2. To change both the depth and height of the chart, clear the Autoscale check box, and then specify the percentage of depth and height that you want in the Depth (% of base) and Height (% of base) boxes.
   3. To use a right-angle axes view, select the Right Angle Axes check box, and then specify the percentage of depth that you want in the Depth (% of base) box.

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Reverse the order of data series in a 3-D chart

You can change the plotting order of data series so that large 3-D data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) do not block smaller ones.

3-D charts with data series that are displayed in reversed orders

1. On a chart, click the depth axis, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Axis Options category, under Axis Options, select the Series in reverse order check box.

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Use transparency in a 3-D chart

Although transparency can be used in 3-D and 2-D charts, it is particularly useful in 3-D charts where larger data markers can obscure smaller ones.

1. In a 3-D chart, click the data series or data point that you want to make transparent, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. Keyboard shortcut  You can, instead, click the chart element for which you want to change the 3-D format, and then press CTRL+1. Continue with step 3.
3. On the Layout tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
4. Click Fill, and then click Solid fill, Gradient fill, or Picture or texture fill.
5. Click the handle on the Transparency bar, and then slide the handle to the percentage of transparency that you want to use.

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See Also

• Available chart types
• Change the layout or style of a chart
• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add or remove a secondary axis in a chart

Excel 2007

When the values in a 2-D chart vary widely from data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) to data series, or when you have mixed types of data (for example, price and volume), you can plot one or more data series on a secondary vertical (value) axis. The scale of the secondary vertical axis reflects the values for the associated data series.

After you add a secondary vertical axis to a 2-D chart, you can also add a secondary horizontal (category) axis, which may be useful in an xy (scatter) chart or bubble chart.

To help distinguish the data that is plotted along the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you could change one data series to a line chart.

Important  To complete the following procedures, you must have an existing 2-D chart. Secondary axes are not supported in 3-D charts. For more information about how to create a chart, see Create a chart.

What do you want to do?

Add a secondary vertical axis

Add a secondary horizontal axis

Change the chart type of a data series

Remove a secondary axis

Add a secondary vertical axis

You can plot data on a secondary vertical axis one data series at a time. To plot more than one data series on the secondary vertical axis, repeat this procedure for each data series that you want to display on the secondary vertical axis.

1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to plot on a secondary vertical axis, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to plot along a secondary vertical axis.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

The Format Data Series dialog box is displayed.

 Note    If a different dialog box is displayed, repeat step 1 and make sure that you select a data series in the chart.

3. On the Series Options tab, under Plot Series On, click Secondary Axis and then click Close.

A secondary vertical axis is displayed in the chart.

4. To change the display of the secondary vertical axis, do the following:
   1. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.
   2. Click Secondary Vertical Axis, and then click the display option that you want.
5. To change the axis options of the secondary vertical axis, do the following:
   1. Right-click the secondary vertical axis, and then click Format Axis.
   2. Under Axis Options, select the options that you want to use.

Tip  To help distinguish the secondary axis, you can change the chart type for just one data series. For example, you can change one data series to a line chart. For more information, see Present your data in a combination chart.

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Add a secondary horizontal axis

To complete this procedure, you must have a chart that displays a secondary vertical axis. To add a secondary vertical axis, see Add a secondary vertical axis.

1. Click a chart that displays a secondary vertical axis.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes.

3. Click Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click the display option that you want.

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Change the chart type of a data series

1. In a chart, click the data series that you want to change, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow in the Chart Elements box, and then click the data series that you want to change.

2. On the Design tab, in the Type group, click Change Chart Type.

3. Click a chart type in the first box, and then click the chart subtype that you want to use in the second box.

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Remove a secondary axis

1. Click the chart that displays the secondary axis that you want to remove.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. Do one of the following:
   • On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Axes, click Secondary Vertical Axis or Secondary Horizontal Axis, and then click None.

• Click the secondary axis that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
• Right-click the secondary axis, and then click Delete.

Tip  You can also remove secondary axes immediately after you add them by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar, or by pressing CTRL+Z.

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See Also

• Change the display of chart axes
• Change the plotting order of categories, values, or data series
• Plot data series on a different axis
• Present your data in a combination chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Align or rotate a chart or axis title

Excel 2007

To avoid spacing problems with titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.) in a chart, you can change the way that titles are aligned, or you can rotate them.

1. On a chart, click the chart title or axis title that you want to align or rotate, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. Click the Alignment category.
4. Under Text Layout, do one of the following:
   1. To align text, in the Vertical alignment box, click the option that you want.
   2. To change the direction of the text, in the Text direction box, click the option that you want.
   3. To rotate text, click the position that you want, in the Custom angle box, enter the degree of angle that you want.

Tip  To quickly align or rotate selected titles on a chart, you can also click the text alignment and orientation buttons in the Alignment group on the Home tab.

See Also

• Create a chart
• Edit titles or data labels in a chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Display or hide chart gridlines

Excel 2007

To make the data in a chart easier to read, you can display horizontal and vertical chart gridlines that extend from any horizontal and vertical axes (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.) across the plot area (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.) of the chart. You can also display depth gridlines in 3-D charts. Gridlines can be displayed for major and minor units, and they align with major and minor tick marks on the axes when those are displayed.

1. Click the chart to which you want to add chart gridlines.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Axes group, click Gridlines.

3. Do the following:
   • To add horizontal gridlines to the chart, point to Primary Horizontal Gridlines, and then click the option that you want. If the chart has a secondary horizontal axis, you can also click Secondary Horizontal Gridlines.
   • To add vertical gridlines to the chart, point to Primary Vertical Gridlines, and then click the option that you want. If the chart has a secondary vertical axis, you can also click Secondary Vertical Gridlines.
   • To add depth gridlines to a 3-D chart, point to Depth Gridlines, and then click the option that you want. This option is only available when the selected chart is a true 3-D chart, such as a 3-D column chart.
   • To hide chart gridlines, point to Primary Horizontal Gridlines, Primary Vertical Gridlines, or Depth Gridlines (on a 3-D chart), and then click None. If the chart has a secondary axes, you can also click Secondary Horizontal Gridlines or Secondary Vertical Gridlines, and then click None.
   • To quickly remove chart gridlines, select them, and then press DELETE.

Tip  You can also right-click the gridlines, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu.

See Also

• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Display dates on a category axis

Excel 2007

When you create a chart from worksheet data that uses dates, and the dates are plotted along the horizontal (category) axis in the chart, Microsoft Office Excel automatically changes the category axis to a date (time-scale) axis. You can also manually change a category axis to a date axis.

A date axis displays dates in chronological order at specific intervals or base units, such as the number of days, months, or years, even if the dates on the worksheet are not in sequential order or in the same base units.

By default, Excel determines the base units for the date axis, based on the smallest difference between any two dates in the worksheet data. For example, if you have data for stock prices where the smallest difference between dates is seven days, Excel sets the base unit to days, but you can change the base unit to months or years if you want to see the performance of the stock over a longer period of time.

Chart that uses a date axis

What do you want to do?

Change the category axis to a date axis

Change the base unit that is displayed on a date axis

Change the category axis to a date axis

1. On a chart, click the category axis, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Axis Options category, under Axis Type, click Date axis.

 Notes 

• You cannot have a date axis if the dates in your chart appear in the legend (legend: A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.). You may want to change the way that data is plotted in the chart so that the dates appear on the category axis instead.
• Date axes are available on stock charts, line charts, column charts, bar charts, and area charts. Date axes are not available on PivotChart reports (PivotChart report: A chart that provides interactive analysis of data, like a PivotTable report. You can change views of data, see different levels of detail, or reorganize the chart layout by dragging fields and by showing or hiding items in fields.).

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Change the base unit that is displayed on a date axis

1. On a chart, click the date axis for which you want to change the base unit, or do the following to select the axis from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Axis Options category, under Axis Options, click Fixed for Base Unit and then, in the Base Unit box, click Days, Months, or Years.

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See Also

• Align or rotate a chart or axis title
• Change the display of chart axes
• Change the scale of the horizontal (category) axis in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Show or hide a chart legend or data table

Excel 2007

When you create a chart, the legend (legend: A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.) appears by default, but you can hide the legend or change its location after you create the chart.

You can also show a data table for a line chart, area chart, column chart, or bar chart. A data table displays the values that are presented in the chart in a grid at the bottom of the chart. A data table can also include the legend keys.

For information about creating a chart, see Create a chart.

What do you want to do?

Show or hide a legend

Show or hide a data table

Show or hide a legend

1. Click the chart in which you want to show or hide a legend.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Legend.

3. Do one of the following:
   • To hide the legend, click None.

Tip  To quickly remove a legend or a legend entry from a chart, you can select it, and then press DELETE. You can also right-click the legend or a legend entry, and then click Delete.

• To display a legend, click the display option that you want.

 Note    When you click one of the display options, the legend moves, and the plot area (plot area: In a 2-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including all data series. In a 3-D chart, the area bounded by the axes, including the data series, category names, tick-mark labels, and axis titles.) automatically adjusts to accommodate it. If you move and size the legend by using the mouse, the plot area does not automatically adjust.

• For additional options, click More Legend Options, and then select the display option that you want.

Tip  By default, a legend does not overlap the chart. If you have space constraints, you may be able to reduce the size of the chart by clearing the Show the legend without overlapping the chart check box.

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Show or hide a data table

1. Click the chart of a line chart, area chart, column chart, or bar chart in which you want to show or hide a data table.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Table.

3. Do one of the following:
   • To display a data table, click Show Data Table or Show Data Table with Legend Keys.
   • To hide the data table, click None.

Tip  To quickly remove a data table from a chart, you can select it, and then press DELETE. You can also right-click the data table, and then click Delete.

• For additional options, click More Data Table Options, and then select the display option that you want.

Tip  If you already display a legend in the chart, you can clear the Show legend keys check box.

 Note    In bar charts and charts that display a date axis (axis: A line bordering the chart plot area used as a frame of reference for measurement. The y axis is usually the vertical axis and contains data. The x-axis is usually the horizontal axis and contains categories.), the data table is not attached to the horizontal axis of the chart — it is placed below the axis and aligned to the chart.

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See Also

• Change the layout or style of a chart
• Create a chart
• Modify chart legend entries

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Display or hide data label leader lines in a pie chart

Excel 2007

By default, when you add data labels (data label: A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a datasheet cell.) to the data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) in a pie chart, leader lines are displayed for data labels that are positioned far outside the end of data points. Leader lines create a visual connection between a data label and its corresponding data point. You can change the color and style of the leader lines and show or hide them as needed.

In this article

Display data labels in a pie chart

Change the color and style of leader lines

Show or hide leader lines

Display data labels in a pie chart

1. In a pie chart, click the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) or the data point for which you want to display data labels, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Labels, and then click an option that positions all or some of the data labels outside the end of the data points.

Tip  For example, click Outside End or Best Fit. You can also click More Data Label Options, and then specify the options that you want in the Label Options category.

 Note    If you do not see leader lines, drag the data labels to position them farther away from the outside end of their corresponding data points.

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Change the color and style of leader lines

1. Click a pie chart that has data labels and leader lines displayed.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. Click one of the leader lines that you want to change.

This automatically selects all leader lines.

3. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

4. In the Format Leader Lines dialog box, do the following:
   • To change the color of leader lines, click Line Color, and then click the option that you want.
   • To change the style of leader lines, click Line Style, and then select the line style options that you want.

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Show or hide leader lines

1. Click a pie chart that has data labels displayed.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Labels.

3. Click More Data Label Options.
4. In the Label Options category, under Label Contains, select or clear the Show Leader Lines check box to show or hide the leader lines.

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See Also

• Present your data in a pie chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Use titles on a chart

Excel 2007

To make a chart easier to understand, you can add titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.), such as a chart title and axis titles, to any type of chart. Axis titles are typically available for all axes that can be displayed in a chart, including depth (series) axes in 3-D charts. Some chart types (such as radar charts) have axes, but they cannot display axis titles. Chart types that do not have axes (such as pie and doughnut charts) cannot display axis titles either.

You can also link chart and axis titles to corresponding text in worksheet (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.) cells by creating a reference to those cells. Linked titles are automatically updated in the chart when you make changes to the corresponding text on the worksheet.

You can easily edit the text of titles, and if you no longer want to display the titles, you can remove them from the chart.

What do you want to do?

Apply a chart layout that contains titles

Add a chart title manually

Add axis titles manually

Edit a chart or axis title

Link a chart or axis title to a worksheet cell

Remove a chart or axis title from a chart

Apply a chart layout that contains titles

1. Click the chart to which you want to apply a chart layout.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Chart Layouts group, click a layout that contains titles.

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Add a chart title manually

1. Click the chart to which you want to add a title.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Chart Title.

3. Click Centered Overlay Title or Above Chart.
4. In the Chart Title text box that appears in the chart, type the text that you want.

Tips

• To insert a line break, click to place the cursor where you want to break the line, and then press ENTER.
• To format the text, select it, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Ribbon (Home tab, Font group), which is a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface. To format the entire title, you can right-click it, click Format Chart Title on the shortcut menu, and then select the formatting options that you want.

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Add axis titles manually

1. Click the chart to which you want to add axis titles.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Axis Titles.

3. Do any of the following:
   • To add a title to a primary horizontal (category) axis, click Primary Horizontal Axis Title, and then click the option that you want.

Tip  If the chart has a secondary horizontal axis, you can also click Secondary Horizontal Axis Title.

• To add a title to primary vertical (value) axis, click Primary Vertical Axis Title or Secondary Vertical Axis Title, and then click the option that you want.

Tip  If the chart has a secondary vertical axis, you can also click Secondary Vertical Axis Title.

• To add a title to a depth (series) axis, click Depth Axis Title, and then click the option that you want.

 Note    This option is only available when the selected chart is a true 3-D chart, such as a 3-D column chart.

4. In the Axis Title text box that appears in the chart, type the text that you want.

Tips

• To insert a line break, click to place the cursor where you want to break the line, and then press ENTER.
• To format the text, select it, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Office Fluent Ribbon (Home tab, Font group). To format the entire title, you can right-click it, click Format Axis Title on the shortcut menu, and then select the formatting options that you want.

 Notes 

• If you switch to another chart type that does not support axis titles (such as a pie chart), the axis titles will no longer be displayed. The titles will be displayed again when you switch back to a chart type that does support axis titles.
• Axis titles that are displayed for secondary axes will be lost when you switch to a chart type that does not display secondary axes.

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Edit a chart or axis title

1. If a chart or axis title is not linked to a worksheet cell, do the following:
   1. On a chart, click the chart or axis title to activate it, and then click it again to place the cursor in the text.

Tip  You can also right-click the title, and then click Edit Text on the shortcut menu.

2. Type the new text.

Tip  If needed, you can drag to select the text that you want to change, and then type the new text.

3. Press ENTER.
2. If a chart or axis title is linked to a worksheet cell, double-click that cell, edit the text, and then press ENTER.

 Note    The corresponding title text is automatically updated on the chart.

Tips

• To insert a line break, click to place the cursor where you want to break the line, and then press ENTER.
• To format the text, select it, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Office Fluent Ribbon (Home tab, Font group). To format the entire title, you can right-click it, click Format Chart Title or Format Axis Title on the shortcut menu, and then select the formatting options that you want.

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Link a chart or axis title to a worksheet cell

1. On a chart, click the chart or axis title that you want to link to a worksheet cell.
2. On the worksheet, click in the formula bar (formula bar: A bar at the top of the Excel window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts. Displays the constant value or formula stored in the active cell.), and then type an equal sign (=).
3. Select the worksheet cell that contains the data or text that you want to display in your chart.

Tip  You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell in the formula bar. Include an equal sign, the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point; for example, =Sheet1!F2

4. Press ENTER.

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Remove a chart or axis title from a chart

1. Click the chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. Do one of the following:
   • To remove a chart title, on the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Chart Title, and then click None.

• To remove an axis title, on the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Axis Title, click the type of axis title that you want to remove, and then click None.
• To quickly remove a chart or axis title, click the title, and then press DELETE. You can also right-click the chart or axis title, and then click Delete.
• To remove chart or axis titles immediately after you add them, you can click Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar, or you can press CTRL+Z.

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See Also

• Align or rotate a chart or axis title
• Create a chart
• Edit titles or data labels in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Vary colors in the same data series

Excel 2007

When you create a single-series chart, all data markers (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) that represent the data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) in that data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) are displayed in the same color. To use different colors for each data marker, you can vary the colors.

By default, the colors of slices in pie charts and doughnut charts are varied, but you can turn this option off as needed. For example, you may want to display each ring in a doughnut chart in a single color instead of varied colors.

1. In a chart, click the data series for which you want to change the colors, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.
3. In the Format Data Series dialog box, click the Fill category, and then do the following:
   1. To vary the colors of data markers in a single-series chart, select the Vary colors by point check box.
   2. To display all data points of a data series in the same color on a pie chart or donut chart, clear the Vary colors by slice check box.

See Also

• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add or remove data labels in a chart

Excel 2007

To quickly identify a data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) in a chart, you can add data labels (data label: A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell.) to the data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) of the chart. By default, the data labels are linked to values on the worksheet, and they update automatically when changes are made to these values.

You can also display series names, category names, and percentages in data labels. For bubble charts, you can even display the size of the bubbles. For optimal detail, you can display more than one data label entry in each data label, separated by a comma or other separator that you specify.

To prevent data labels from overlapping and to make them easier to read, you can adjust their positions in the chart. And if you no longer need to display data labels, you can remove them.

What do you want to do?

Add data labels to a chart

Change the data label entries that are displayed

Change the position of data labels

Remove data labels from a chart

Add data labels to a chart

1. On a chart, do one of the following:
   • To add a data label to all data points of all data series, click the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.).
   • To add a data label to all data points of a data series, click once to select the data series that you want to label.
   • To add a data label to a single data point in a data series, click the data series that contains the data point that you want to label, and then click the data point again.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Labels, and then click the display option that you want.

 Note    Depending on the chart type that you used, different data label options will be available.

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Change the data label entries that are displayed

1. On a chart, do one of the following:
   • To display additional label entries for all data points of a series, click a data label once to select all data labels of the data series.
   • To display additional label entries for a single data point, click the the data label in the data point that you want to change, and then click the data label again.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection.

Tip  You can also right-click the selected label or labels on the chart, and then click Format Data Label or Format Data Labels on the shortcut menu.

3. Click Label Options if it's not selected, and then under Label Contains, select the check box for the label entries that you want to add.
4. To change the separator between the data label entries, select the separator that you want to use or type a custom separator in the Separator box.
5. To adjust the label position to better present the additional text, select the option that you want under Label Position.

Tip  If you have entered custom label text but want to display the data label entries that are linked to worksheet values again, you can click Reset Label Text.

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Change the position of data labels

You can change the position of a single data label by dragging it. You can also place data labels in a standard position relative to their data markers. Depending on the chart type, you can choose from a variety of positioning options.

1. On a chart, do one of the following:
   • To reposition all data labels for an entire data series, click a data label once to select the data series.
   • To reposition a specific data label, click that data label twice to select it.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Labels, and then click the option that you want.

Tip  For additional data label options, click More Data Label Options, click Label Options if it's not selected, and then select the options that you want.

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Remove data labels from a chart

1. Click the chart from which you want to remove data labels.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. Do one of the following:
   • On the Layout tab, in the Labels group, click Data Labels, and then click None.

• Click a data label once to select all data labels in a data series or twice to select just one data label that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
• Right-click a data label, and then click Delete on the shortcut menu.

 Note    This removes all data labels from a data series.

3. Tip  You can also remove data labels immediately after you add them by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar, or by pressing CTRL+Z.

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See Also

• Edit titles or data labels in a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Modify chart legend entries

Excel 2007

When a chart has a legend (legend: A box that identifies the patterns or colors that are assigned to the data series or categories in a chart.) displayed, you can modify the individual legend entries by editing the corresponding data on the worksheet (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.). For additional editing options, or to modify legend entries without affecting the worksheet data, you can make changes to the legend entries in the Select Data Source dialog box.

What do you want to do?

Edit legend entries on the worksheet

Edit legend entries in the Select Data Source dialog box

Edit legend entries on the worksheet

1. On the worksheet, click the cell that contains the name of the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) that appears as an entry in the chart legend.
2. Type the new name, and then press ENTER.

The new name automatically appears in the legend on the chart.

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Edit legend entries in the Select Data Source dialog box

1. Click the chart that displays the legend entries that you want to edit.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

3. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, select the legend entry that you want to change.
4. Click Edit.

Tip  To add a new legend entry, click Add, or to remove a legend entry, click Remove.

5. In the Series Name box, do one of the following:
   • Type the reference to the worksheet cell that contains the data that you want to use as the legend entry text.

Tip  You can also click the Collapse Dialog button  at the right end of the Series name box, and then select the worksheet cell that contains the data that you want to use as the legend entry. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

• Type the legend entry name that you want to use.

 Note    When you type a new name, the legend entry text is no longer linked to data in a worksheet cell.

• To add a new legend entry, type the reference to the worksheet cell or type a new name and then, in the Series values box, type a reference to the data series on the worksheet that you want to use for the new legend entry.

Tip  You can also click the Collapse Dialog button  at the right end of the Series values box, and then select the data series that you want to use for the new legend entry. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

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See Also

• Change the plotting order of categories, values, or data series
• Create a chart
• Show or hide a chart legend or data table

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Edit titles or data labels in a chart

Excel 2007

To change chart titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.), axis titles, and data labels (data label: A label that provides additional information about a data marker, which represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell.) that are added to data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) on a chart, you can edit their contents. If titles and data labels are not linked to worksheet data, you can edit them directly on the chart and use rich-text formatting to enhance their appearance.

If titles and data labels are linked to worksheet data, you can edit the data in the corresponding worksheet cells. The changes that you make will automatically appear in the titles and data labels on the chart, but you won't be able to use rich-text formatting.

If you edit a linked title or data label on the chart, that title or data label will no longer be linked to the corresponding worksheet cell, and the changes that you make will not be displayed in the worksheet. If needed, you can reestablish links between titles or data labels and worksheet cells.

What do you want to do?

Edit the contents of a title or data label on the chart

Edit the contents of a title or data label that is linked to data on the worksheet

Reestablish the link between a title or data label and a worksheet cell

Edit the contents of a title or data label on the chart

1. On a chart, do one of the following:
   • To edit the contents of a title, click the chart or axis title that you want to change.
   • To edit the contents of a data label, click twice on the data label that you want to change.

 Note    The first click selects the data labels for the entire data series, and the second click selects the individual data label.

2. Click again to place the title or data label in editing mode, drag to select the text that you want to change, type the new text or value, and then press ENTER.

Tips

• To insert a line break, click to place the cursor where you want to break the line, and then press ENTER.
• To format the text, select it, and then click the formatting options that you want on the Mini toolbar. You can also use the formatting buttons on the Ribbon (Home tab, Font group), which is a component of the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface. To format the entire title or data label, you can right-click it, click Format Chart Title, Format Axis Title, or Format Data Labels on the shortcut menu, and then select the formatting options that you want.

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Edit the contents of a title or data label that is linked to data on the worksheet

1. In the worksheet, click the cell that contains the title or data label text that you want to change.
2. Edit the existing contents, or type the new text or value, and then press ENTER.

 Note    The changes you made automatically appear on the chart.

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Reestablish the link between a title or data label and a worksheet cell

Links between titles or data labels and corresponding worksheet cells are broken when you edit their contents in the chart. To automatically update titles or data labels with changes that you make on the worksheet, you need to reestablish the link between the titles or data labels and the corresponding worksheet cells. For data labels, you can reestablish a link one data series at a time, or for all data series at once.

 Note    In PivotChart reports , the following procedures reestablish links between data labels and source data (not worksheet cells).

Reestablish the link for a chart or axis title

1. On a chart, click the chart or axis title that you want to link to a corresponding worksheet cell.
2. On the worksheet, click in the formula bar , and then type an equal sign (=).
3. Select the worksheet cell that contains the data or text that you want to display in your chart.

Tip  You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell in the formula bar. Include an equal sign, the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point; for example, =Sheet1!F2

4. Press ENTER.

Reestablish the link for a data label

When you customize the contents of a data label on the chart, it is no longer linked to data on the worksheet. You can reestablish the link by resetting the label text for all labels in a data series, or you can type a reference to the cell that contains the data that you want to link to for each data point at a time.

Reset label text

1. On a chart, click once or twice on the data label that you want to link to a corresponding worksheet cell.

 Note    The first click selects the data labels for the entire data series, and the second click selects the individual data label.

2. Right-click the data label, and then click Format Data Label or Format Data Labels.
3. Click Label Options if it's not selected, and then select the Reset Label Text check box.

Reestablish a link to data on the worksheet

1. On a chart, click the label that you want to link to a corresponding worksheet cell.
2. On the worksheet, click in the formula bar , and then type an equal sign (=).
3. Select the worksheet cell that contains the data or text that you want to display in your chart.

Tip  You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell in the formula bar. Include an equal sign, the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point; for example, =Sheet1!F2

4. Press ENTER.

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See Also

• Add or remove data labels in a chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add a text box to a chart

Excel 2007

To add text to a chart that is separate from the text in chart titles (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.) or labels, you can insert a text box on the chart. You can then enter the text that you want or link the text box to data in a worksheet cell. When that text box is linked to a worksheet cell, any changes that you make to the data in that cell will appear automatically in the text box on the chart.

After you create a text box in a chart, you can move, resize, or remove it as needed.

What do you want to do?

Insert a text box on a chart

Link a text box to a worksheet cell

Move or resize a text box

Remove a text box

Insert a text box on a chart

1. Click the chart to which you want to add a text box.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Insert group, click Text Box .

3. In the chart, click where you want to start a corner of the text box, and then drag until the text box is the size that you want.
4. In the text box, type the text that you want.

The text will wrap in the text box. To start a new line in the text box, press ENTER.

5. When you finish typing, press ESC to cancel editing mode, or click anywhere outside of the text box.

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Link a text box to a worksheet cell

1. Click the chart to which you want to add a text box.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Insert group, click Text Box .

3. In the formula bar (formula bar: A bar at the top of the Excel window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts. Displays the constant value or formula stored in the active cell.), type an equal sign (=).
4. In the worksheet, select the cell that contains the data that you want to display in the text box on the chart.

Tip  You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell. Include the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point, for example, Sheet1!F2

5. Press ENTER.

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Move or resize a text box

1. On the chart, click the text box that you want to move or resize.
2. Do one of the following:
   • To move the text box, position the cursor on the border of the text box so that it changes to a four-headed arrow, and then drag the text box to the location that you want.
   • To resize the text box, click any sizing handle, and then drag until the text box is the size that you want.

Tip  For precise sizing measurements, on the Format tab, in the Size group, type the size that you want in the Shape Height and Shape Width boxes.

• To rotate the text box, click the rotation handle (rotation handle: Round arrow that appears at the top of a selected shape that you can use to rotate the shape.), and then drag the text box to the degree of rotation that you want.

Tip  For precise rotation, on the Format tab, in the Arrange group, click Rotate, and then click the rotation option that you want.

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Remove a text box

On the chart, click the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.

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See Also

• Create a chart
• Link a chart title, label, or text box to a worksheet cell
• Position text in a shape or text box in Excel 2007

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add or remove series lines, drop lines, high-low lines, or up-down bars in a chart

Excel 2007

Depending on the chart type that you used, you can make a chart easier to read by adding the following lines or bars:

• Series lines  These lines connect the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) in 2-D stacked bar and column charts to emphasize the difference in measurement between each data series. Pie of pie and bar of pie charts display series lines by default to connect the main pie chart with the secondary pie or bar chart.

• Drop lines  Available in 2-D and 3-D area and line charts, these lines extend from data points (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) to the horizontal (category) axis to help clarify where one data marker (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) ends and the next data marker begins.

• High-low lines  Available in 2-D line charts and displayed by default in stock charts, high-low lines extend from the highest value to the lowest value in each category.

• Up-down bars  Useful in line charts with multiple data series, up-down bars indicate the difference between data points in the first data series and the last data series. By default, these bars are also added to stock charts, such as Open-High-Low-Close and Volume-Open-High-Low-Close.

Add or remove lines or bars

1. Click the chart to which you want to add lines or bars.

 Note    You can only add lines and bars to specific chart types, such as 2-D stacked bar and column charts, line charts, pie of pie and bar of pie charts, area charts, and stock charts.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, do one of the following:
   • Click Lines, and then click the line type option that you want.

 Note    Different line type options are available for different chart types.

• Click Up/Down Bars, and then click Up/Down Bars.
• Click Lines or Up/Down Bars, and then click None to remove lines or bars from a chart.

Tip  You can also remove lines or bars immediately after you add them to the chart by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar or by pressing CTRL+Z.

Tip  You can change the format of the series lines, drop lines, high-low lines, or up-down bars that you display in a chart. For more information, see Format chart elements.

See Also

• Add, change, or remove a trendline in a chart
• Add, change, or remove error bars in a chart
• Available chart types
• Create a chart
• Format chart elements

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add, change, or remove error bars in a chart

Excel 2007

Error bars (error bars: Usually used in statistical or scientific data, error bars show potential error or degree of uncertainty relative to each data marker in a series.) express potential error amounts that are graphically relative to each data point (data points: Individual values plotted in a chart and represented by bars, columns, lines, pie or doughnut slices, dots, and various other shapes called data markers. Data markers of the same color constitute a data series.) or data marker (data marker: A bar, area, dot, slice, or other symbol in a chart that represents a single data point or value that originates from a worksheet cell. Related data markers in a chart constitute a data series.) in a data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.). For example, you could show 5 percent positive and negative potential error amounts in the results of a scientific experiment:

You can add error bars to data series in a 2-D area, bar, column, line, xy (scatter), and bubble charts. For xy (scatter) and bubble charts, you can display error bars for the x values, the y values, or both.

After you add error bars to a chart, you can change the format and settings of error bars as needed. You can also remove error bars.

What do you want to do?

Review equations for calculating error amounts

Add error bars

Change the format and settings of error bars

Remove error bars

Review equations for calculating error amounts

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Add error bars

1. On 2-D area, bar, column, line, xy (scatter), or bubble chart, do one of the following:
   • To add error bars to all data series in the chart, click the chart area.
   • To add error bars to a selected data point or data series, click the data point or data series that you want, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements:
   • Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

• On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Error Bars, and then click the error bar option that you want.

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Change the format and settings of error bars

1. On a 2-D area, bar, column, line, xy (scatter), or bubble chart, click the error bars, the data point, or the data series that has the error bars that you want to change, or do the following to select them from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Error Bars, and then click More Error Bar Options.

3. Do one or more of the following:
   1. Under Display, click the type of error bar that you want to use.
   2. Under Error Amount, click the method that you want to use to determine the error amount, and then specify the amount.
   3. To use a custom error amount, click Custom, and then click Specify Value. In the Positive Error Value and Negative Error Value boxes, specify the worksheet range that you want to use as error amount values, or type the values that you want to use, separated by commas, for example, 0.4, 0.3, 0.8. In Microsoft Office Word 2007 or Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007, the Custom Error Bars dialog box may not show the Collapse Dialog button , and you can only type the error amount values that you want to use.

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Remove error bars

1. On a 2-D area, bar, column, line, xy (scatter), or bubble chart, click the error bars, the data point, or the data series that has the error bars that you want to remove, or do the following to select them from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. Do one of the following:
   1. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Error Bars, and then click None.

2. Press DELETE.

Tip  You can remove error bars immediately after you add them to the chart by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar or by pressing CTRL+Z.

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See Also

• Add or remove series lines, drop lines, high-low lines, or up-down bars in a chart
• Add, change, or remove a trendline in a chart
• Available chart types
• Create a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Add, change, or remove a trendline in a chart

Excel 2007

A trendline (trendline: A graphic representation of trends in data series, such as a line sloping upward to represent increased sales over a period of months. Trendlines are used for the study of problems of prediction, also called regression analysis.) or moving average (moving average: A sequence of averages computed from parts of a data series. In a chart, a moving average smooths the fluctuations in data, thus showing the pattern or trend more clearly.) can be added to any data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) in an unstacked, 2-D, area, bar, column, line, stock, xy (scatter), or bubble chart. A trendline is always associated with a data series, but a trendline does not represent the data of that data series. Instead, a trendline is used to depict trends in your existing data or forecasts of future data.

 Note    A trendline cannot be added to data series in a stacked, 3-D, radar, pie, surface, or doughnut chart.

What do you want to do?

Learn about forecasting and showing trends in charts

Add a trendline

Change the format or settings of a trendline

Display the R-squared value for a trendline

Remove a trendline

Learn about forecasting and showing trends in charts

Trendlines are used to graphically display trends in data and to help analyze problems of prediction. Such analysis is also called regression analysis (regression analysis: A form of statistical analysis used for forecasting. Regression analysis estimates the relationship between variables so that a given variable can be predicted from one or more other variables.). By using regression analysis, you can extend a trendline in a chart beyond the actual data to predict future values. For example, the following chart uses a simple linear trendline that is forecasting two quarters ahead to clearly show a trend toward rising revenue.

Tips

• You can also create a moving average, which smoothes out fluctuations in data and shows the pattern or trend more clearly.

• If you change a chart or data series so that it can no longer support the associated trendline — for example, by changing the chart type to a 3-D chart or by changing the view of a PivotChart report (PivotChart report: A chart that provides interactive analysis of data, like a PivotTable report. You can change views of data, see different levels of detail, or reorganize the chart layout by dragging fields and by showing or hiding items in fields.) or associated PivotTable report (associated PivotTable report: The PivotTable report that supplies the source data to the PivotChart report. It is created automatically when you create a new PivotChart report. When you change the layout of either report, the other also changes.) — the trendline no longer appears on the chart.

• For line data without a chart, you can use AutoFill or one of the statistical functions, such as GROWTH() or TREND(), to create data for best-fit linear or exponential lines.

Choosing the right trendline type for your data

When you want to add a trendline to a chart in Microsoft Office Excel, you can choose any of these six different trend/regression types: linear trendlines, logarithmic trendlines, polynomial trendlines, power trendlines, exponential trendlines, or moving average trendlines. The type of data that you have determines the type of trendline that you should use.

A trendline is most reliable when its R-squared value (R-squared value: A number from 0 to 1 that reveals how closely the estimated values for the trendline correspond to your actual data. A trendline is most reliable when its R-squared value is at or near 1. Also known as the coefficient of determination.) is at or near 1. When you fit a trendline to your data, Excel automatically calculates its R-squared value. If you want to, you can display this value on your chart.

Linear trendlines

A linear trendline is a best-fit straight line that is used with simple linear data sets. Your data is linear if the pattern in its data points resembles a line. A linear trendline usually shows that something is increasing or decreasing at a steady rate.

In the following example, a linear trendline illustrates that refrigerator sales have consistently risen over a 13-year period. Notice that the R-squared value is 0.979, which is a good fit of the line to the data.

Logarithmic trendlines

A logarithmic trendline is a best-fit curved line that is used when the rate of change in the data increases or decreases quickly and then levels out. A logarithmic trendline can use both negative and positive values.

The following example uses a logarithmic trendline to illustrate predicted population growth of animals in a fixed-space area, where population leveled out as space for the animals decreased. Note that the R-squared value is 0.933, which is a relatively good fit of the line to the data.

Polynomial trendlines

A polynomial trendline is a curved line that is used when data fluctuates. It is useful, for example, for analyzing gains and losses over a large data set. The order of the polynomial can be determined by the number of fluctuations in the data or by how many bends (hills and valleys) appear in the curve. An Order 2 polynomial trendline generally has only one hill or valley. Order 3 generally has one or two hills or valleys. Order 4 generally has up to three hills or valleys.

The following example shows an Order 2 polynomial trendline (one hill) to illustrate the relationship between driving speed and fuel consumption. Notice that the R-squared value is 0.979, which is a good fit of the line to the data.

Power trendlines

A power trendline is a curved line that is used with data sets that compare measurements that increase at a specific rate — for example, the acceleration of a race car at 1-second intervals. You cannot create a power trendline if your data contains zero or negative values.

In the following example, acceleration data is shown by plotting distance in meters by seconds. The power trendline clearly demonstrates the increasing acceleration. Note that the R-squared value is 0.986, which is a nearly perfect fit of the line to the data.

Exponential trendlines

An exponential trendline is a curved line that is used when data values rise or fall at constantly increasing rates. You cannot create an exponential trendline if your data contains zero or negative values.

In the following example, an exponential trendline is used to illustrate the decreasing amount of carbon 14 in an object as it ages. Note that the R-squared value is 0.990, which means that the line fits the data almost perfectly.

Moving average trendlines

A moving average trendline smoothes out fluctuations in data to show a pattern or trend more clearly. A moving average uses a specific number of data points (set by the Period option), averages them, and uses the average value as a point in the line. If Period is set to 2, for example, then the average of the first two data points is used as the first point in the moving average trendline. The average of the second and third data points is used as the second point in the trendline, and so on.

In the following example, a moving average trendline shows a pattern in number of homes sold over a 26-week period.

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Add a trendline

1. On a chart, click the data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) to which you want to add a trendline or moving average, or do the following to select the data series from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2.  Note    If you select a chart that has more than one data series without selecting a data series, Excel displays the Add Trendline dialog box. In the list box, click the data series that you want, and then click OK.
3. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Trendline, and then do one of the following:
   1. Click the trendline option that you want to use.
   2. Click More Trendline Options, and then under Trendline Options, click the type of trendline that you want to use.

If you select Polynomial, type the highest power for the independent variable in the Order box.

If you select Moving Average, type the number of periods to be used to calculate the moving average in the Period box.

4. Learn more about the available trendline types

5.  Notes 
   • If you add a moving average to an xy (scatter) chart, the moving average is based on the order of the x values plotted in the chart. To get the result that you want, you might need to sort the x values before adding a moving average.
   • If you add a trendline to a line, column, area, or bar chart, the trendline is calculated based on the assumption that the x values are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and so on. This assumption is made whether the x-values are numeric or text. To base a trendline on numeric x values, you should use an xy (scatter) chart.

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Change the format or settings of a trendline

1. On a chart, click the trendline that you want to change, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Trendline, and then do one of the following:
   1. Click the trendline option that you want to use.
   2. Click More Trendline Options, and then under Trendline Options, click the type of trendline that you want to use.

If you select Polynomial, type the highest power for the independent variable in the Order box.

If you select Moving Average, type the number of periods to be used to calculate the moving average in the Period box.

3. Learn more about the available trendline types

4. To change the name of the trendline, under Trendline Name, click Custom, and then type a name in the Custom box.
5. To specify the number of periods that you want to include in a forecast, under Forecast, click a number in the Forward periods or Backward periods box.
6. If you use an exponential, linear, or polynomial trendline, you can specify the point on the vertical (value) axis where the trendline crosses the axis by typing the value that you want in the Set Intercept box.
7. To display the trendline equation on the chart, select the Display Equation on chart check box. You cannot display trendline equations for a moving average.

 Note    The trendline equation is rounded to make it more readable. However, you can change the number of digits for a selected trendline label in the Decimal places box on the Number tab of the Format Trendline Label dialog box. (Format tab, Current Selection group, Format Selection button).

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Display the R-squared value for a trendline

1. On a chart, click the trendline for which you want to display the R-squared value (R-squared value: A number from 0 to 1 that reveals how closely the estimated values for the trendline correspond to your actual data. A trendline is most reliable when its R-squared value is at or near 1. Also known as the coefficient of determination.), or do the following to select the trendline from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Trendline, and then click More Trendline Options.

3. On the Trendline Options tab, select Display R-squared value on chart.

 Note    You cannot display an R-squared value for a moving average.

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Remove a trendline

1. On a chart, click the trendline that you want to remove, or do the following to select the trendline from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want.

2. Do one of the following:
   1. On the Layout tab, in the Analysis group, click Trendline, and then click None.

2. Press DELETE.

Tip  You can also remove a trendline immediately after you add it to the chart by clicking Undo on the Quick Access Toolbar or by pressing CTRL+Z.

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See Also

• Add or remove series lines, drop lines, high-low lines, or up-down bars in a chart
• Add, change, or remove error bars in a chart
• Available chart types
• Create a chart
• Format chart elements

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Update the data in an existing chart

Excel 2007

After you create a chart, you may need to make changes to its source data on the worksheet (worksheet: The primary document that you use in Excel to store and work with data. Also called a spreadsheet. A worksheet consists of cells that are organized into columns and rows; a worksheet is always stored in a workbook.). To incorporate these changes in the chart, Microsoft Office Excel provides various ways to update a chart. You can instantly update a chart with changed values. You can also update a chart by adding, changing, or removing data.

What do you want to do?

Update an existing chart with changed values

Add data to an existing chart

Change the data in an existing chart

Remove data from a chart

Update an existing chart with changed values

The values in a chart are linked to the worksheet data from which the chart is created. With calculation options set to automatic (Microsoft Office Button , Excel Options, Formulas category or Formulas tab, Calculation group, Calculation Options button), changes that you make to the worksheet data automatically appear in the chart.

1. Open the worksheet that contains the data that is plotted in the chart.
2. In the cell that contains the value that you want to change, type a new value.
3. Press ENTER.

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Add data to an existing chart

You can use one of several ways to include additional source data in an existing chart. You can quickly add another data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.), drag the sizing handles of ranges to include data on a chart that is embedded (embedded chart: A chart that is placed on a worksheet rather than on a separate chart sheet. Embedded charts are beneficial when you want to view or print a chart or a PivotChart report with its source data or other information in a worksheet.) on the same worksheet, or copy additional worksheet data to an embedded chart or to a separate chart sheet (chart sheet: A sheet in a workbook that contains only a chart. A chart sheet is beneficial when you want to view a chart or a PivotChart report separately from worksheet data or a PivotTable report.).

Add a data series to a chart

1. Click the chart to which you want to add another data series.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

3. Under Legend Entries (Series), click Add.
4. In the Series name box, type the name that you want to use for the series, or select the name on the worksheet.
5. In the Series values box, type the reference of the data range of the data series that you want to add, or select the range on the worksheet.

Tip  You can click the Collapse Dialog button , at the right end of the Series name or Series values box, and then select the range that you want to use for the table on the worksheet. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

 Note    If you use arrow keys to position the pointer to type the reference, you can press F2 to ensure that you are in Edit mode. Pressing F2 again switches back to Point mode. You can verify the current mode on the status bar.

Drag the sizing handles of ranges to add data to an embedded chart

If you created an embedded chart from adjacent worksheet cells, you can add data by dragging the sizing handles of source data ranges. The chart must be on the same worksheet as the data that you used to create the chart.

1. On the worksheet, type the data and labels that you want to add to the chart in cells that are adjacent to the existing worksheet data.
2. Click the chart to display the sizing handles around the source data on the worksheet.
3. On the worksheet, do one of the following:
   • To add new categories and data series to the chart, drag a blue sizing handle to include the new data and labels in the rectangle.
   • To add new data series only, drag a green sizing handle to include the new data and labels in the rectangle.
   • To add new categories and data points, drag a purple sizing handle to include the new data and categories in the rectangle.

Copy worksheet data to a chart

If you created an embedded chart from nonadjacent selections (nonadjacent selection: A selection of two or more cells or ranges that don't touch each other. When plotting nonadjacent selections in a chart, make sure that the combined selections form a rectangular shape.) or if the chart is on a separate chart sheet, you can copy additional worksheet data into the chart.

1. On the worksheet, select the cells that contain the data that you want to add to the chart.

Tip  If you want the column or row label for the new data to appear in the chart, include the cell that contains the label in the selection.

2. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Copy .

Keyboard shortcut  You can also press CTRL+C.

3. Click the chart sheet or the embedded chart into which you want to paste the copied data.
4. Do one of the following:
   • To paste the data in the chart, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Paste .

Keyboard shortcut  You can also press CTRL+V.

• To specify how the copied data should be plotted in the chart, on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow on the Paste button, click Paste Special, and then select the options that you want.

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Change the data in an existing chart

You can change an existing chart by changing the cell range that the chart is based on or by editing the individual data series that are displayed in the chart.

Change the cell range that a chart is based on

1. Click the chart for which you want to change the cell range of the source data.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

3. In the Select Data Source dialog box, make sure that the entire reference in the Chart data range box is selected.

Tip  You can click the Collapse Dialog button , at the right end of the Chart data range box, and then select the range that you want to use for the table on the worksheet. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

4. On the worksheet, select the cells that contain the data that you want to appear in the chart.

Tip  If you want the column and row labels to appear in the chart, include the cells that contain them in the selection.

 Note    If you use arrow keys to position the pointer to type the reference, you can press F2 to ensure that you are in Edit mode. Pressing F2 again switches back to Point mode. You can verify the current mode on the status bar.

Edit a data series that is displayed in a chart

1. Click the chart that contains the data series that you want to change.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.
3. Under Legend Entries (Series), select the data series that you want to edit, and then click Edit.
4. In the Series name box, type the name that you want to use for the series, or select the name on the worksheet.
5. In the Series values box, type the reference of the data range of the data series that you want to add, or select the range on the worksheet.

Tip  You can click the Collapse Dialog button , at the right end of the Series name or Series values box, and then select the range that you want to use for the table on the worksheet. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

 Note    If you use arrow keys to position the pointer to type the reference, you can press F2 to ensure that you are in Edit mode. Pressing F2 again switches back to Point mode. You can verify the current mode on the status bar.

Change the horizontal (category) axis labels

When you change the horizontal (category) axis labels, all horizontal axis labels will be changed. You cannot change individual, horizontal axis labels.

1. Click the chart that contains the horizontal axis labels that you want to change.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.
3. Under Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels, click Edit.
4. In the Axis label range box, type the reference of the data range of the data series that you want to use for the horizontal axis labels, or select the range on the worksheet.

Tip  You can click the Collapse Dialog button , at the right end of the Series name or Series values box, and then select the range that you want to use for the table on the worksheet. When you finish, click the Collapse Dialog button again to display the entire dialog box.

 Note    If you use arrow keys to position the pointer to type the reference, you can press F2 to ensure that you are in Edit mode. Pressing F2 again switches back to Point mode. You can verify the current mode on the status bar.

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Remove data from a chart

With calculation options set to automatic (Microsoft Office Button or Formulas tab, Calculation group, Calculation Options button, Excel Options, Formulas category), data that is deleted from the worksheet will automatically be removed from the chart. You can also remove data from the chart without affecting the source data on the worksheet.

Delete source data on the worksheet

• On the worksheet, select the cell or range of cells that contains the data that you want to remove from the chart, and then press DELETE.

Remove a data series from the chart

1. Click the chart or the data series that you want to remove, or do the following to select the chart or data series from a list of chart elements:
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. Do one of the following:
   1. If you selected the chart, do the following:
      1. On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data.

2. Under Legend Entries (Series), select the data series that you want to remove, and then click Remove.
2. If you selected a data series on the chart, press DELETE.

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See Also

• Add or remove a secondary axis in a chart
• Add or remove data labels in a chart
• Change the chart type of an existing chart
• Create a chart
• Plot data series on a different axis
• Rename a chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Link a chart title, label, or text box to a worksheet cell

Excel 2007

To easily update a chart or axis title (titles in charts: Descriptive text that is automatically aligned to an axis or centered at the top of a chart.), label, or text box that you have added to a chart, you can link it to a worksheet cell. Changes that you make to the data in that worksheet cell will automatically appear in the chart.

1. On a chart, click the title, label, or text box that you want to link to a worksheet cell, or do the following to select it from a list of chart elements.
   1. Click a chart.

This displays the Chart Tools, adding the Design, Layout, and Format tabs.

2. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click the arrow next to the Chart Elements box, and then click the chart element that you want to use.

2. In the formula bar (formula bar: A bar at the top of the Excel window that you use to enter or edit values or formulas in cells or charts. Displays the constant value or formula stored in the active cell.), type an equal sign (=).
3. In the worksheet, select the cell that contains the data that you want to display in the title, label, or text box on the chart.

Tip  You can also type the reference to the worksheet cell. Include the sheet name, followed by an exclamation point, for example, Sheet1!F2

4. Press ENTER.

See Also

• Add or remove data labels in a chart
• Edit titles or data labels in a chart
• Use titles on a chart

Excel > Charts > Formatting charts

Move or resize a chart

Excel 2007