Comments on: Excel Charts: Tips, Tricks and Techniques

Some tips, tricks and techniques for better looking charts in Microsoft Excel. Continue reading →

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Comments page 2. Total comments: 48

  1. I am trying to make the bars of my bar graph wider. I followed the instructions that are provided on this page for making wider bars by changing the Axis setting to Text. All that did was remove all my dates from the x axis except my first date and put all the bars on that one date. Note each date has 2-4 bars.

    1. Can you please send us your sample workbook for testing at support@ablebits.com? This would help us pin down the cause of the problem and work out a solution.

  2. Hi, i have 3 columns of data. I want the first 2 columns to be shown in overlapping bar chart and the 3 as separate. When i tried to select the 3rd series and change the bar style to side by side (normal), excel select all the three series and convert everything. Is there any solution, sir

  3. Hi I am using excell 2010
    Can u please assist me on solving my problem. When I enter a name on the spread sheet l want the block next to the name
    change to a certain colour when I enter the name the second time I want to change it to a different color. This must happen with all the names which l insert

    1. For me to be able to help you better, please send us your sample workbook at support@ablebits.com. Please describe the expected results in more details.

  4. Sorry, but we do not know an easy way to achieve this. I know how to do this only via an html page or using a custom VBA script.

  5. A line graph has a line plotted with transparency set to 75% so that it appears as a light ghost image in the background on a multi-line graph.

    On "mouse over", this line is required to assume transparency of 0%.

    How can that be accomplished in Excel?

    Thank you.

  6. I have five lines on an Excel line graph. I would like to present the graph without any plotted data - ie, only the axes and the empty legend - initially at a presentation. Then I want to introduce each plotted data line, along with its entry in the legend, as I click the mouse - much like one can do with ordered, sequenced presentation in a Powerpoint slide.

    Is this possible, and if so how?

    Thanks in advance for your help.

  7. I'm working in Excel 2010 with a column chart. I have some points that each of the data series is zero. I would expect to see nothing in the column but there is a colored area as if there is something there, but all the data elements are zero. The same color seems to "cap" each of the columns in the chart. Is there anyway to turn off the "cap"?

  8. Hi-

    How do I get my graph to look like yours? (i.e. give it the 3d feel). I have a graph with two axis and would like to know how you give your "purple and orange" graph the texture that looks alomst 3d.

  9. The older versions of Excel allowed you to color a line in a graph with a pattern instead of just straight colors. The Gradient Line in Excel 2010 only has preset colors and patterns (and none of the ones I've used in the past!), and does not allow you to customize it with patterns.

    Is there a way to do this in Excel 2010?

  10. When am trying to add secondary axis, The series Opetion is greyed and not allowing to amend from Primary to Secondary . Am using MS 2010

  11. Hi,
    When I create an xy chart in Excel I start by selecting a header row followed by N data values in 2 or more columns. Why does Excel always ignore the name found in the X header? Is there anyway that Excel will make use of this value? I would like to display it as the title or as the name of the axis when I use the chart as a template. I am well aware I can type in a cell reference to it, but this time consuming when I create alot fof charts. I can't believe the geniuses at Microsoft never thought of this use case which anyone who wants to make a lot of xy charts will want to do.
    BTW, I know I can solve the problem using VBA, but why ignore the X axis header?

    Thanks,
    Sam

  12. I'm trying to find out if any version of excel supports the ability to use an image as a continuous fill within a chart. Currently I'm able to fill bars using a library image, but it reproduces the image in each bar. What I'm trying to do is effectively make the bars a transparent overlay of an image that would appear to sit behind them (but not otherwise appearing in the background which I'd have as a different texture/colour). I can do it by exporting a graph to a graphics package and editing there but wonder if there's a quick way to reproduce the effect within Excel.

  13. Hi!
    How can I change the lines of an Excel chart 2010.? I am trying to use the pattern fill for lines but I cant.I can do it only for shapes and columes. Please help me!I have found an excel chart of previous version with lines with patterns style (dots black and white)but I cant do it at version 2010!
    Thanks

  14. How do I create a line graph with two values on the same data point? For example, if I have a line graph showing the growth of an investment increasing at 5% a year, but want the value to drop 28% at the end of each year to reflect taxes paid, how do I get the line to drop vertically to the reduced value?

  15. Hi,
    Is it possible in Excel 2010 to change a Excel chart from a picture to a working graph?

    Here is the example: I was sent an Excel spreadsheet and the was sent as a picture, can I change it back to a working Excel sheet; where I can manipulate the data and change it for my task?

    1. Hi Marcus,

      Thanks for your question. Unfortunately there is no way to fullfill this task. We wish we could help you better.

      Ablebits Support Team

  16. My basic problem is that I don't want a gap or a zero. I want the merge cell to appear as one cell for data.

    1. Suzanne, could you please send an e-mail to support@ablebits.com with an Excel file that shows how your data look, we'll do our best to assist you!

  17. I am Creating a simple bar graph and can not figure out how to get rid of the blank areas between the data on the x-axis. The data is being pulled from a cell which has been merged so I am assuming that it is spacing for the second cell in the merge. Any ideas?

  18. Hi Does anyone know how to change (actually reduce) the distance of the axes and the text associated with the axes? I'm using office X for Mac. The distance seems fixed to 0.3 cm in my graphs. No possibility to modify this number. Thanks for the tip.

    1. Nick, please try to do the following:

      Right-click on x-axis -> Format Axis -> Alignment
      and change the value of "Offset"

      I am sorry I do not know any other way.

  19. Very good and informative post

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