You can change the look of a chart by adding colors, textures, shadows, and more. You can change the look of the entire chart, or change individual data series in a chart to differentiate them from other series. For bar charts, for example, you can fill the bars in each series with a different color or a color gradient, apply a different outline (stroke) style, and more. For scatter charts, you can change the symbol that represents each point and add connection lines between the points. Show
Note: You can’t change the look of a single data point in a series (a single bar in a bar chart, for example). All changes you make apply to every data point in the series.
Learning Objectives
You can use a variety of formatting techniques to enhance the appearance of a chart once you have created it. Formatting commands are applied to a chart for the same reason they are applied to a worksheet: they make the chart easier to read. However, formatting techniques also help you qualify and explain the data in a chart. For example, you can add footnotes explaining the data source as well as notes that clarify the type of numbers being presented (i.e., if the numbers in a chart are truncated, you can state whether they are in thousands, millions, etc.). These notes are also helpful in answering questions if you are using charts in a live presentation. We will demonstrate these formatting techniques using the column chart and stacked column chart from the previous section. X and Y Axis FormatsThere are numerous formatting commands we can apply to the X and Y axes of a chart. Although adjusting the font size, style, and color are common, many more options are available through the Format Axis pane. The following steps demonstrate a few of these formatting techniques on the Grade Distribution Comparison chart:
Next we want to make some changes to the percentage numbers on the Y (vertical) axis.
Note: Experiment! You can also change font styling using shortcut keys and the buttons on the Home tab. Skill RefresherFormatting the X and Y Axes
Skill RefresherX and Y Axis Number Formats
Chart Legend and Title FormatsThe next items we will format on the Grade Distribution Comparison chart are the chart legend and title. Similar to the how we formatted the X and Y axes, we can format these items by activating them and using the formatting commands in the Home tab or the Format pane. The following steps explain how to add these formats:
Skill RefresherFormatting the Chart Legend
Skill RefresherFormatting the Chart Title
X and Y Axis TitlesTitles for the X and Y axes are necessary for defining the numbers and categories presented on a chart. For example, by looking at the Grade Distribution Comparison chart, it is not clear what the percentages along the Y axis represent. The following steps explain how to add titles to the X and Y axes to define these numbers and categories:
Next we will add the title for the X axis.
Skill RefresherX and Y Axis Titles
Data Series Labels and FormatsAdding labels to the data series of a chart is a key formatting feature. A data series is the item that is being displayed graphically on a chart. For example, the blue bars on the Grade Distribution Comparison chart represent one data series. We can add labels at the end of each bar to show the exact percentage the bar represents. In addition, we can add other formatting enhancements to the data series, such as changing the color of the bars or adding an effect. The following steps explain how to add these labels and formats to the chart:
Now we are going to add the Data Labels at the end of the columns.
Figure 4.37 shows the Grade Distribution Comparison chart with the completed formatting adjustments and labels added to the data series. Note that we can move each individual data label. This might be necessary if two data labels overlap or if a data label falls in the middle of a grid line. To move an individual data label, click it twice, then click and drag. Figure 4.37 Completed Formatting Adjustments for the Data SeriesSkillRefresher:Adding DataLabels
SkillRefresherFormatting aData Series
Adding Series Lines and Annotations to a ChartThe last formatting features we will demonstrate are adding series lines and annotations to a chart. To demonstrate these skills, we will use the Change in Enrollment Statistics Spend Source stacked column chart. Series lines are commonly used in stacked column charts to show the change from one stack to the next. Annotations are useful for clarifying the data presented in a chart or for identifying data sources. In addition to demonstrating these skills, we will review several of the formatting skills that were covered in this section. The following steps include the skills review as well as the new formatting features:
Figure 4.39 shows the appearance of the chart with the series lines connecting the two stacks. This formatting enhancement is common for stacked column charts. The lines help focus the audience’s attention to changes in the percent of total trend. Figure 4.39 Series Lines Added to the Stacked Column ChartOur chart demonstrates the percentage differences in enrollment between the community colleges. But, it would be handy to know the total Enrollment at each of the colleges. To display that, we will add text boxes above each column. To start with, we need to make room for the text boxes.
Add text boxes to include additional information in the chart.
Integrity CheckAnnotations and Axis Titles Although adding annotations and axis titles can be a tedious process, doing so maintains a high level of integrity for your charts. People can misinterpret the message being conveyed by the chart if they make inaccurate assumptions about the values displayed. Axis titles and annotations help prevent readers from making false assumptions and ensure that readers see the most accurate representation of the message being conveyed by the chart. SkillRefresherAddingSeriesLines
SkillRefresher:AddingAnnotations
Key Takeaways
AttributionAdapted by Noreen Brown from How to Use Microsoft Excel: The Careers in Practice Series, adapted by The Saylor Foundation without attribution as requested by the work’s original creator or licensee, and licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0. How do I change the data series color in Excel?In a chart, click to select the data series for which you want to change the colors. On the Format tab, in the Current Selection group, click Format Selection. tab, expand Fill, and then do one of the following: To vary the colors of data markers in a single-series chart, select the Vary colors by point check box.
How do I change the colors of a pie chart in Excel 365?Change the color of a chart
Use the Chart Styles button to quickly change the color or style of the chart. Click the chart you want to change. In the upper-right corner, next to the chart, click Chart Styles. Click Color and pick the color scheme you want, or click Style and pick the option you want.
Which button on the Insert tab can he Click to display charts appropriate for the selected data?On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click Chart. In the Insert Chart dialog box, click the arrows to scroll through the chart types. Select the type of chart that you want and then click OK.
How do I change the data in an Excel chart?Select the chart. Select Chart Design > Edit Data in Excel.
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