Datasheet

Excel provides two ways to format and customize individual chart elements. Both of the

following methods require that you select the chart element first:

•

Use the Ribbon controls on the Chart Tools➪Format tab.

•

Press Ctrl+1 to display the Format dialog box that’s specific to the selected chart

element.

NOTE

The Ribbon controls allow only a small subset of the formatting options. For maximum

control, use the Format dialog box.

For example, assume that you’d like to change the color of the columns for one of the

series in the chart. Click any column in the series (which selects the entire series). Then,

choose Chart Tools➪Format➪Shape Styles➪Shape Fill and choose a color from the dis-

played list. To change the properties of the outline around the columns, use the Chart

Tools➪Format➪Shape Styles➪Shape Outline control. To change the effects used in the

columns (for example, add a shadow), use the Chart Tools➪Format➪Shape Styles➪Shape

Effects control.

Alternatively, you can select a column in the chart, press Ctrl+1, and use the Format Data

Series dialog box shown in Figure 1-15. Note that this is a tabbed dialog box. Click a tab

along the left side to view additional controls. It’s also a stay-on-top dialog box, so you can

click another element in the chart. In other words, you don’t have to close the dialog box to

see the changes you specify.

Figure 1-15: Using the Format Data Series dialog box

Chapter 1: Introducing Excel Charts

Part I

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