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Excel charts - chart colour & source data | Excel forum

resolvedResolved · Urgent Priority · Version 2003

Simon has attended:
Dreamweaver 8 Introduction course
Access Intermediate course

Excel charts - chart colour & source data

This is really driving me mad - I've got to produce a number of column charts and so I've created the first one which I then want to copy and change the source data range for each new chart. Although the source data is identically formatted and arranged for each chart, the chart colours change and the legend goes wonky with a colour square left hanging without a description. Very grateful for your advice on this.

RE: Excel charts - chart colour & source data

Have you tried to define your own type of chart?

You can do that by following the following steps:

Right click on the chart which is correctly fomatted and choose "Chart Type"

Go to the "Custom Types" tab and tick the "User-defined" box.

This should give you an option to add your chart format and save it by giving it a custom name.

After this is done you can go to the new chart which you want to formt, right click choose shart type, cutom types, tick user-defined and choose the one you saved.

This should sort out your formatting issues.

RE: Excel charts - chart colour & source data

I just followed your instructions & the same formatting problems still occur when I select the custom chart type that I saved - I just don't understand it - the other data is identically arranged, it's just in a different part of the worksheet. Sorry - any other suggestions? Thanks, Simon

RE: Excel charts - chart colour & source data

I only have one other suggestion, but not sure if it will make a difference.

Try to create a new chart, do not copy the one which is correct. I would do this by just clicking on the shortcut on the toolbar. From there right click on the chart and choose range you want to include in the specific chart. After that choose your custom chart and see if it makes a difference.

Not sure if doing it the other way arround would make a difference but it is worth a try.....

RE: Excel charts - chart colour & source data

This crossed my mind as well... and it still doesn't work! I can't believe how useless Excel is - surely this must cause problems to large numbers of users?

RE: Excel charts - chart colour & source data

Humble apologies are due to yourself & Microsoft - I've just realised that the second data table contained a column narrowed to the point of invisibility which was messing up the chart! Thanks for your help, Simon.

 

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Excel tip:

Shortcuts for working with named ranges in Excel

If you are working with or creating named ranges in your spreadsheets, then you may find the following shortcut keys useful.

- Bring up the Define Names dialogue box on screen by using Ctrl + F3 (instead of going to Insert - Names).

- Create Names from labels you have entered into the spreadsheet by highlighting the labels and related figures, then hold down Shift + Ctrl + F3. You can then choose to create names from the top or bottom rows, or left or right columns.

- Go directly to a named range by hitting the F5 key. The Go To dialogue box will open and display any named ranges in the spreadsheet. Simply select the named range to navigate to it in the spreadsheet.

View all Excel hints and tips


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