Chapter 19: Learning Advanced Charting
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FIGURE 19.18Overriding the Excel time-based category axis.
Working with Data Series
Every chart consists of one or more data series. This data translates into chart columns, bars, lines, pie
slices, and so on. This section discusses some common operations that involve a chart’s data series.When you select a data series in a chart, Excel does the following:l (^) Displays the series name in the Chart Elements control (located in the Chart Tools ➪
Layout ➪ Current Selection group and also in the Chart Tools ➪ Format ➪ Current
Selection group)
l Displays the Series formula in the Formula bar
l (^) Highlights the cells used for the selected series by outlining them in color
I’ll let you in on a secret: The key to mastering charts in Excel is experimentation, otherwise known as
trial and error. Excel’s charting options can be overwhelming, even to experienced users. This book
doesn’t even pretend to cover all the charting features and options. Your job, as a potential charting
guru, is to dig deep and try out the various options in your charts. With a bit of creativity, you can cre-
ate original-looking charts.
After you create a basic chart, make a copy of the chart for your experimentation. That way, if you mess
it up, you can always revert to the original and start again. To make a copy of an embedded chart, click
the chart and press Ctrl+C. Then activate a cell and press Ctrl+V. To make a copy of a chart sheet, press
Ctrl while you click the sheet tab and then drag it to a new location among the other tabs.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment (But on a Copy)