Format elements of a chart (2024)

FAQs

Format elements of a chart? ›

Select the chart element (for example, data series, axes, or titles), right-click it, and click Format <chart element>. The Format pane appears with options that are tailored for the selected chart element. Clicking the small icons at the top of the pane moves you to other parts of the pane with more options.

In a report template, a chart consists of three basic areas: the platform, paper, and legend. The chart platform is a container for other chart elements, and the chart paper holds walls, axes, data markers, axis values, and category names.

4.2 Formatting Charts

Enhance the visual appearance of the chart title and chart legend by using various formatting techniques. Assign titles to the X and Y axes that clarify labels and numeric values for the reader.

Click the chart, and then drag the sizing handles to the size that you want. Click the chart, and then on the Format tab, in the Size group, enter the size in the Shape Height and Shape Width boxes.

Select the data for which you want to create a chart. Click INSERT > Recommended Charts. On the Recommended Charts tab, scroll through the list of charts that Excel recommends for your data, and click any chart to see how your data will look.

When you use Format as Table, Excel automatically converts your data range to a table. If you don't want to work with your data in a table, you can convert the table back to a regular range while keeping the table style formatting that you applied.

To add elements to your chart, such as a title and data labels, select the chart. The Chart Elements, Chart Styles, and Chart Filter buttons appear next to the chart. Click the Chart Elements button and check or uncheck the elements you want to add or remove, such as Chart Title.

The different parts that make up a chart are referred to as chart elements. Most of the items on a chart can be repositioned by clicking on an item and dragging it with the right mouse button. The black handles also indicate that the item could be moved, resized and formatted.

How do I Format data labels in Excel chart? ›

To format data labels, select your chart, and then in the Chart Design tab, click Add Chart Element > Data Labels > More Data Label Options. Click Label Options and under Label Contains, pick the options you want.

Select the data points on your chart and apply conditional formatting. Go to "Home" > "Conditional Formatting" > "New Rule." Choose "Format cells that contain" and set the condition to highlight cells with a value of "1." Customize the formatting options (e.g., change the fill color or add a border).

Click the chart. On the Format tab, click Vertical (Value) Axis in the dropdown list and then click Format Pane. In the Format Axis pane, click Axis Options, and then do one or more of the following: Important The following scaling options are available only when a value axis is selected.