This browser does not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's intended design. May we suggest that you upgrade your browser?

Microsoft Excel XP/X

Working With Chart Elements

Learning how to use Excel's chart elements can make your charts easier to understand, and therefore, convey a more effective message. Titles, legends, and X-axis and Y-axis options can help specify the purpose of the chart, while using gridlines, exploding pie pieces (on pie charts), and adding text boxes can give your chart a helpful visual boost. This document covers the following:

return to topAdding a Chart Title

Titles are used to identify the chart for the reader. In Excel, the Chart Wizard will not automatically give you a title.

NOTE: These instructions assume a chart is already created. For information on how to create a chart, refer to Creating a Basic Chart.

  1. Click your chart to select it

  2. From the Chart menu, select Chart Options...
     The Chart Options dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Titles tab
    chart options dialog box

  1. In the Chart title text box, type the desired title

  2. Click OK
    The title is now added to your chart.

return to topWorking with Legends

Legends are used to identify the type of data in the chart. For example, the chart may contain enrollment information from the various colleges at UW-Eau Claire. The legend would identify what colors/patterns represent each college.

The legend can be placed anywhere within the chart area but is commonly located at the bottom or to the right of the chart. Legend descriptions should be brief but descriptive. In Excel a legend will be placed in your chart automatically. With the Format Legend dialog box you can change the placement of the legend within your chart; however, you cannot change the labels that are used to identify the data types in your chart without changing the row labels on your worksheet.

Placing the Legend

  1. Click the legend to select it

  2. From the Format menu, select Selected Legend...
    The Format Legend dialog box appears.
    format legend dialog box

  3. Select the Placement tab

  4. From the Placement section, select the desired legend placement

  5. Click OK

return to topWorking with Axes

Axis labels are used to identify the information being charted. The scale for both the X-axis and Y-axis labels can be manually adjusted (i.e., you decide the minimum, maximum, and increment values).

NOTE: You cannot adjust the axes for pie charts.

Scaling an Axis

  1. Double click the axis you want to work with
    The Format Axis dialog box appears.
    format axis dialog box

  2. Select the Scale tab

  3. Complete the Scale dialog box as desired

  4. Click OK

return to topCreating Charts with a Percent Scale

While pie charts are appropriate for reflecting percentages of a whole, it is not always appropriate for the information you are charting. To reflect the percentages, you may need to convert the values to be charted into percentages (they should add up to 100%) or you can follow the instructions listed here. Excel offers two ways of creating charts with a percent scale: the menu option and the mouse option. Both options produce the same results, but the quick menu option is slightly faster to use.

Reflecting Percentages: Menu Option

  1. Click your chart to select it
    NOTE: To use this option you must select a 100% stacked chart.  

  2. From the Chart menu, select Chart Options...
     The Chart Options dialog box appears. 
    chart options dialog box

  3. Select the Data Labels tab

  4. Select the desired data label option

  5. Click OK

Reflecting Percentages: Mouse Option

  1. Double click the chart series you wish to change
    The Format Data Series dialog box appears.
    NOTE: Make sure the chart pieces are selected, and not the entire chart. Otherwise this option will not work.  

  2. From the Format Data Series dialog box, select the Data Labels tab

  3. Select the desired data label option

  4. Click OK

return to topAdding Data Labels to Your Chart

Data labels can enhance your chart by adding useful information. This can be useful if you have a wide or tall chart. However, on some charts the data labels may look cluttered. Test data labels on your chart, and with other chart types, before using them on your final chart.

Data labels can be added to a chart in two ways. The first way is to add them within the chart itself. The second alternative is to add values by drawing a text box (Refer to Formatting Your Chart). The option that you select will depend on the amount of data in the chart and the number of values you want to add attention to using the text box tool. 

To add data labels:

  1. Click your chart to select it

  2. From the Chart menu, select Chart Options...
    The Chart Options dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Data Labels tab

  4. Windows: To display the value for a series, select Value
    To display the label for a series in the chart, select Series name
    Macintosh: To display the value for a series, select Show Value
    To display the label for a series in the chart, select Show Label

  5. Click OK

return to topWorking with Grids

Grids are used to increase the readability of the chart by helping direct the eye from the Y-axis value to the value being charted. This is especially useful if you have a wide or tall chart. You can establish both major and minor grids. Generally major grids are sufficient.

Inserting Gridlines

  1. Click your chart to select it

  2. From the Chart menu, select Chart Options...
    The Chart Options dialog box appears.

  3. Select the Gridlines tab 
    NOTE: This tab will not exist with some charts (e.g., pie charts) which do not use gridlines.

  4. To add or remove grids, complete the Gridlines dialog box

  5. Click OK

Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.