chart does not update

**barrfly** · 11-20-2009, 05:26 PM

I seem to have a recurring problem (about once a week) where a chart does not update even though the data in the charted range did change. I catch it by recognizing that there should have been a movement in a line on the chart after I enter a new value within the graphed range. Auto calc on or off, same deal. Press F9 and no result. The only solution that I find that works is to highlight the line on the chart to bring up the equation in the formula bar, enter the formula bar and press enter. That fixes it, but I am a bit leary sometimes to use a visual interpretation of data on a chart when I know it could be inaccurately displaying the values linked to it. This is not limited to 1 particular spreadsheet, and I recognize now that I have noticed the same problem over the course of my ~10 year career on multiple computers.

Anyone have the same problem?

**darkyam** · 11-20-2009, 05:34 PM

By "new value in a graphed range", do you mean an additional value or changing a value? If you mean an additional value, check out http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/ChartTips.htm. A little over halfway down, it starts talking about changing ranges in charts using dynamic named ranges.

**barrfly** · 11-20-2009, 05:42 PM

Changed value in the graphed range. simple example, imagine a line chart with the data set as follows
x y
1 2
2 4
3 6
4 8

It would be a straight line chart. Now change the 6 in the y data set to 10. after the sheet calculates, the line chart should spike at the third point. 99% of the time it does, but sometimes it does nothing, meaning the line just stays straight. Then I highlight the line and put my cursur in the end of formula bar, press enter and the chart changes to accurately display the data.

bizzare.

I'd post the workbook, but it is not isolated to one workbook and it tends to correct itself if you close it down and reopen.

**darkyam** · 11-20-2009, 05:56 PM

I did a little checking online, and while the problem appears to be common, the only solutions I found were that either your data somehow becomes disconnected from your chart (i.e., you see something like {2,4,6,8} in the Series bar, which doesn't sound like is happening) or, in the off-chance you're still on Office 97, all of this is happening: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/151047
Sorry, wish I could be of more help. Most people who have this issue are settling for your solutions of either clicking enter in the formula bar or reopening the workbook.