Excel Pro. Plus 2010 - Chart template not working as expected

**mycroft** · 05-04-2014, 02:26 AM

I am an experienced Excel user, but relatively new using 2010.

I have two columns of data (A1:B10) which I have charted as a scatter plot:

1. Select A1:B10
2. Insert, Scatter, Scatter with Straight Lines and Markers

I see an XY plot as expected with one series: =SERIES(,Sheet1!$A$1:$A$10,Sheet1!$B$1:$B$10,1)

I then save the plot as a template:

1. Select the chart by clicking in it.
2. Chart Tools, Design, Save As Template
3. Enter the name 'test.crtx' and Save

I then re-plot my data range, using the template I have just saved:
1. Select A1:B10
2. Insert, Other Charts, All Charts, Templates, My Templates, 'test', OK

Instead of the previous chart, I get one with two series:

=SERIES(,,Sheet1!$A$1:$A$10,1)
=SERIES(,,Sheet1!$B$1:$B$10,2)

Does anyone know what is happening and how to fix it?

BTW, I made a new workbook with no other data in it, for this test.

**Andy Pope** · 05-05-2014, 07:13 AM

It would work if you had series name in first row of column B.

I think the way it works is a column chart is created and then the template formatting is applied, including changing the chart type. But by that time it is too late as excel has already guessed that two columns of numbers only means 2 series are required.

**mycroft** · 05-05-2014, 09:17 PM

Andy,

Thanks. That was it. Blank cells do the trick - there is no need for a series name.

It seems a very strange way to implement the chart template function. Completely inconsistent with the default scatter plot chart, which manages to identify and deal properly with the fact that there is no header row.