Problem with Pie and Doughnut Charts

[pmtw]

Hi,

I have a couple of doubts in charts:

1) I have a graph where the Column and line charts are plotted on the same axis. I have got that correctly as well. Now, the problem is I want to display selective "Data Labels" on the line graph. How do I accomplish this task? (Actually the values for my line graph are same, hence its just a stright line. And I donot want the same value to be displayed again and again. I need just one data label on the beginning of the line)

2) Problem with Doughnut Chart: I have my "Category labels" on multiple rows (each value is typed in 3 rows). As a result, the graph wizard takes that as 3 different values. I tried merging the cells but in that case I lose the contents of cell when they are merged as the value from the first merged cell is taken. Is there a way out of this?

3) Pie Chart: I have a pie chart representing the "Points" scored by different players. (i.e. on the excel sheet I have 2 columns: one for player name and the other for Points). The players are from different countries. Now, here is the problem: Instead of the legends showing the player name I want the legends to show the Country Name to which these players belong to. E.g. I have 8 records in total: 3 players are from Australia, 4 are from US and 1 from India. Now in the legends I want these 3 country names.

Pleaseeee do reply

[Jon Peltier]

> 1) I have a graph where the Column and line charts are plotted on the
> same axis. I have got that correctly as well. Now, the problem is I
> want to display selective "Data Labels" on the *line graph*. How do I
> accomplish this task? (Actually the values for my line graph are same,
> hence its just a stright line. And I donot want the same value to be
> displayed again and again. I need just one data label on the beginning
> of the line)

Select the line series, then the point you want to annotate, then double
click on the selected point, and use the Data Labels tab of the dialog to
add a label.

> 2) Problem with Doughnut Chart: I have my "Category labels" on multiple
> rows (each value is typed in 3 rows). As a result, the graph wizard
> takes that as 3 different values. I tried merging the cells but in that
> case I lose the contents of cell when they are merged as the value from
> the first merged cell is taken. Is there a way out of this?

Best practice is to use one cell per item. If the existing range is done a
certain way for the visual requirements of a table intended to be viewed,
then put the data to be plotted into another range that is better arranged
for the chart source data, then make the chart using this new range. You can
use paste link so the chart data updates when the table updates.

In fact, best best practice is to keep original data in one place, with
linked data that's formatted for a table and another that's formatted for a
chart. But this is only if you don't want formatting changes and data
rearrangement in one range to mess up the other ranges.

> 3) Pie Chart: I have a pie chart representing the "Points" scored by
> different players. (i.e. on the excel sheet I have 2 columns: one for
> player name and the other for Points). The players are from different
> countries. Now, here is the problem: Instead of the legends showing the
> player name I want the legends to show the Country Name to which these
> players belong to. E.g. I have 8 records in total: 3 players are from
> Australia, 4 are from US and 1 from India. Now in the legends I want
> these 3 country names.

Chart menu > Source Data > Series tab: change the range in the Category
Labels box.

- Jon
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Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services - Tutorials and Custom Solutions -
http://PeltierTech.com/
2006 Excel User Conference, 19-21 April, Atlantic City, NJ
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/ExcelUserConf06.html
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