Default Series format

Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt black
dot" for all series that "may" develop.
My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I have
previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
colors.
I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."

Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel" "default"
"series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.

Thanks for any assistance,

Al Camp

Hi Al:
You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
and your format settings are ready for re-use.
Good luck,
Henk


"Al Camp" wrote:

> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt black
> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I have
> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
> colors.
> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
>
> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel" "default"
> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
>
> Thanks for any assistance,
>
> Al Camp
>
>
>
>
>
>

Henk,
Thanks for the reply...
So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt black
dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?

Thanks,
Al Camp

"HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Al:
> You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
> chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
> the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
> Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
> User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
> and your format settings are ready for re-use.
> Good luck,
> Henk
>
>
> "Al Camp" wrote:
>
>> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt black
>> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
>> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
>> have
>> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
>> colors.
>> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
>>
>> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel" "default"
>> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
>>
>> Thanks for any assistance,
>>
>> Al Camp
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
see whether this suits you.
GL, Henk

"Al Camp" wrote:

> Henk,
> Thanks for the reply...
> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt black
> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
>
> Thanks,
> Al Camp
>
> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Hi Al:
> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
> > Good luck,
> > Henk
> >
> >
> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >
> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt black
> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
> >> have
> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
> >> colors.
> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
> >>
> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel" "default"
> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
> >>
> >> Thanks for any assistance,
> >>
> >> Al Camp
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

OK Hek,
That's what I needed to know. I had to manually format 52 series because I couldn't
see any other way to do it...
A pain... but it's done now.
Thanks very much,
Al Camp

"HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
> expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
> if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
> series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
> etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
> see whether this suits you.
> GL, Henk
>
> "Al Camp" wrote:
>
>> Henk,
>> Thanks for the reply...
>> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt
>> black
>> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Al Camp
>>
>> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > Hi Al:
>> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
>> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
>> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
>> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
>> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
>> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
>> > Good luck,
>> > Henk
>> >
>> >
>> > "Al Camp" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt
>> >> black
>> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
>> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
>> >> have
>> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
>> >> colors.
>> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
>> >>
>> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel"
>> >> "default"
>> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for any assistance,
>> >>
>> >> Al Camp
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Al, I didn't realise it was in a one time chart....I got the impression you
had to make a similar looking chart every month or so and do all the
formatting again.
I feel bad now that I didn't mention the <Ctrl+Y> trick. You can modify a
series format, select the next series and then pressing Y while keeping the
Ctrl button pressed repeats the last command (i.e. the formatting changes)
for the next series. This works btw on the Office level - the reverse is
Ctrl-Z which undo the last command. I thought this was commonly known so I
didnt think that this was what you were looking for.

"Al Camp" wrote:

> OK Hek,
> That's what I needed to know. I had to manually format 52 series because I couldn't
> see any other way to do it...
> A pain... but it's done now.
> Thanks very much,
> Al Camp
>
> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
> > expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
> > if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
> > series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
> > etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
> > see whether this suits you.
> > GL, Henk
> >
> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >
> >> Henk,
> >> Thanks for the reply...
> >> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt
> >> black
> >> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Al Camp
> >>
> >> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > Hi Al:
> >> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
> >> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
> >> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
> >> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
> >> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
> >> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
> >> > Good luck,
> >> > Henk
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt
> >> >> black
> >> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
> >> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
> >> >> have
> >> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
> >> >> colors.
> >> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
> >> >>
> >> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel"
> >> >> "default"
> >> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks for any assistance,
> >> >>
> >> >> Al Camp
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Al, I didn't realise it was in a one time chart....I got the impression you
had to make a similar looking chart every month or so and do all the
formatting again.
I feel bad now that I didn't mention the <Ctrl+Y> trick. You can modify a
series format, select the next series and then pressing Y while keeping the
Ctrl button pressed repeats the last command (i.e. the formatting changes)
for the next series. This works btw on the Office level - the reverse is
Ctrl-Z which undo the last command. I thought this was commonly known so I
didnt think that this was what you were looking for.

"Al Camp" wrote:

> OK Hek,
> That's what I needed to know. I had to manually format 52 series because I couldn't
> see any other way to do it...
> A pain... but it's done now.
> Thanks very much,
> Al Camp
>
> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
> > expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
> > if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
> > series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
> > etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
> > see whether this suits you.
> > GL, Henk
> >
> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >
> >> Henk,
> >> Thanks for the reply...
> >> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt
> >> black
> >> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Al Camp
> >>
> >> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > Hi Al:
> >> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
> >> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
> >> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
> >> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
> >> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
> >> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
> >> > Good luck,
> >> > Henk
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt
> >> >> black
> >> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
> >> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
> >> >> have
> >> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
> >> >> colors.
> >> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
> >> >>
> >> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel"
> >> >> "default"
> >> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks for any assistance,
> >> >>
> >> >> Al Camp
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Al, I didn't realise it was in a one time chart....I got the impression you
had to make a similar looking chart every month or so and do all the
formatting again.
I feel bad now that I didn't mention the <Ctrl+Y> trick. You can modify a
series format, select the next series and then pressing Y while keeping the
Ctrl button pressed repeats the last command (i.e. the formatting changes)
for the next series. This works btw on the Office level - the reverse is
Ctrl-Z which undo the last command. I thought this was commonly known so I
didnt think that this was what you were looking for.

"Al Camp" wrote:

> OK Hek,
> That's what I needed to know. I had to manually format 52 series because I couldn't
> see any other way to do it...
> A pain... but it's done now.
> Thanks very much,
> Al Camp
>
> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
> > expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
> > if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
> > series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
> > etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
> > see whether this suits you.
> > GL, Henk
> >
> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >
> >> Henk,
> >> Thanks for the reply...
> >> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt
> >> black
> >> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Al Camp
> >>
> >> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > Hi Al:
> >> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
> >> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
> >> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
> >> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
> >> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
> >> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
> >> > Good luck,
> >> > Henk
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Al Camp" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt
> >> >> black
> >> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
> >> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than I
> >> >> have
> >> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes and
> >> >> colors.
> >> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
> >> >>
> >> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel"
> >> >> "default"
> >> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks for any assistance,
> >> >>
> >> >> Al Camp
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Thanks Hek,
I'll give that a try.
I should have mentioned, that my chart is actually in an Access 97 database
application, so it's probably using MSGraph 97. So... there's no spreadsheet behind the
graph, but rather a data query.
The two charts are on a report, and I've got them all set up OK right now.
Thanks a lot for the help.
If you ever have an Access question, let me know... I'll try to return the favor.
--
Al Camp
Candia Computer Consulting - Candia NH
http://home.comcast.net/~cccsolutions

"HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Al, I didn't realise it was in a one time chart....I got the impression you
> had to make a similar looking chart every month or so and do all the
> formatting again.
> I feel bad now that I didn't mention the <Ctrl+Y> trick. You can modify a
> series format, select the next series and then pressing Y while keeping the
> Ctrl button pressed repeats the last command (i.e. the formatting changes)
> for the next series. This works btw on the Office level - the reverse is
> Ctrl-Z which undo the last command. I thought this was commonly known so I
> didnt think that this was what you were looking for.
>
> "Al Camp" wrote:
>
>> OK Hek,
>> That's what I needed to know. I had to manually format 52 series because I couldn't
>> see any other way to do it...
>> A pain... but it's done now.
>> Thanks very much,
>> Al Camp
>>
>> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > Yes, that's the idea, Al. I haven't tested this at length, and I am not an
>> > expert just a user myself. On quick testing with a line chart I found that
>> > if you have more series than the ones defined in your custom-built, these
>> > series will get the default format (5 point markers, the colours Excel uses,
>> > etc). Less doesnt seem to be a problem. I suggest just to try it out and
>> > see whether this suits you.
>> > GL, Henk
>> >
>> > "Al Camp" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Henk,
>> >> Thanks for the reply...
>> >> So I take it that I must "manually" format all the series on one chart with 3pt
>> >> black
>> >> dot, and THEN... I can use that as a formatting default for other charts?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >> Al Camp
>> >>
>> >> "HEK" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> >> news:[email protected]...
>> >> > Hi Al:
>> >> > You can format your chart in any way you like and store this as custom
>> >> > chart. When you later choose this CustomChart with your data it will reflect
>> >> > the appearance you defined. Make your chart, right click a series and choose
>> >> > Chart Type... from the pop-up menu. Select the Custom Types tab, and select
>> >> > User-defined in the "Select from" area. Choose a descriptive name and save,
>> >> > and your format settings are ready for re-use.
>> >> > Good luck,
>> >> > Henk
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "Al Camp" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Is there any way I can force a chart (scatter in this case) to always use a "3pt
>> >> >> black
>> >> >> dot" for all series that "may" develop.
>> >> >> My graph works fine, but every once in a while there are more series plotted than
>> >> >> I
>> >> >> have
>> >> >> previously "manually" formatted. Those new series appear as a variety of shapes
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> colors.
>> >> >> I'd like to make the graph "always use a 3pt black dot for ANY series."
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Tried a Google Group search, but wasn't sure what terminology to use ("excel"
>> >> >> "default"
>> >> >> "series"), so I didn't get any relevant hits.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Thanks for any assistance,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Al Camp
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>