How to create a simple Stacked Column chart?

I'm pulling my hair out over what I thought would have been a simple
task:

I have an Excel 2003 pivot table and chart. On the Chart tab, I drag a
field to the Category axis and Page. Then I drag 3 numeric fields to
the Data area. I set the Chart Type to Stacked Column. The problem:
the 3 numeric fields still display as 3 separate bars/columns. So the
question is why doesn't Excel stack them?

I have seen numerous similiar posts, but no real understandable answer
(at least not to a newbie at Excel charting and pivot tables).

Thanks!!!

Hi,

The number of items in the stack will reflect the number of items in the
category field. So if the Category field was Months you would get 12
segments to a stack. Adding 3 different fields would create a stack for
each of those not a stack of them.

Cheers
Andy

Mike wrote:
> I'm pulling my hair out over what I thought would have been a simple
> task:
>
> I have an Excel 2003 pivot table and chart. On the Chart tab, I drag a
> field to the Category axis and Page. Then I drag 3 numeric fields to
> the Data area. I set the Chart Type to Stacked Column. The problem:
> the 3 numeric fields still display as 3 separate bars/columns. So the
> question is why doesn't Excel stack them?
>
> I have seen numerous similiar posts, but no real understandable answer
> (at least not to a newbie at Excel charting and pivot tables).
>
> Thanks!!!
>

--

Andy Pope, Microsoft MVP - Excel
http://www.andypope.info

Hi Andy,

Now I am more confused then ever I use a database reporting tool
called DBxtra, which also offers charting. With DBxtra's "stacked
column", the number of data fields one drags into the "data area"
determines how many segments appear in an individual stacked column.

Here is what I am trying to do in Excel:
- X/category axis: SalesPerson
- Y axis: I am trying to get it to show a stacked column with 3
segments per column:
1) Region1 sales dollars per salesperson
2) Region2 sales dollars per salesperson
3) Region3 sales dollars per salesperson

I tried: dragging Salesperson field to category axis, Region1, 2 & 3
fields to the data area. I expected a single, segmented stacked
column, showing 3 region totals per salesperson. Instead I got 3
separate (unstacked) columns per salesperson...

I guess my experience with DBxtra charting is confusing me in Excel...



Andy Pope wrote:
> Hi,
>
> The number of items in the stack will reflect the number of items in the
> category field. So if the Category field was Months you would get 12
> segments to a stack. Adding 3 different fields would create a stack for
> each of those not a stack of them.
>
> Cheers
> Andy
>
> Mike wrote:
> > I'm pulling my hair out over what I thought would have been a simple
> > task:
> >
> > I have an Excel 2003 pivot table and chart. On the Chart tab, I drag a
> > field to the Category axis and Page. Then I drag 3 numeric fields to
> > the Data area. I set the Chart Type to Stacked Column. The problem:
> > the 3 numeric fields still display as 3 separate bars/columns. So the
> > question is why doesn't Excel stack them?
> >
> > I have seen numerous similiar posts, but no real understandable answer
> > (at least not to a newbie at Excel charting and pivot tables).
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
>
> --
>
> Andy Pope, Microsoft MVP - Excel
> http://www.andypope.info