Changing The Chart Legend

**jimd1768** · 11-15-2011, 10:47 AM

I am using Excel 2010.

I have details of monthly sales and would like to show the comparison in a graph format. When I select the Jan data for 4 years results, the graph is fine and shows Jan 08, Jan 09, Jan 1o & Jan 11 across the horizontal axis as required.

When I move into any other month, they also show Jan 08, Jan 09, Jan 1o & Jan 11 and not Feb, Mar etc. The monetary values are correct but not the month.

When I select the data, it shows in the Correct Data Source that the months are as required. When I exit out, it still says Jan.

Does anyone know how I can correct this.

Thank you

**Andy Pope** · 11-15-2011, 11:05 AM

Are you sure your dates are real dates?

Can you post workbook example.

Also you mention legend but describe the problem on the axis labels, which is it?

**jimd1768** · 11-15-2011, 11:14 AM

I have attached the sheet for you to look at.

Thank you.

**Andy Pope** · 11-15-2011, 11:24 AM

The axis is being plotted as a Date (time series) axis. The issue is the Major Unit is years so all date values for 2010 will be displayed as the Jan-10 column.

If you change the Unit to months you will see the correct labelling but obvioulsy there will additional spacing for data you do not have.

Simplest thing to do is change the axis from Date to Text.