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Microsoft Excel 2010— Formatting Charts
Once a chart is created, you may need to change the way it looks or add meaningful
labels to make it easier to understand.
Adding a chart title
 Ensure the chart is selected so that the Chart tools tab is displayed on the ribbon.
 Select the Layout tab
 Select Chart Title from the Labels group of commands.
 A list of options is displayed. Click the one you want.
 A Chart Title place holder is positioned on the chart.
 To change the title simply type in the text you require
and press enter.
 To amend a chart title, highlight the text and re-type.
 To delete a chart title, select it and press the delete key
on your keyboard.
Adding an axis title
 Ensure the chart is selected so that the Chart tools tab is displayed on the ribbon.
 Select the Layout tab
 Select Axis Titles from the Labels group of commands.
 Choose between Horizontal Axis Title (the X axis) or the
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Vertical Axis (the Y axis)
A list of option is displayed. Click the one you want.
The axis title place holder is positioned on the chart.
To change the title simply type in the text you require and press enter.
To amend a axis title, highlight the text and re-type.
To delete a chart title, select it and press delete on your keyboard.
Deleting a legend
 Sometimes a legend is not necessary.
 Click on the legend and press the delete key on your keyboard.
 To put it back use the Layout tab on Chart tools and select Legend.
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Changing the chart type
 Ensure the chart is selected so that the Chart tools tab is displayed on the ribbon.
 Select the Design tab
 Select Change Chart Type and choose the type of chart you want.
N.B. Note that you can combine chart types i.e. have a column and line graph. To do
this select the data series you want to amend and follow the steps above.
Changing the colour of a data series
It is possible to change the colour of the column, line or pie segment on your graph
 Ensure the chart is selected so that the Chart tools tab
is displayed on the ribbon.
 Click once on the data series you want to change. Selection circles will appear on the data series.
 Select the Format tab and select
Shape Fill
 Select the colour you require
Add data labels
It is possible to show data values on a chart. This is especially useful if the chart is on a
different sheet to the original data.
 Ensure the chart is selected so that the Chart tools tab is displayed on the ribbon.
 Select the Layout tab
 Select Data Labels from the Labels group of commands.
 A list of different positions are shown.
 Click on the required option.
 To remove data labels repeat this process but select
none from the option list.
Ver: 2.0 Last updated 14/10/14
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