Selecting and Editing a Chart Object

When you edit a chart, you alter its features, which can include selecting data or formatting elements. For example, you might want to use different colors or patterns in a data series. To change the type of chart or any element in it, you must first select the chart or element. When you select a chart, handles (small black squares) display around the window's perimeter, and the Chart toolbar displays on screen ( docked or floating). When you select a chart, all of the buttons on this toolbar become active. You can use the ScreenTip feature to display the data value and the name of any object or area on a chart. When you select an object in a chart, the name of the object appears in the Chart Objects list box on the Chart toolbar, which indicates that you can now edit the object. Editing a chart does not affect the data used to create it. You don't need to worry about updating a chart if you change data in the worksheet because Excel automatically updates the chart. You can change the data range at any time. If you want to plot more or less data in a range, you can select the data series on the worksheet and then drag the range to the chart.

Select and Edit a Chart Object

Select a chart. The Chart toolbar appears.

Position the mouse pointer over a chart object, and then click the object to select it.

To edit the object, double-click it, make changes, and then click OK.

Click another area of the chart, or press Esc to deselect a chart object.

Did You Know?

You can use the Chart toolbar to select chart elements . Select a chart element by clicking the Chart Objects list arrow on the Chart toolbar. Once an element is selected, double-click it to open a corresponding Format dialog box.