Excel > Excel 2003 Intermediate > Charts

Formatting a charts axis

Most charts have two axes. A vertical axis displaying values and a horizontal axis displaying categories. 3-D charts have a third axis showing depth. Different charts display axis in different ways and some such as a Pie chart do not have an axis at all.

Adjust how an axis is displayed

1. Select the chart
2. Click Chart > Chart Options



3. Click the Axis tab



4. Select the options you want. To remove an axis, uncheck the box
5. Click Ok

Changing the scale of an axis

In some circumstances changing the scale of the value axis can be beneficial. It may be that the chart has many high values so you may wish the axis to start at another point than 0, or maybe you wish to reduce the value intervals to show more detail.

1. Select the axis you wish to change
2. Double click the axis or click the Format Axis button on the Chart toolbar



3. The Format Axis dialogue box appears
4. Click the Scale tab



Minimum	Lowest value displayed on the chart
Maximum	Highest value displayed on the chart
Major Unit	Axis unit of measure
Minor Unit	Axis unit of measure (not displayed on a chart by default)

5. Set the values you want
6. Click Ok

Change the numbering format of an axis

1. Select the axis you wish to change
2. Double click the axis or click the Format Axis button on the Chart toolbar
3. The Format Axis dialogue box appears
4. Click the Number tab
5. Select the appropriate number format from the Category list
6. Select the options as necessary from the right
7. Click Ok

Working with chart labels Changing a charts source data

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