Chart Legend

[PCLIVE]

I have Line charts on various sheets. The charts are identical in size.
There are 12 items graphed on each chart. However, the legend on each of
the charts seems to be displaying different numbers of charted items. I'm
not sure how to explain this clearly.

On one chart's legend, it might show 12 items (three columns with four items
each), which is correct. Another chart's legend may only show 2 columns
totally only eight items (it should be 12). I even have one chart's legend
showing only 4 items (as if it is only one column displaying).

I can't figure out what could be different from one legend to the next.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Jon Peltier]

It might be that different legend entry string lengths cause a column of
legend entries to disappear. Can you select the legend and resize it using
the handles? Does that bring back the missing entries?

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

 

[PCLIVE]

If I resize it tall-wise, it displays more. But I'm trying to figure out
how the other legends are being displayed in three columns. That's what I
want. When you click to resize, you can see gridlines that indicate where
the columns/rows are for each item. When I make resize this legend (that is
only displaying 4 items) larger, it just shows everything in what appears to
be one column. The other's clearly display 3 columns when clicking to
resize the legend.

Any ideas?

Thanks again,
Paul

 

[Jon Peltier]

To make the legend show three columns instead of two, you have to make the
legend wide enough to fit three columns. So either stretch the legend
width-wise, or shorten the series names.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

 

[PCLIVE]

Thanks Jon,

Apparently, one of the items was really long and the legend is set to make
all columns equal. Well I had to stretch it pretty far before it would add
columns. I wish there was a way to have it wrap, or just not display the
remaining text so that three columns would be visible without resizing. It
would also be nice if I could specify each column width or the width would
be automatically determined by the longest text length in that column.

Anyway, you helped me and I'll just have to work with it from here.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Guest]

Paul, there is a way to force a line break in your legend label. Assuming
your label name is in a worksheet cell, say "Sales 2000" and you want the
break behind Sales so 2000 appears below Sales. Use
=CONCATENATE("Sales",CHAR(13),"2000") - the CHAR(13) forces the line break.
(in the worksheet cell you shd see an empty little square between Sales and
2000). This trick also comes handy to control x-axis labels (e.g. May 2006,
where u want 2006 below May because otherwise the label becomes too large).
Hope this works for you.

Regards,
Henk

 

[Jon Peltier]

It's easier than that. Put your cursor in the cell where you want a new
line, and press Alt+Enter.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______