Bar Chart Legend Key

[Guest]

I have several stacked bar charts. In some the legend keys are square, in
others rectangular. Same font size in all.
How can I make them all the same - i don't really mind whether they are
square or rectangulat, I just want them to be consistent!

 

[Jon Peltier]

I've seen them as rectangular when in a combo chart with a line chart
series. The squares are stretched out to match the line and marker in the
legend for the line series. The only control you have is indirect, based on
whether you add this extra series or not.

- Jon

 

[Guest]

Jon

Thanks for this. You're quite right. Two of the charts are combined with a
line chart and it is these two that have the rectangles. The others are
square. I should have realised that that was the difference.
Is there any way I can make the squares into rectangles even though they are
not combination charts?

Certior

 

[Jon Peltier]

You need a line series in the chart, and it must appear in the legend. Add a
series that uses blank cells for the Y values and the series name, so the
points are not plotted and the legend entry shows no text. Format the series
to use no markers and a line that matches the background (probably white),
so the line doesn't show in the legend. To hide the blank region at the
bottom of the legend, remove the outline around the legend (it looks better
without it anyway).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
Peltier Technical Services, Inc. - http://PeltierTech.com
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You could add a dummy line chart series, using #N/A or blank cells as its
data, so it doesn't appear in the chart.