ColHdgs=Years show up as series not as legend labels

[ExcelProf]

Hi Bernard - thanks for the reply, but

the two rows of data are all I have available and selected,
2001 2002 2003 2004
10000 8000 12000 11500

and the chart I need is a clustered 3-d column,
but I can't get this data to work with any chart type,
to make the year numbers be the labels for the second row data series.

We don't have a "heading at the top of the year data."
But, I'm interested in what that oddity would be??

 

[Bernard Liengme]

If I put the years in A1:A4 and the data in B1:B4, select A1:B4 and make a
chart then I get a chart with two data series. Just as you say, the years
are not used as the x-category values. Excel needs a blank heading if the
values are numeric and you want to make a category-type chart (anything but
XY)

But if I insert a column (now the years are in A2:A5 and the numbers in
B2:B5) and type the word Data in B1 (BUT LEAVE A1 BLANK), select A1:B5 and
make chart, I get what we want.

I could have put the years in A2:A5 and the numbers in B2:B5 with a suitable
heading in B1.

Hope this helps