Creating Charts in Excel

Formatting the Chart

Chart Area

The Chart Area is essentially the entire sheet on which the chart is placed. Follow the direction below to make changes to the Chart Area.

• Select the Chart Area by clicking on it.
• Chart Area will appear in the Name Box. Also, notice the black boxes that outline the Chart Area.
• Click on Format.
• Click on Selected Chart Area.

  

  Or, right click your mouse and select Format Chart Area.
• Use the option tabs in the dialog box to change the formatting of the Chart Area.
  a. Patterns: changes the style and colors for the border and fill area of the chart.
  b. Font: changes the font style, format, and color for the entire chart.

  

• Click OK.
• Excel will make the changes to the Chart Area.

Plot Area

The Plot Area is the area in which the data of your chart is actually plotted.

• Select Plot Area by clicking on it.

  

• A box will highlight where the Plot Area is.
• Click on Format.
• Click on Selected Plot Area.
  Or, right click with your mouse and select Format Plot Area.
• Use the dialog box to make the desired changes. Notice that the only changes that you can make to the Plot Area are to the border and the area fill color.
• Click OK.
• Excel will make the changes to the Plot Area.