Stacked Column Chart...HELP NEEDED

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angie
  • Start date Start date
A

Angie

I would like to stack 2 sets of data side by side for
each month. For example, I have Category A (type 1, type
2) and Category B (type 1, type 2). I am using a stacked
column chart and cannot seem to do this without jumbling
around the data section which doesn't make for easy
understanding. Different chart type? Any ideas?
 
Thank you for the reply. I am using Office 2002 so it
doesn't seem to turn it out quite as nice as the 2
references show below. I have been tinkering for awhile
and understand the concept, however, still can't get the
polished look (i.e. 1 set of data has label and second
doesn't, gap width between sets of data, etc.). Any docs
that apply to 2002?

Regards,
Angie
 
Angie -

For most things, this charting trick included, Excel 2002 works the same
as the several versions before and the one since. But like most tricks,
you have to be careful the first couple times you do it, because leaving
out a step, or doing them out of order, may not give the results you
want. What seems to be the shortcoming?

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______
 
I basically followed the directions from the Microsoft
article that did not have you make any adjustments to
tick marks, axes, etc. as the Liengme site did. After it
did not turn out looking quite right, I tried to
incorporate some of Liengme's instructions as they seem
to be similar but not quite.

Here are the main problems:

Tick marks and gap width - the 2 stacked columns for each
month are not arranged neatly together with the name of
the month centered below or a a space between the next
month's columns.

Legend Box - It is out of order and doesn't seem to
change when I move the series order.

I don't appear to be using a secondary axis as Liengme's
instructions suggest, however, when I do change 2 of the
series to the second axis they are no longer stacked.

Not sure where to go and tired of tinkering.

Thank you so much!
 
Just as an FYI, I just did this using Excel 2000 and it worked fine. I
tried it on my sheet at first and was confused so then I recreated the
example given on the example sheet and saw how it was made and then
applied it to mine.

You could even try just pasting your data into the example and changing
the range for the values to match what you're giving it.
 
I've tried both but I'll try again. Maybe my patience
was shot. I'll try again.

This is a great forum I did not realize existed. I am
thrilled to know it's available.

Thanks for everyone's help!
 
Angie -

1. You need to set gap width to zero, so adjacent columns are touching.

2. You need to insert blank rows in the data, and stagger the different
column values, so the appropriate values are stacked together, and there
are spaces between adjacent clusters.

3. I don't know what's up with your legend.

4. You don't have to use a secondary axis. If you do, it can mess up the
stacks of columns, unless all the columns are on the primary series, and
Bernard's helper series for the labels is on the secondary axis. But
choosing appropriate X values for the XY series can help here.

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