MS-Excel / General Formatting

Displaying a Data Table in a Chart

In Excel, you can display a table of the data that you use in the chart. The data table appears below the chart. When you create a chart, you can select a layout that includes a data table. To add a data table to an existing chart, follow these steps:

  1. Click anywhere on the chart and click the Layout tab to display the chart layout tools on the Ribbon.
  2. Click the Data Table button and choose an option from the menu. The data table appears below the chart.
  3. To explore additional formatting options for the data table, choose More Data Table Options from the menu. Excel displays the Format Data Table dialog box.
  4. Make your selections from the various formatting options and click ok.

Add a Data Table

  1. Click anywhere on the chart you want to modify.
  2. Click Chart Tools Layout> Labels> Data Table. Options include a choice not to show a data table, show a data table but not show a chart legend, or to show a data table and include the chart legend.
  3. Make a Data Table selection.
  4. Select the Show Data Table option.

    Data Table, Displays at the Bottom

  5. Click OK. A data table, displays at the bottom of the chart showing the actual values.

Data tables can be added to charts on a regular worksheet, but it isn't a common practice because the worksheet itself already displays the data. Data tables display the chart values in a grid beneath the chart. They are very helpful if a reader needs to see exact values along with a graphical display, such as when using a 3-D chart.

Show Data Labels

  1. Click anywhere on the chart that you want to modify.
  2. Choose Chart Tools Layout> Data Labels. A menu of data label placement options appears.
  3. Select a placement option. See the data labels with a placement of Outside End.

    Data Labels Placement of Outside End

  4. Choose Chart Tools Layout> Data Labels> More Data Label Options. The Format Data Labels dialog box appears.
  5. If you don't want the data label to be the series value, choose a different option from the Label Options area (such as the series or category names).
  6. In the Number option, select a number style for the data labels.
  7. Select any additional options and then click ok.

Select a Chart Color Style

  1. Click anywhere on the chart you want to modify.
  2. Choose Chart Tools Design> Chart Styles and click the More button, which displays the Chart Styles gallery.
  3. Select a chart theme.
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