Microsoft Knowledge Base

Excel: Data Point Label on a Bar Chart May Be Clipped
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
Article ID: Q103018
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

The data point label for the maximum value represented in a bar chart may be clipped by the outer edge of the chart window or, in the case of a chart object, by the chart border. The full text will appear in print preview and on the printed output.

CAUSE

This problem will occur if the value is very close to the maximum on the value axis scale and if the value has several digits--either a large number or a number with several decimal places.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do any of the following:

  • Maximize your chart window or enlarge the size of your chart object
  • Increase the scale of the value axis
  • Change the text orientation to vertical
  • Add a legend on the right side of your plot area

Following are the steps for the last three of these workarounds.

To increase the scale

  1. Select the value y-axis. Since the chart is rotated, this is where the x-axis would normally be.

  2. From the Format menu, choose scale.

  3. In the Maximum box, type a value that is approximately 10-percent higher than the current value. This percentage may vary according to how many digits the maximum value in your chart contains.

  4. Choose OK.

To change the text orientation

  1. Select the data point label.

  2. From the Format menu, choose Text.

  3. Under Orientation, select one of the vertical options.

  4. Choose OK.

Repeat these steps 1-4 for each data point.

To add a legend

  • From the Chart menu, choose Add Legend.

This will scale the plot area to allow room for the legend. This scaling should create enough space to display the entire label.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, page 419-420

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 4.00 3.00



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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.