Trendlines Unavailable for Area Chart Type

WORKAROUND

The default Area chart type is a stacked area, even if you are only charting one series. If you select this chart type, then the Trendlines command (on the Insert menu) will be unavailable (dimmed). To unstack an Area chart type, use the appropriate method for your version of Excel.

Excel 97

1. Select the area chart.
2. Click Chart Type on the Chart menu.
3. In the Chart Type dialog box, make sure Area is selected as the Chart Type on the Standard Types tab.
4. On the Standard Types tab, under Chart Sub-type, click the first (upper-left) sub-type, and then click OK.

The area chart becomes unstacked. To create trendlines, select the series and click Add Trendline on the Chart menu.

Excel 5.0 and 7.0

1. Select the area chart.
2. On the Format menu, click Chart Type. (Or, click Chart Type on the Chart menu.)
3. In the Chart Type dialog box, make sure Area Group is selected. Then, click Options.
4. In the Options dialog box, click the Subtype tab, click the first (far left) subtype, and then click OK.

The area chart becomes unstacked. To create trendlines, select the series and click Trendlines on the Insert menu.