XL97: Problems When Selecting Error Bars With a Macro

ID: Q157110

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you use a Visual Basic for Applications macro to format either the x error bars or the y error bars within an xy scatter chart, the formatting is applied to both sets of error bars.

CAUSE

This occurs because it is not possible for a Visual Basic for Applications macro command to individually select either the x error bars or the y error bars. Selecting one set selects the other set as well.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
It is possible to select one or the other set of error bars by using a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 macro language (XLM) command within your Visual Basic subroutine.

To select the x error bars for the first series in the active chart, use the following command: 

   Application.ExecuteExcel4Macro ("SELECT(""Series 1 X Error Bars"")")
To select the y error bars for the first series in the active chart, use this command: 

   Application.ExecuteExcel4Macro ("SELECT(""Series 1 Y Error Bars"")")
After the set of error bars is selected, you can format it by using Visual Basic code similar to the following: 

   With Selection.Border
       .LineStyle = xlContinuous
       .ColorIndex = 3
       .Weight = xlThin
   End With
Or you can delete the selected set of error bars by using this Visual Basic command: 

   Selection.Delete

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel 97, if you select either the x error bars or the y error bars in a chart while you record a Visual Basic for Applications macro, the following code is recorded: 

   ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).ErrorBars.Select
The recorded code is exactly the same, whether you select the x error bars or the y error bars.

It is not possible to individually select one or the other set of error bars unless you remove the command shown above and replace it with one of the two Microsoft Excel 4.0 macro commands shown in the Workaround section of this article.

Additional query words: XL97 x-y scatter chart 

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode xlmhowto KbVBA xlchart 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999