Excel: Chart Wizard Changes Series Formula References

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If you create a chart with values from nonadjacent ranges of cells, and you then modify the chart using the ChartWizard, the series formula reference for the resulting chart will be modified to include cells not in the original ranges.

For example, when you create a chart from two distinct ranges of cells separated by a third range, and you then use the ChartWizard to modify the chart, the cells in the third range will be included in the series formula for the resulting chart.

WORKAROUND

To modify the range used by the ChartWizard, make the necessary changes in the Range box in the ChartWizard Step 1 dialog box 1.

To modify your chart, do the following:

1. Select the embedded chart clicking it once.



2. Select the ChartWizard tool.



3. The ChartWizard will display a dialog box titled "Step 1 of 2."
   
   You can modify the reference on this dialog box to reflect the correct reference for your chart either by selecting the ranges you want or by changing the reference in the Range box.

Example

1. Type any information into cells A1 through C4.



2. Select cells A1:A4 by dragging with the mouse, then hold down the CTRL key and select cells C1:C4. You will have two nonadjacent selections.



3. Select the ChartWizard tool (it's the button with the chart and magic wand on it). Starting at cell A5, hold down the left mouse button, drag down and to the right, then release the mouse button to start the ChartWizard.



4. Notice the reference in the Range box on the dialog box that is displayed. It will read $A$1:$A$4,$C$1:$C$4. This is two range references separated by a comma.



5. Step through the ChartWizard by choosing Next in each of the subsequent dialog boxes. In the last dialog box, choose OK.

To change the chart

1. Choose the ChartWizard tool.
   
   Note that the displayed Reference is $A$1:$C$4 (a single range that contains both of the originally selected ranges, but also includes the cells in between).



2. To restore the original reference, replace $A$1:C$4 with the following:
   
   $A$1:$A$4,$C$1:$C$4.



3. Choose Next to cycle through the rest of the ChartWizard dialog boxes.

STATUS

This behavior by design of Microsoft Excel.

Additional query words: Chart Wizard

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Last Reviewed: March 23, 1999