XL: 1-2-3 Commands to Attach Text Data Labels to a Chart

ID: Q111354

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel versions 4.0 and earlier, there is no way to automatically place a group of text data labels on a chart.

To create text data labels, you must attach them to data points by using the Attach Text command from the Chart menu. Each data label must be manually updated to refer to the original worksheet cell containing the label to be attached to the data point.

Additionally in versions 5.0 and later, there is no way to automatically assign data labels to a range of cells that is not the default for x-axis labels.

WORKAROUND

Because Microsoft Excel has built-in Lotus 1-2-3 compatibility, you can add data labels as a group by using the equivalent Lotus keystrokes to create a graph.

MORE INFORMATION

To use 1-2-3 commands to add data labels as a group, follow these steps:

1. On a new worksheet, enter the following: 

      A1: Dog      B1: 10    C1: Rover
      A2: Cat      B2: 20    C2: Kitty
      A3: Mouse    B3: 30    C3: Mickey
      A4: Bird     B4: 40    C4: Tweety
2. On the Help menu, click Lotus 1-2-3 Help.

3. In the "Help for Lotus 1-2-3 Users" dialog box, under Help Options, 

   select Demo.
4. To create a chart using Lotus 1-2-3 keystrokes, follow these steps: 

    a. Click Graph> and click OK.

    b. Click X... and click OK.

    c. Select cells A1:A4 and click OK in the "Help for Lotus 1-2-3
       Users" dialog box.

    d. Click A... and click OK.

    e. Select cells B1:B4 to define the first series, and then click OK.

    f. Click Options> and click OK.

    g. Click Data-Labels> and click OK.

    h. Click A... and click OK.

    i. Select cells C1:C4, and then click OK.

    j. Click Quit and OK.

    k. Click Quit and OK to return to the main Graph menu.

    l. Create an x-y scatter chart by clicking Type and OK, then click
       XY and OK.

       The demo mode will draw the chart and return to the main Graph
       menu.

    m. Click Save> and click OK, then click Attach... and click OK.

    n. Select the range on the worksheet that you want to contain the
       chart, then click OK.
Click Close to close the Help For Lotus 1-2-3 Users dialog box. The chart is displayed on the worksheet with the text from column C as the data labels. You can then make any modifications to this chart as with any Microsoft Excel chart object.

NOTE: The default chart type is a line chart. To create a different style of chart after selecting your series A, press T (Type), and then select a different chart type.

To change the chart type once the chart has been created, use the appropriate method for your version of Excel.

In Excel 97

On the Chart menu, click Chart Type, and select a different type of chart.

In Excel Versions 5.0 and 7.0

On the Chart menu, click AutoFormat, and select a different type of chart.

In Excel Version 4.0 and Earlier

On the Chart menu, click Main Chart, and select a different type of chart.

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q161513
   TITLE     : XL: Macro to Add Labels to Points in an XY (Scatter) Chart

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107484
   TITLE     : Excel AppNote: Tips for Manipulating Data in a Chart
               (XE0183)
Additional query words: 3.00 4.00 4.00a 5.00 7.00 8.00 97 
Keywords          : xlchart 
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,4.0,5.0,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: June 17, 1999