XL: Creating Non-Default Text Labels on an XY (Scatter) Chart

ID: Q125178

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can automatically attach text labels to data points in an xy (scatter) chart. However, if you want to attach labels that are different from the default labels, you must select the label and manually type a formula or text for the label.

MORE INFORMATION

To create labels for an xy (scatter) chart that are different from the default labels, follow these steps:

1. Select the chart. To do this in Microsoft Excel 97, click once on the 

   chart. In Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, double-click the chart to select
   it.
2. Show data labels. To do this in Microsoft Excel 97, Point to the Chart 
   menu and click Chart Options. Click the Data Labels tab, click Show
   Label, and then click OK. In Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, click Data
   Labels on the Insert menu, click Show Labels, and then click OK.

   The labels for each data point appear on the chart.
3. Click once on a data label to select it. 

   A box appears around the value of the data label.
4. With the data label selected, type the label text or cell reference in 
   the formula bar. For example, to link the label to the value in a cell,
   type the following

      =<cell reference>

   where <cell reference> is the cell reference for the text that you
   want to display in the label.
5. Press ENTER.

Repeat steps 3-5 for each point that you to change from the default label.

Note that if you use this technique in a macro, you must use R1C1 notation.

Additional query words: xl97 8.00 7.00 5.00 5.00c 

Keywords          : kbualink97 xlwiz xlchart 
Version           : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 8, 1999