XL: How to Create a User-Defined Chart Format

ID: Q142124

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can produce charts with a consistent look by creating a user-defined chart format. This article contains steps you can follow to create a sample chart, to use that sample chart as the basis for a user-defined chart format, and to apply that user-defined format to a another sample chart.


MORE INFORMATION

To create a sample chart

  1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data:


    2. 
    A1: Beth    B1: 95
    A2: Joe     B2: 90
    A3: Mary    B3: 85
    A4: John    B4: 80
  2. Select cells A1:B4, and press F11.


  3. Format the chart.


    4. 
    Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
    -----------------------------------------------------------

    a. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.

    b. In the Chart Type dialog box, Standard Types tab, click Pie, then
       click OK.

    c. On the Chart menu, click Chart Options.

    d. On the Titles tab, click in the Chart title box and type

          My User-Defined Chart

       and click OK.

    Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and 7.0
    ------------------------------------

    a. On the Format Menu, click Chart Type.

    b. In the Chart Type dialog box, click Pie, and then click OK.

    c. On the Insert menu, click Titles.

    d. In the Titles dialog box, click the Chart Title option under
       Attach Text To and then click OK. Type the following:

          My User-Defined Chart

       and then press ENTER.

Creating a User-Defined Chart Format Based on the Sample Chart

  1. Switch to the chart sheet that contains the sample chart.


    2. 
    Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
    -----------------------------------------------------------

    a. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.

    b. On the Custom Type tab, click "User-defined" and click Add.

    c. In the Add Custom Chart Types dialog, type the following in the
       Name box:

          My Custom Chart

       (Optional) In the Description box, type a brief description of
       the chart, and click OK.

    Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and 7.0
    ------------------------------------

    a. On the Format menu, click AutoFormat.

    b. In the AutoFormat dialog box, under Formats Used, select the User
       Defined option, and then click Customize. In the User-Defined
       AutoFormats dialog box, click Add.

    c. In the Add Custom AutoFormat dialog box, type the following name:

          My Custom Chart

       (Optional) In the Description box, type a brief description of
       the chart, and click OK.

Applying a User-Defined Chart Format to Another Chart

  1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data:


    2. 
    A1: David    B1: 95
    A2: Jenny    B2: 90
    A3: Tom      B3: 85
    A4: Linda    B4: 80
  2. Select cells A1:B4, and then press F11. A new chart sheet should be created with a two-dimensional column chart, and this chart sheet should be the active sheet in the workbook.


    3. 
    Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
    -----------------------------------------------------------

    a. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.

    b. In the Custom Types tab, click User-defined.

    c. In the Chart type box, click My Custom Chart, and click OK.

       The chart should be formatted with the formatting of the user-
       defined chart.

    Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and 7.0
    ------------------------------------

    a. On the Format menu, click AutoFormat.

    b. In the AutoFormat dialog box, click User-Defined in Formats
       Used.

    c. In the Formats box, click My Custom Chart, and click OK.


REFERENCES

For more information about user-defined Formats, click the Search button in Help in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or click the Answer Wizard in Microsoft Excel version 7.0 and type:

autoformats, chart


"User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 16, "Working with Chart Types and Autoformats"

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 8.00 


Keywords          : kbtool xlchart 
Version           : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: June 16, 1999