XL: Cannot Use Array as Source Argument with SeriesCollection

ID: Q109575

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, you cannot add a new series to a chart in Microsoft Excel using an array as the Source argument with the Add method of the SeriesCollection object. If you specify the new data as an array of data points, you receive the following error message and your data points are not added to the chart:

   Run-time error '1004':
   Reference is not valid.

WORKAROUNDS

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/

To add a new series to a chart in Microsoft Excel using the SeriesCollection object, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Create a New Series From an Array

Although you cannot create a new series from an array in one statement, it is possible to use two steps to complete the task. The following is an example of using this two-step method:

   Sub Series()
       'Dimension variable x as Integer data type
       Dim x as Integer
       Sheets("Sheet1").Select
       ActiveSheet.ChartObjects(1).Select
       Selection.Chart.SeriesCollection.Add Source:=Range("A1")
       x = Selection.Chart.SeriesCollection.Count
       Selection.Chart.SeriesCollection(x).Values = Array(5, 6, 7)
   End Sub

Method 2: Use the Add Method

To add a new series to a chart in Microsoft Excel using the Add method of the SeriesCollection object, use a Range as the Source argument. For example, to add the range C1:C4 on Sheet1 as a new series to the active chart, use the following syntax:

   ActiveChart.SeriesCollection.Add _
       Source:=Sheets("Sheet1").Range("C1:C4")

MORE INFORMATION

The information in the Visual Basic Reference in Help incorrectly states that the source argument of the Add method (SeriesCollection) specifies the new data and can be either a Range or an array of data points. However, specifying an array of data points as a series with the Add method will produce the error stated above.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Add Method (SeriesCollection), click the Search button in Help and type:

   Add Method

For more information about the Array Function, click the Search button in Help and type:

    array

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 8.00 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmOthr KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999