Excel: Legend in Bar Chart Is in Reverse Order of How Plotted

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q64405

SUMMARY

Note: This behavior is only true for versions of Excel prior to 3.00. Microsoft Excel version 3.00 lists the legend labels in the same order as displayed on the chart.

After a bar chart is plotted in Microsoft Excel, if a legend is added, it will show the series in the reverse order they appear in the chart. To display the series in the legend and the chart in the same order, do the following:

  1. Select the Y axis and choose Scale from the Format menu.

  2. Select the following three options:

    a. Value Axis Crosses Between Categories b. Categories in Reverse Order c. Value Axis Crosses at Maximum Categories

  3. Click OK.

For example, the following values are on a worksheet: 

   Excellent          80
   Very Good          75
   Good               45
   Poor               20
If you plot these values to a bar chart and add a legend, the chart will be plotted in the order of first series to last, starting from the bottom on the Y axis; the legend will be the opposite of this, as follows: 

   Bar Chart                      Legend
   ---------                      ------

   Poor       (Series 4)          Excellent
   Good       (Series 3)          Very Good
   Very Good  (Series 2)          Good
   Excellent  (Series 1)          Poor
If the steps listed above are followed, the Bar chart will look like the following and match the legend: 

   Bar Chart                      Legend
   ---------                      ------

   Excellent   (Series 1)         Excellent
   Very Good   (Series 2)         Very Good
   Good        (Series 3)         Good
   Poor        (Series 4)         Poor
For more information about charting and legends, see page 316 in the "Microsoft Excel Reference" version 2.20 manual.

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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