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Stop Excel Jumping to Chart Source Data when Editing Chart Data Range

Anonymous
2020-01-16T01:40:37+00:00

I work with a very large Excel file to analyze test data for my research. There's a few thousand data points and even more data points used for calculations. Navigating the workbook is fairly annoying because of this. I plot specific sections of the thousands of points of data and that section changes for each test. So I simply find the data range I want to plot, write down the cell range for it, then go to the chart and manually edit the data range. For each test I am editing the range of multiple data series for 2 separate graphs. 

My problem is, when you open the "Select Data" and click on the X or Y values to edit them, Excel jumps the workbook view to the source data; which in my case is thousands of cell away from the chart. I keep track of the new data range I want to use by putting the desired cell numbers beside the chart. So when the workbook view snaps to the source data, I have to scroll all the way back to the chart to see what changes I wanted to make or actually see the graph. This functionality makes total sense but for my application, I am not editing the data range by highlighting the cells I want so seeing the source data is completely unnecessary. 

I am wondering if there is any way to disable this function? Editing the X and Y values for multiple data series over 2 graphs for each test and performing dozens of tests and constantly having to navigate all the way back to the chart location gets quite annoying and time consuming. 

Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2020-01-16T09:00:03+00:00

Hi Lucas,

Thanks for posting in the community, I’ve tested on my side, I’m sorry to tell you that there is no current way to disable the function that when you want to edit the range of a chart by typing the value, it will jump to the corresponding range of cells.

However, I found a workaround that is to create a new sheet and put the chart in the new sheet but in the same workbook. For example, there is a “Sheet1” to store the data source, and “Sheet2” is used to insert charts, when I click the chart in Sheet2 > Select Data and want to change the range, although it still will jump to the data source in Sheet1, when I finish modifying the range and click OK, it will jump to the chart in Sheet2 again.

Since it is a work around, if you have to keep the data source and charts in ONE sheet, this method may not be suitable for you, if you don’t mind to put the data source and charts in different sheets, this method can help you to avoid manually scrolling the workbook to find the charts.

Sorry for the inconvenience and I hope the above workaround can help you, meanwhile, to improve the product, you can seed feedback to Office or post an idea in UserVoice at your convenience, these are the best ways to let the related team hear your voice.

Reference:

-      How do I give feedback on Microsoft Office?

-      Excel for Mac - UserVoice

If you have any concerns you can consult me again, your understanding will be highly appreciated.

Best Regards,

Arck

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-01-28T07:25:09+00:00

    Hi Lucas,

    Glad to know that the above suggestions can help you. Since this is a public community, in order to benefit more members, I have made a summary for this:

    Problem description:

    When modifying the data range of a chart, Excel jumps the workbook view to the source data, and this makes the user need to manually scroll the workbook back to the chart.

    Environment:

    Excel 365 Home

    Mac OS

    Workaround:

    Create a new sheet and put the chart in the new sheet but in the same workbook, after modifying the data range, Excel will jump back to the chart.

    Hope the above information can help someone who has the same problem, and thank you for posting in this community, your question also contributes to the community, it will help us to explore more possible questions, which is very helpful for Office to improve products.

    Best regards,

    Arck

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-01-20T09:47:57+00:00

    Hi Lucas,

    If you have tried the workaround I mentioned, please tell me the experience at your convenience and let me know if you think it is feasible, and I’ll try my best to offer help if you need.

    Best Regards,

    Arck

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-01-17T17:22:29+00:00

    Hi Lucas,

    Sorry for bothering you, if you have tried the suggestion I mentioned, and it did help you, please feel free to post again, your response will also help those who have the same problem in the community.

    Best Regards,

    Arck

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-01-16T14:06:28+00:00

    Hello Arck Tang, 

    Thank you for the prompt reply and looking into this issue for me. It's unfortunate to hear there is no way to disable the function but the work around you suggested sounds promising. I will definitely try it and see if it works efficiently with my workflow. 

    Thank you, 

    Lucas

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