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Horizontal axis labels on a chart

Anonymous
2022-02-20T12:42:11+00:00

PLEASE, someone stop me going insane!

I have created a bar chart using one set of data from 12 rows for the vertical axis, on the horizontal axis it automatically puts in the numbers 1-12. I want to change those numbers to the months of the year but can not find any way of doing it. I am using the latest excel on 365 online and I am really struggling here, can anyone please shed some light on this as I am sure it can't be this difficult to do do such a simple thing.

Thank you in advance.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | MacOS

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  1. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-02-20T12:53:33+00:00

    Fill a range of 12 cells with the months of the year. If you start with Jan or January, then fill down, Excel should automatically fill in the following names.

    Click on the chart.

    Click 'Select Data' on the 'Chart Design' tab of the ribbon.

    Click Edit under 'Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels'.

    Point to the range with the months, then OK your way out.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-02-20T13:26:41+00:00

    Hello, thank you for the reply however, unfortunately that still is not working. As you can see from the picture:

    I want to keep the vertical data but change the horizontal numbers into Jan, Feb, etc.

    When I click on the select data tab and enter the column data for months it just puts the months on the chart and removes everything else, there is no chart design option.

    I hope this makes sense to you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-20T16:50:58+00:00

    Thank you for the reply and for your time on this, it is very much appreciated.

    Unfortunately, it still does not work; I must be using a different version to you as the windows you displayed on your last reply are not available for me on the version I am using.

    I guess I will just have to stick to numbers and hopefully I will be able to sort it out at some point.

    Thank you again,

    Kindest regards,

    Darrin.

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  4. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-02-20T14:24:34+00:00

    See the screenshots...

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  5. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-02-20T17:29:57+00:00

    Hi

    The trick is to start with the Month abbreviations before inserting your chart.

    Start with your Month column. Enter Jan and then Feb. Select both Jan and Feb and drag down and Excel will automatically fill in the rest of the months for you.

    Image

    While the selected cell is in your data range, when you use the Insert tab of the Ribbon and choose a chart type, Excel will automatically use the months as the x-axis.

    Image

    You are correct that Hans is using a different version of Excel. While a chart is selected, the same features are available on the Chart Design tab of the Ribbon when you click the Select Data button. The dialog layout is a little different from Han's screen shot, but all the same functionality is there. Click the Switch Rows and Columns The Select Data Source button no longer requires a separate dialog and operates within a single dialog.

    Image

    The old dialog that Hans showed is still referenced in the Excel Object model, but it is grayed out and the dialog itself has been removed from Excel for Mac. You don't need the dialog, but I thought you might want to know its history.

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