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Formatting All Data Labels

Anonymous
2023-09-20T05:12:56+00:00

I have a stacked column chart in Excel. For each segment of the stack, there is a corresponding label to show how much is in that segment. I need to modify the look of that label but if I go into the data labels menu I am only able to modify one data label to my liking at a time. This makes the whole chart pointless as I need it to auto-update as more values are added to the table. To modify the data label I am selecting the chart background and not the individual label. Excel automatically selects the first label when you begin editing them. I have found some solutions in forums that use VBA but I am not allowed to use VBA. The "Value From Cells" option also makes it seem like modifying all the labels is possible because it prompts you to "select range" entailing that each data label could include a different corresponding value.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-11-14T00:42:43+00:00

    This only formats a single series of data labels. If I have many series of labels (because it is a stacked column), I have to format each individual series and that is ridiculous.

    You cannot select multiple series or select all series.

    Why is that option not available?

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-01-30T19:43:02+00:00

    I agree this is a major gap; I'm having to reformat 30 different series in a stacked bar chart :(

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-03-24T14:40:12+00:00

    I found a solution that works with a PivotChart:

    1. Go to the green tab at the top - PivotChart Analyze -> PivotChart Fields
    2. Right Click the Value Field you want to format and press Value Fields Settings
    3. In the window press on the Summarise Values By
    4. You should see the Number Format button below -> configuring formatting via this option will apply formatting to all individual values in the series.

    Hope this helps.

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2023-09-20T07:47:28+00:00

    Click anywhere in the chart.

    Activate the Format tab of the ribbon, to the right of the 'Chart Design' tab.

    Click the drop-down arrow on the right hand side of the 'Chart Elements' control.

    Select data labels for one of the series.

    Excel will select all labels of that series.

    Do not click on one of the labels!

    Click 'Format Selection'.

    This will activate the 'Format Data Labels' drop-down.

    Use this and the ribbon to format the labels.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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