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I cannot add custom error bars to my graph. It's really important for an assignment my Excel (365) doesn't have "add chart element" and doesn't come up with a "custom" option when formatting error bars. When I click on the graph, the plus on the side never appears!! This doesn’t happen when I use my account on any other Microsoft computers, but I encounter this issue on most Macbooks!
I happen to own a Macbook and it’s always frustrated me that I’d have to take time out of my day to travel to a library just to do this simple task :(
How do I fix this? — Permanently!
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Answer accepted by question author
Apparently you actually are using the Excel Online web app. The free online apps are significantly less robust than the desktop software. Custom Error Bars is one of the many features excluded from the web apps.
Hi Bob,
Thank you for that piece of information, I’m remember that Mac’s and Window’s excel are different for future work.
Unfortunately I can’t follow Jim’s option because I literally don’t have it appear on my screen when I click my bar graph! I don’t know how else to find these ‘error bar’ options, because all the ways that are being demonstrated through tutorials and advice are simply nowhere to be found on my screen!
The first image shows what the top of my excel page looks like when I click on a graph or highlight the table on excel.
The second demonstrates what does pop up and the only access I have to the error bars (I’m unable to customise them this way). Reminder: I don’t get a little plus next to my graph when I click it either!
Hi Jim,
That method doesn’t work unfortunately, the ‘Chart design’ doesn’t even appear when I click the chart — it never does! :(
I’ve made a bar graph which I see on many tutorials have the ability to create custom error bars, so I really don’t know why my excel isn’t showing me these features.
You're trying to follow directions for the Windows product. This is one of the numerous differences between Excel for Windows & Excel for Mac. Excel for Mac has not been provided with those UI devices.
Follow Jim's example & select More Error Bar Options from the Error Bars submenu. if prompted select a Series to produce the Format Error Bars task pane. You'll find Custom at the bottom of the pane.
Hi
You first have to select the chart. Then look for the Chart Design tab on the Ribbon. It only displays if a chart or a chart element is selected. You'll find you can add chart elements using the first button on the left. Keep in mind only certain chart types support error bars.