Charts: Positioning plot area vs chart area

Question

I am desperate for some advice on formatting charts in Word.

I am preparing a manuscript for submission to a journal and have spent many many hours (sadly, not an exaggeration) trying to position two charts precisely in Word. I need the plot areas to be exactly the same size and exactly the same distance from the top (or bottom) of the page.

As far as I can tell, I am able to specify the chart dimensions and position within the "format chart area" options. However, I can't find a way to size and position the actual plot areas. And just because the charts are the same size and in the same position doesn't mean that the plot areas within the chart areas are the same size. Here's an example of the type of charts I'm trying to align. The outer boxes show the outlines of the "chart areas" and the inner boxes show the outlines of the plot areas, the elements I want to be able to size and position precisely. (And I realize I can make a single chart that shows the same data, but I need to have a gap between the charts at "0" on the horizontal axis, which I don't think I can accomplish in a single chart).

                                                  

If anyone can offer help/advice, I would be extraordinarily grateful!

Thank you kindly,

Elizabeth

Answer 1

There aren't good tools in Word to do this. The workaround is to use temporary drawing objects as guides, either lines or rectangles with the sizes set numerically. Then you resize the charts to match them and end by deleting the drawing objects. I know it's clunky, but you can get very close if you're patient.

Answer 2

There are no value boxes in which to enter dimensions for the Plot Area. All chart components are scaled according to the dimensions & content of the Chart Area & further based on the volume of data being plotted. Some individual elements within the Chart Area, however, can be sized &/or moved just like other Drawing Objects.

To scale the Plot Area, click within it, then use the Sizing Handles at the 4 corners & the midpoint of each side. Hold Shift while dragging a corner to maintain aspect ratio.

You'll probably find, though, that if the 2 charts are not identically structured to begin with, resizing the Plot Area of one will cause its Bars [& possibly other components] to differ in size from those of the other chart.

Answer 3

As a workaround try saving it as a image and check how it works.