Excel App vs Web. Charting Issues and Differences

Question

We all know the web version is at best a 'lite' version of the app.

We all know true power comes from the app. Or we so hope...

I have been using Excel for decades, and one of the handiest features is its ability to chart data.

It does so without fail, until today.

I routinely need to chart two columns of data, that have different scales.

Excel normally handles this with ease.

Today after 2 frustrating hours, I was unable to do something I do every month. Something has changed. Charting fails to chart in the App. Fortunately, it still works on the web. Someone from Microsoft should pass a pink slip to someone and assign a team to fix this. This is not a localized issue. I tested this on 4 different computers with the same set of data. I even opened up old data that previously worked, and it does not.

And if some person who owns a collection of hats made to look like buttocks reaches out and offers to guide me to the solution, please go get a new hat. I don't need education. I need this fixed.

Answer 1

Hi @Chris Vergeer,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I'm sincerely sorry for any inconvenience and troubles this situation may have caused you.

To help you resolve this concern, could you provide us with more detailed information? We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

• What is the Excel build & channel you're having charting issue?
• Does Excel show an empty, missing series, or wrong scaling chart?
• Do you receive any error message? if yes, can you share the full wording of the error message?

If possible, can you share some screenshots of the behavior and some sample data so I can clearly understand your situation and provide the most appropriate guideline for your concern.

In the meantime, I suggest you temporarily use Excel web version for a short time before we get this issue resolved to prevent any negative effects to your workflow.

Moreover, there are some workarounds you can consider trying to troubleshoot the issue:

1- Open Excel safe mode

• Press Win + R to open Run dialog box > type excel /safe > hit Enter.
• In Safe mode, try opening the problematic file to see if the issue still persists there.

2- Repair office

• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. 
• Find Microsoft Office, right-click, and choose Change. 
• Select Quick Repair. If that doesn’t work, try Online Repair.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, I will give my all to support so we can work together to find a solution for this situation.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

It seems that you are experiencing issues with charting in the Excel desktop app, while it continues to work in Excel for the web. The Excel desktop app is known for its advanced charting capabilities, which include the ability to create charts with different scales for multiple data series. However, if you are encountering problems, it could be due to a variety of reasons such as software updates, compatibility issues, or specific settings in your Excel application.

Here are a few points to consider regarding charting in Excel:

• Charting Features: The Excel desktop app supports advanced chart types and features that may not be available in Excel for the web. If you are trying to use a specific chart type or feature that is not supported in the web version, this could explain the differences you are experiencing.
• Updates and Bugs: Occasionally, updates to the Excel desktop app can introduce bugs or change functionality. It might be worth checking for any recent updates or patches that could resolve your issue.
• Data Compatibility: Ensure that the data you are trying to chart is formatted correctly and that there are no hidden characters or formatting issues that could affect the charting process.
• Testing on Different Systems: Since you mentioned testing on multiple computers, it could help to check if all systems are running the same version of Excel and have the same settings.

If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance, as they may have more specific insights into the issue you are facing.

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References:

• Excel for the web
• Recommended chart creation and editing with formatting controls