Update the data in an existing chart (2024)

Update the data in an existing chart (1)

Try it!

Changes you make will instantly show up in the chart. Right-click the item you want to change and input the data--or type a new heading--and press Enter to display it in the chart.

To hide a category in the chart, right-click the chart and choose Select Data. Deselect the item in the list and select OK.

To display a hidden item on the chart, right-click and Select Data and reselect it in the list, then choose OK.

Try it!

You can update the data in a chart in Word, PowerPoint for macOS, and Excel by making updates in the original Excel sheet.

Access the original data sheet from Word orPowerPoint for macOS

Charts that display in Word or PowerPoint for macOS originate in Excel.When you edit the data in the Excel sheet, the changes displayin the chart in Word or PowerPoint for macOS.

Word

SelectView > Print Layout.
Select the chart.
SelectChart Design > Edit Data in Excel.

Excel opens and displays the data table for the chart.

PowerPoint for macOS

Select the chart.
SelectChart Design > Edit Data in Excel.

Excel opens and displays the data table for the chart.

Edit datain a chart

Select the original data table on the Excel sheet.
Notes:Excel highlights the data table that is used for the chart.

The gray fill indicates a row or column used for the category axis.

The red fill indicates a row or column that contains data series labels.

The blue fill indicates data points plotted in the chart.
Make changes.
Change the number of rows and columns in the chart-rest the pointer on the lower-right corner of the selected dataand drag to select to increase or decrease the desireddata.
See Also
Graph Editing | Tom Sawyer Software
Add or edit in a cell-select the celland make the change.

Change which chart axis is emphasized

You can change the way that table rows and columns are plotted in a chart. Achartplots the rows of data from the table on the chart's vertical (value) axisand the columns of data on the horizontal (category) axis. You can reverse the way the chart is plotted.

Example:

Emphasizing sales by instrument

Emphasizingsales by the month

Select the chart.
SelectChart Design > Switch Row/Column.

Change the order of the data series

You can change the order of a data seriesin a chart with more than one data series.

In the chart, select a data series. For example, in a column chart, click a column, and all the columns of that data series become selected.
SelectChart Design > Select Data.
In the Select Data Source dialog box, next to Legend entries (Series), use the up and down arrows to move the series up or down in the list.

Depending on the chart type, some options may not be available.

Note:For most chart types, changing the order of the data series affects both the legend and the chart itself.
SelectOK.

Change the fill color of the data series

In the chart, select a data series. For example, in a column chart, click a column, and all the columns of that data series become selected.
SelectFormat.
Under Chart Element Styles, select ShapeFill and choose the color.

Add data labels

You can add labels to show the data point values from the Excel sheet in the chart.

Select the chart, and then selectChart Design.
SelectAdd Chart Element >Data Labels.
Select the location for the data label(for example, select Outside End).

Depending on the chart type, some options may not be available.

Add a data table

Select the chart., and then click the tab.
SelectChart Design> Add Chart Element >Data Table.
Select the options.

Depending on the chart type, some options may not be available.