Customize the Look of a Chart

Topic at a glance

There are many ways you can format a chart to get the look you want. Each component of the chart has characteristics you can alter, such as color, pattern, line style, text or number appearance, and placement. To see a dialog box with the formatting options available for a chart component, double-click the component.

When you want to work with a chart   make charting commands and toolbar buttons available: In Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Microsoft Access, double-click the chart object. The border changes to a thick, patterned line when a chart is active. To work with a chart in Microsoft Excel, click an item on an inserted chart, or click a sheet tab to move to a chart sheet in a workbook. For more information, see Create a Chart from Worksheet Data, Add a Chart to a Document or Presentation, and Create a Chart from a Database.