The following is the list of queries addressed in this article:


  1. How to customize the formatting options in the chart?
  2. How to save the chart as a template and re-use it in any other Excel file?
  3. How to add labels for the target?
  4. How to modify the colors of the columns (target, actual)?


How to customize the formatting options in the chart?



How to save the chart as a template and re-use it in any other Excel file?


1. Right-click on the chart and select "Save as Template"


This opens a dialog box, assign a name to your chart template, and click "Save". This saves the chart in a .crtx format


2. From our Instant Chart Maker file, Copy the data table (CTRL+C) and paste it (CTRL+V) into your chosen Excel file. 

For this chart, choose all the series and do the copy, and paste.


3. Enter your information in the data table. Add or remove rows as needed. 

 


4. Select the columns required to build the chart, for this choose all - the category and the target and the actual value (numeric value) columns in that order.


5. Go to Insert and choose to see All Recommended Charts



This opens up a dialog box, go to All Charts and click on the Templates folder. Here, you'll find all the charts you have saved in step 1, choose the one that is relevant to the data and click "Ok".


6. That's it, your chart gets populated with the data from your Excel file and is fully independent of the Instant Chart Maker template file.


- Chart title and Axis titles:  Using a saved template to build your chart does not usually bring the Chart title and axis titles. Read this article to add these elements to your chart.




How to add labels for the target?


The default Column with a column chart contains only the labels for the Actual series. To add labels to target:

1. Click on chart, press CTRL+1 to open format pane.


2. From the drop-down, choose the Target series


3. Use the "+" from chart to add data labels

4. Immediately, from the label options from the format pane position the labels as needed:


5. The chart with labels for target series as well is ready


How do I modify the colors of the columns (target, actual)?


To modify the color of the Actual column (blue color):

1. Click on chart, and press CTRL+1 to open the format pane.


2. From the drop-down, choose the Actual series


3. In fill & line, modify the fill color as needed (here I have modified it to pink)

The modified chart is:

This way, follow the same steps to modify the color for the target series as well.