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 modify the color for the actual column?
  4. How to modify the color, line type, and arrow for the target?
  5. How to modify the colors and line type for the positive and negative arrows?


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?


Before getting into the steps for saving a chart as a template, please click anywhere on the chart and use the "+" icon to remove the data labels.


Now, follow the steps below:


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. 


3. Enter your information in the data table. Add or remove rows as needed. Please note that green-colored columns are calculated columns - do not enter any data, they are automatically calculated based on the input columns (Blue colored)

 


4. Select the columns required to build the chart, for this one, choose - all columns except VARIANCE LABEL, along with headers


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 data labels, if the chart is built using the .crtx file?


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

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


3. Click the "+" icon on chart to add data labels


4. Similarly, choose the "VARIANCE LABEL POSITIONS" and use "+" to add labels

5. Now, go to Label Positions, uncheck all options, and choose "Value from Cells"


6. Choose the range of values from the VARIANCE LABEL, as shown:

With this, the chart gets correctly populated with the labels:


How do I modify the color for the actual column?


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

3. In this chart, the actual column is a combination of the "Base" and "Pos Variance" series. To modify the color of the actual column you need to modify the colors of these two series.


2. From the drop-down, choose the "Base"


3. In fill & line, change the color as needed


4. Now, choose the "Pos Variance" series and repeat the same steps to change the fill color.

Remember to change the color to the same color as chosen for the Base series

With this, the chart looks like this:


 How do I modify the color, line type, and arrow for target?


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

2. From the drop-down, choose the "TARGET" Y Error bar series


3. In fill & line, modify the color, width, line type (Dash Type) and the Begin Arrow (for the arrow head of the target line)


With this, the modified chart is :


How do I modify the colors and line type for the positive and negative arrows?


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

2. From the drop-down, choose the "POSITIVE VARIANCE" Y Error bar series


3. In fill & line, modify the color, width, line type (Dash Type), and the Begin Arrow as shown


4. From the drop-down, choose the "NEGATIVE VARIANCE" Y Error bar series and here too, under fill & line modify the color, width, dash type and End arrow as needed.


With this, the modified chart is: