Formatting Axis Labels

In this section:

Vertical and horizontal axes are based on the orientation of the graph. For example, in a vertical graph, the horizontal axis refers to the X axis and the vertical axis refers to the Y axis. In a horizontal graph, the horizontal axis refers to the Y axis and the vertical axis refers to the X axis. This is important to consider, since options could change depending on the orientation of the graph.

A chart can contain the following types of axis labels:


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Format Axis Dialog Box

In this section:

Whether you access axis options from the ribbon, or the right-click menu, you are presented with the Format Axis dialog box of options for formatting for both vertical and horizontal axes. The Format Axis dialog box contains the following tabs:

Use the Scale tab to modify scale properties. The Scale tab is shown in the following image.

Format Axis Dialog Box Scale Tab

The Scale tab contains the following options:

Use the Title tab to create and style the title for the axis. The Title tab is shown in the following image.

Format Axis Dialog Box Title Tab

The Title tab contains the following options:

Use the Labels tab to format the layout of the axis labels. The Labels tab is shown in the following image.

Format Axis Dialog Box Labels Tab

The Labels tab contains the following options:

The Format Labels drop-down menu provides a list of preset formats that you can apply to labels. When you select a custom format, it must be defined using a custom format pattern. See the following table for a list and description of the characters that you can use in a custom format.

Character

Description

#

Is a digit.

0 (zero)

Shows as absent.

. (period)

Is a placeholder for a decimal separator.

, (comma)

Is a placeholder for a grouping separator.

; (semicolon)

Separates formats.

- (dash)

Is the default negative prefix.

% (percent)

Divides by 100 and shows as a percentage.

x

Determines that any other characters can be used in the prefix or suffix.

‘ (apostrophe)

Is used to quote special characters in a prefix or suffix.

Use the Advanced tab to modify additional axis properties. The Advanced tab is shown in the following image.

Format Axis Dialog Box Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab contains the following options:

For instructions on how to open this dialog box, see the procedures in Using Axis Properties.



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Secondary Axes Options

Formatting option are available for secondary axes in dual-axis charts. For example, in a vertical dual-axis chart, the secondary vertical axis refers to the Y2 axis.

The Format Secondary Axis dialog box contains the following tabs for both vertical and horizontal axes:


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Axis Elements Right-Click Menu

When you right-click an axis label in a chart in Live Preview, a menu of options opens. The options for the right-click axis label elements are described in the following tables.

Element

Option

Description

Horizontal Labels

Delete

Deletes labels from the chart and updates the Live Preview accordingly.

Stagger

Controls the positioning of the labels. The On value positions the labels in a zigzag pattern. The Off default value positions the labels in a straight row.

Rotate

Rotates the labels a specified number of degrees.

Style Labels

Enables you to apply styling to the labels, using the Style dialog box. For more information, see Style Dialog Box.

More Axis Options

Opens the Format Axis dialog box. For more information, see Formatting Axis Labels.

Vertical Labels

Delete

Deletes labels from the chart and updates the Live Preview accordingly.

Stagger

Controls the positioning of the labels. The On value positions the labels in a zigzag pattern. The Off default value positions the labels in a straight row.

Rotate

Rotates the labels a specified number of degrees.

Format Labels

Formats the labels according to the value that you specify.

Style Labels

Enables you to apply styling to the labels, using the Style dialog box. For more information, see Style Dialog Box.

More Axis Options

Opens the Format Axis dialog box. For more information, see Formatting Axis Labels.



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Using Axis Properties

How to:

The following sections contain procedures for customizing an axis. The procedures are organized by the tab and group in which their associated options appear on the ribbon.

Axis labels appear by default.



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Procedure: How to Delete Axis Labels
  1. Create a chart.
  2. You can delete axis labels in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and clear the Show Labels option.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, and select Delete.

    The axis labels are deleted from the chart.



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Procedure: How to Stagger Axis Labels
  1. Create a chart with at least one axis label on display.
  2. Access the Stagger option in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and select Stagger Labels.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, point to Stagger and select On.

    The axis labels are staggered.

    The following image shows a chart with the vertical axis labels staggered.

    Chart with Staggered Vertical Axis Labels



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Procedure: How to Rotate Axis Labels
  1. Create a chart with axis labels.
  2. Access the Rotate option in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, point to Rotate Labels, and then select the degree to which you want to rotate the axis labels.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, point to Rotate, and then select the degree to which you want to rotate the axis labels.

    The axis labels are rotated.

    The following image shows a chart with the axis labels rotated 45 degrees.

    Chart With Axis Labels Rotated 45 Degrees



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Procedure: How to Format Axis Labels
  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Access the list of axis label options in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and select More Axis Options to open the Format Axis dialog box. Open the Labels tab, and from the Labels option drop-down menu, select the formatting option that you want.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label, point to Format Labels, and select the formatting option that you want.

    The axis labels are formatted accordingly.

    The following image shows a chart with the axis labels styled in red, bold, Arial font.

    Chart With Axis Labels in Red Bold Arial



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Procedure: How to Manually Set the Scale of an Axis
  1. Create a chart.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and select More Axis Options.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis value on the chart, and select More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the scale tab, clear the Automatic Minimum option and enter your own minimum value in the Value text box.
  4. Clear the Automatic Maximum option, and enter your own maximum value in the Value text box.
  5. Clear the Automatic Grid Step option, and enter your own grid step value in the Value text box.
  6. Optionally, you can select the Logarithmic Scale option and enter the log scale base in the text field of that name. You can also clear the Include zero on scale option if you do not want zero to appear on the axis.
  7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

    The axis scale is set accordingly.



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Procedure: How to Add an Axis Title
  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and select More Axis Options.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label, and select More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the Title tab, type the axis title in the Text field.
  4. Click the Style text icon to open the Style dialog box, where you can style the text.

    The axis title is styled accordingly.

    Note: Right-click the axis title to delete, change, or style the axis title.

    The following image shows a chart with a title added to the vertical axis.

    Chart With Title Added to Vertical Axis



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Procedure: How to Set Advanced Axis Properties
  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and select More Axis Options.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click an axis label, and select More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the Advanced tab, set the following options:
    • Exclude Minimum Label
    • Exclude Maximum Label
    • Descending Axis
    • Show axis line
    • Show zero line
    • Custom Baseline (Value)

    You can edit the color, weight, and style of all the lines that you set in the Line Style dialog box.

  4. Click OK.

    The axis advanced options are set accordingly.


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