Formatting Data Labels

In this section:

Data labels highlight important data points on a chart. They identify exact numbers. You can customize data labels in a variety of ways to make them stand out more clearly on the chart. For example, you can change the position, angle, color, or size of data labels.


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Associated Dialog Boxes

In this section:

Whether you access data label options from the ribbon or the right-click menu, you are presented with a dialog box of options. The following dialog boxes are commonly used for formatting data labels:

For instructions on how to open these dialog boxes, see the procedures in Using Data Labels Properties.



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Format Labels Dialog Box

The Format Labels dialog box contains options for editing data labels. Bar, line, and area charts share the same tabs.

The Format Labels dialog box contains the following tabs:

Use the General Options tab to add data labels to a chart and set their position, angle, and radius. The General Options tab is shown in the following image.

Format Labels Dialog Box General Options Tab

The General Options contains the following options:

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

Format Labels Dialog Box Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab contains the following options:

There are some options in the General Options tab that are specific to stack charts. The General Options tab for a stack chart is shown in the following image.

Format Labels General Options Tab for Stack Charts

These options specific to a stack chart are:

Bubble and stock charts share the same General Options and Advanced tabs as bar, line, and area charts, except for the Custom Label option.

For pie charts, the General Option and Advanced tabs are replaced by the Pie Labels and Pie Title tabs.

Use the Pie Labels tab to customize your pie data labels. The Pie Labels tab is shown in the following image.

Format Labels Dialog Box Pie Labels Tab

The Pie Labels tab contains the following options:

Feeler Line

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. The following table describes 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 decimal separator.

, (comma)

Is a placeholder for 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 Pie Title tab to create and style a pie title. The Pie Title tab is shown in the following image.

Format Labels Dialog Box Pie Title Tab

The Pie Title tab contains the following options:

Use the Funnel Labels tab to customize the labels on a funnel or a pyramid chart. The Funnel Labels tab is shown in the following image.

Format Labels Dialog Box Funnel Labels Tab

The Funnel Labels tab contains the following options:

Feeler Line



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Style Dialog Box

The Style dialog box contains options to style the data labels. The Style dialog box is shown in the following image.

Style Dialog Box

The Style dialog box contains the following options:



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Line Style Dialog Box

The Line Style dialog box contains options to style lines on a chart. The Line Style dialog box is shown in the following image.

Line Style Dialog Box

The Line Style dialog box contains the following options:


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Data Labels Elements Right-Click Menu

When you right-click a data label on a bar, line, or area chart, a menu of the following options opens:

The right-click menu contains options that are available on the Series tab.

When you right-click a data label on a pie chart, a menu of the following options opens:


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Using Data Labels Properties

In this section:

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



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Series Tab Properties Group

The Properties group contains commands for enhancing charts, such as changing the type or adding a trendline, for the selected series.



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Procedure: How to Show and Hide Data Labels
  1. Create a chart.
  2. You can access the option to show data labels in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Series tab, in the Properties group, open the Data Labels drop-down menu and select More Data Labels Options to open the Format Labels dialog box. On the General tab, select the Show Data Labels option, and click OK to close the dialog box. You can use this dialog box to format and style the data labels. For more information, see Format Labels Dialog Box. To hide data labels, clear this option.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click a series on the chart, point to Data Labels, and then select Show. To hide data labels, right-click a series on the chart, point to Data Labels, and then select Hide.

    The data labels appear, and are formatted and styled accordingly.

    The following image shows a chart with data labels.

    Vertical Bar Chart With Data Labels



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Procedure: How to Change the Position of Data Labels
  1. On the Series tab, in the Properties group, open the Data Labels drop-down menu.
  2. On the menu, select the position for the data labels.

    The data labels are positioned accordingly.

    The following image shows a chart with the data labels centered.

    Chart With Data Labels Centered


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