Formatting a Legend

In this section:

A legend contains information that is necessary to accurately interpret the data on a chart. By default, a chart displays either a vertical axis title if there is a single measure field, or a legend if there are multiple measure fields.


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Format Legend Dialog Box

Whether you access legend options from the ribbon or the right-click menu, you are presented with the Format Legend dialog box of options. For instructions on how to open this dialog box, see Using Legend Properties.

The Format Legend dialog box contains options for formatting a legend on a chart. It contains the following tabs:

Note: The Fill, Border Style, and Shadows tab are not available in InfoAssist Basic.

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

Use the Legend Options tab to customize the appearance of a legend on a chart. The Legend Options tab is shown in the following image.

Format Legend Dialog Box Legend Options Tab

The Legend Options tab contains the following options.

Use the Markers & Labels tab to customize the appearance of markers and labels on legends. The Markers & Labels tab is shown in the following image.

Format Legend Dialog Box Markers and Labels Tab

The Markers & Labels tab contains the following options:

Use the Fill tab to modify the color of the legend area. For more information, see Format Series Dialog Box.

Use the Border Styles tab to place a border around a legend. For more information, see Format Series Dialog Box.

The Border Styles tab contains the following options:

Use the Advanced tab to use square markers and marker shapes on a legend. The Advanced tab is shown in the following image.

Format Legend Dialog Box Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab contains the following options:


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Legend Elements Right-Click Menu

When you right-click a legend on a chart, a menu of options opens. The menu contains options that are available on the Format tab.

If you right-click the background area around the legend, two additional options are available, Legend Area Color, and Legend Border Color. The right-click menu options are described in the following table. The table provides links to the sections of this document in which those options are also discussed.

Option

Description

Show Legend

Controls the display of the legend. InfoAssist displays the legend by default. When you clear this option, InfoAssist suppresses the legend. For instructions, see Using Legend Properties.

The background right-click menu has an option to restore the legend after it has been suppressed.

Legend Position

Controls the placement of the legend on the chart. For instructions see, Using Legend Properties.

Legend Orientation

Controls the orientation of the legend on the chart. For instructions see, Using Legend Properties.

Legend Area Color

Enables you to specify the color of the legend background area using the Color dialog box.

This option is available only when you right-click the area around the legend. For instructions see, Using Legend Properties.

Legend Border Color

Enables you to specify the color of the border around the legend background area using the Color dialog box.

This option is available only when you right-click the area around the legend. For instructions see, Using Legend Properties.

More Legend Options

Opens the Format Legend dialog box.


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Using Legend Properties

In this section:

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



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Format Tab Labels Group


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Procedure: How to Hide a Legend
  1. Create a chart with multiple measure fields.
  2. Clear the Show legend option in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, click Legend, then click Show legend to clear the option.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the legend, and clear the Show Legend option.

    The legend is hidden.



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Procedure: How to Position a Legend
  1. Create a chart with multiple measure fields.
  2. Open the menu of label position options in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, click Legend, then point to Legend Position.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the legend, and point to Legend Position.
  3. Select a position for the legend. The options are:
    • Auto
    • Bottom
    • Right
    • Left
    • Top
    • Right Top
    • Right Bottom
    • Left Top
    • Left Bottom
    • Bottom Left
    • Bottom Right
    • Top Left
    • Top Right
    • Free Float

    The following image shows a chart with the legend in the default position on the bottom.

    Chart With Legend on Bottom

    The following image shows a chart with the legend moved to the right.

    Chart With Legend On The Right



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Procedure: How to Control the Orientation of a Legend
  1. Create a chart with multiple measure fields.
  2. Open the menu of label orientation options in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, click Legend, then point to Legend Orientation.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the legend, and point to Legend Orientation.
  3. Select an orientation for the legend.

    The options are:

    • Auto
    • Vertical
    • Horizontal

    The following image shows a chart with a legend that has a vertical orientation.

    Chart With a Legend With Vertical Orientation



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Procedure: How to Specify the Color of a Legend Background
  1. Create a chart with multiple measure fields.
  2. Open the Format Legends dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, click Legend, then click More Legend Options.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the legend, and select More Legend Options.

    The Format Legends dialog box opens. For more information, see Format Legend Dialog Box.

  3. On the Fill tab, set the fill, color, and transparency options for the legend background.
  4. Click OK to close the dialog box.

    The legend is formatted accordingly.

    The following image shows a chart with a legend with a teal background.

    Chart With a Legend With a Teal Background



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Procedure: How to Specify the Color of a Legend Border
  1. Create a chart with multiple measure fields.
  2. Open the Format Legends dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, click Legend, then click More Legend Options.
    • Right-Click Menu: Right-click the legend, and select More Legend Options.

    The Format Legends dialog box opens. For more information, see Format Legend Dialog Box.

  3. On the Border Styles tab, select the option to Show Border.
  4. Click the Color icon to open the Color dialog box, where you can specify the color of the legend border.
  5. Click OK to close the Color dialog box.
  6. Click OK to close the Format Legend dialog box.

    The legend border is formatted accordingly.


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