I tried the other suggestions posted, but it still doesn't work. I have 5
columns that are pretty narrow and I would like to have them 3x wider with a
very small gap in between the columns. I put the x-axsis to category, but I
still can't widen the columns. I am not sure if the chart being copied from
PowerPoint would make a difference.

Thanks

To widen columns in a column chart in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Click on the chart to select it.
2. Click on the column that you want to widen. This will select all the columns in the series.
3. Right-click on the selected columns and choose "Format Data Series" from the context menu.
4. In the Format Data Series pane, go to the "Series Options" tab.
5. Increase the "Gap Width" to reduce the gap between the columns. You can set it to a minimum value of 0% to have no gap between the columns.
6. Increase the "Series Width" to widen the columns. You can set it to a maximum value of 500% to make the columns very wide.
7. Click "Close" to apply the changes.

If you have already set the x-axis to category, then widening the columns should work. However, if the chart was copied from PowerPoint, it may have some formatting that is preventing you from making changes. In that case, you can try copying the chart to a new Excel workbook and then making the changes.

"ITMasterA" wrote:

I tried the other suggestions posted, but it still doesn't work. I have 5
columns that are pretty narrow and I would like to have them 3x wider with a
very small gap in between the columns. I put the x-axsis to category, but I
still can't widen the columns. I am not sure if the chart being copied from
PowerPoint would make a difference.

Thanks


What other suggestions? It might help if you continued in whatever earlier
discussion you are refering to.
--

Tushar Mehta
http://www.tushar-mehta.com
Custom business solutions leveraging a multi-disciplinary approach
In Excel 2007 double-click to format may not work; right click and select
from the menu

Double click column and adjust the GapWidth property on the series
option tab.

Also check the categroy axis is not being plotted as true dates as this
will leave big gaps between non consectutive dates.
Right click chart and choose Chart Options. On Axis tab set x axis to
Category.


"ITMasterA" wrote:

I tried the other suggestions posted, but it still doesn't work. I have 5
columns that are pretty narrow and I would like to have them 3x wider with a
very small gap in between the columns. I put the x-axsis to category, but I
still can't widen the columns. I am not sure if the chart being copied from
PowerPoint would make a difference.

Thanks

If you've already gone through the list you included and the columns do not
change size then XL sees more data points on the x-axis than you meant to
have. Check the data set. Do you have blank rows in between the rows
containing the actual data? Or rows where the column containing the x-values
is not blank but that containing the y-values is.

--

Tushar Mehta
http://www.tushar-mehta.com
Custom business solutions leveraging a multi-disciplinary approach
In Excel 2007 double-click to format may not work; right click and select
from the menu


"ITMasterA" wrote:

Double click column and adjust the GapWidth property on the series
option tab.

Also check the categroy axis is not being plotted as true dates as this
will leave big gaps between non consectutive dates.
Right click chart and choose Chart Options. On Axis tab set x axis to
Category.


"ITMasterA" wrote:

I tried the other suggestions posted, but it still doesn't work. I have 5
columns that are pretty narrow and I would like to have them 3x wider with a
very small gap in between the columns. I put the x-axsis to category, but I
still can't widen the columns. I am not sure if the chart being copied from
PowerPoint would make a difference.

Thanks