How can I change typesetting (spacing, etc.) of bar chart axis lab
 

I'm using Excel 2000 (though I have access to other versions), and I'm trying
to create a series of stacked-bar charts which have a uniform plot area and
which list 5-6 word X-axis labels right-justified in 9-point bold Arial on a
single line. Unfortunately, adjusting the plot area produces random results
with the x-axis labels, which typically seem to want to be centered and
written across two lines, rather than one. What's especially odd is that the
chart area is very large, but the labels adjust themselves in such a way that
there's a massive amount of empty space on the left-hand side of the chart
area. I'm trying to conform to the standards for charts set by the APA Style
Manual for doctoral theses.

Any ideas?

Slobbymonster,

One idea about side-stepping this behavior is to place your X-Axis labels in
worksheet cells instead of in the chart itself. You can adjust your plot
area to take up the entire area of the chart. Then format the backgound of
the worksheet cells to match the chart formatting. The general idea is to
blend the colors, borders, text, etc. contained in the the worksheet cells
around the chart into the chart itself. You can then copy the entire area as
a picture and it will resemble a normal chart. This technique, if you can
get your formats right, could help you get around some of the weird text -
plot area bahaviors.

----
Regards,
John Mansfield
http://www.pdbook.com


"slobbymonster" wrote:

I'm using Excel 2000 (though I have access to other versions), and I'm trying
to create a series of stacked-bar charts which have a uniform plot area and
which list 5-6 word X-axis labels right-justified in 9-point bold Arial on a
single line. Unfortunately, adjusting the plot area produces random results
with the x-axis labels, which typically seem to want to be centered and
written across two lines, rather than one. What's especially odd is that the
chart area is very large, but the labels adjust themselves in such a way that
there's a massive amount of empty space on the left-hand side of the chart
area. I'm trying to conform to the standards for charts set by the APA Style
Manual for doctoral theses.

Any ideas?

The only way you can control the axis labels is by juggling the chart area width and
plot area size within the chart area. You cannot resize the labels, even though they
masquerade as resizable textboxes. It is frustrating, and you will probably not get
what you want.

The approach I've used is to hide the regular axis labels, and use textboxes instead.

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

slobbymonster wrote:

I'm using Excel 2000 (though I have access to other versions), and I'm trying
to create a series of stacked-bar charts which have a uniform plot area and
which list 5-6 word X-axis labels right-justified in 9-point bold Arial on a
single line. Unfortunately, adjusting the plot area produces random results
with the x-axis labels, which typically seem to want to be centered and
written across two lines, rather than one. What's especially odd is that the
chart area is very large, but the labels adjust themselves in such a way that
there's a massive amount of empty space on the left-hand side of the chart
area. I'm trying to conform to the standards for charts set by the APA Style
Manual for doctoral theses.

Any ideas?