Excel Charts - Adding and Removing Data Series

I definitely need a break from functions and since I am in the midsts of preparing a seminar on Charts for the Indianapolis CPA Society, I thought I would talk about them. Little did I appreciate the Chart Wizard in Excel 2003- everything is different in Excel 2007 and frankly it just seems a bit harder. I'm not really sure why they felt the need to change it since I don't think it enhanced anything. Oh well, let's talk about adding or removing a data series from an existing chart.


There are multiple ways to add and delete data in a chart.
Adding in a series

The simplest is to simply copy the data and column heading and paste it into the chart. This is the easiest way and works in all versions. In Excel 2007 though depending on the type of chart, sometimes it includes data labels for the added series- whether you want them or not!

An alternative method known as the long way is:

• Select the chart
• Select the Chart Tools ribbon
• Click Select Data on the Data group
• Click Add
• Type the Series Name in the Edit Series dialog box
• Click in the Series values: and enter the cell range of the data
• Click OK.

The 3rd method which is the in-between way is :

• Select the chart
• Right-click and click Select Data
• Click Add
• Type the Series Name in the Edit Series dialog box
• Click in the Series values: and enter the cell range of the data
• Click OK.
  
  Tip: To add Non-Adjacent Data use the Control Key
  1. Select the first data series
  2. Press CTRL key
  3. Select the next data series
  4. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until all series selected
  
  
  Delete a Series
  
  The quick way to delete a series is simply click and select it and then click Delete be careful and ensure that all the data points have been selected – not just one-
  
  An alternative method of deleting a series is below:
  
  
• Select the chart
• Select the Chart Tools ribbon
• Click Select Data on the Data group
• Select the name of the series you want to delete
• Click Remove
• Click OK
  
  

• 
  And finally another way to delete a series is to:
  
• Select the chart
• Right-Click on Select Data
• Select the name of the series you want to delete
• Click Remove
• Click OK