Microsoft KB Archive/64405

{| = Excel: Legend in Bar Chart Is in Reverse Order of How Plotted =
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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

Article ID: Q64405

SUMMARY
Note: This behavior is only true for versions of Excel prior to 3.00. Microsoft Excel version 3.00 lists the legend labels in the same order as displayed on the chart.

After a bar chart is plotted in Microsoft Excel, if a legend is added, it will show the series in the reverse order they appear in the chart. To display the series in the legend and the chart in the same order, do the following:

 Select the Y axis and choose Scale from the Format menu.  Select the following three options: a. Value Axis Crosses Between Categories b. Categories in Reverse Order c. Value Axis Crosses at Maximum Categories  Click OK.

For example, the following values are on a worksheet: Excellent         80 Very Good         75 Good              45 Poor              20 If you plot these values to a bar chart and add a legend, the chart will be plotted in the order of first series to last, starting from the bottom on the Y axis; the legend will be the opposite of this, as follows: Bar Chart                     Legend -                     --

Poor      (Series 4)          Excellent Good      (Series 3)          Very Good Very Good (Series 2)          Good Excellent (Series 1)          Poor If the steps listed above are followed, the Bar chart will look like the following and match the legend: Bar Chart                     Legend -                     --

Excellent  (Series 1)         Excellent Very Good  (Series 2)         Very Good Good       (Series 3)         Good Poor       (Series 4)         Poor For more information about charting and legends, see page 316 in the &quot;Microsoft Excel Reference&quot; version 2.20 manual.
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