Microsoft KB Archive/87497

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Excel: Chart Based on Discontiguous Selection is Incorrect

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you use nonadjacent data to create a chart, your chart may be blank or it may contain a single series.

CAUSE
This problem will occur if you press and hold down the CTRL key (in Microsoft Excel for Windows) or the COMMAND key (in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh) when you make the first selection.

WORKAROUND
To avoid this problem, make the first section and THEN press and hold down the CTRL or COMMAND key.

MORE INFORMATION
In Microsoft Excel, you can select nonadjacent data by holding down the CTRL key (in Microsoft Excel for Windows) or the COMMAND key (in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh). However, if these keys are held down when you select the first range to be charted, Microsoft Excel assumes that the first range is a continuation of another selection. Because there is no data from a previous selection, Microsoft Excel generates a blank chart if the first range contains text. If the first range contains values, Microsoft Excel creates a chart, but all of the data is in a single series.