Microsoft KB Archive/74569

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Creating X-Axis Labels in a Chart Using Edit Series in Excel

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for OS/2 version 3.0

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SUMMARY
The preferred method of creating x-axis labels in a Microsoft Excel chart is to include the category names in the range used when creating the chart.

A second option in creating x-axis labels is to manually edit the X Labels text box in the dialog box that appears when you choose Edit Series from the Chart menu. This method may be used if you prefer not to include the labels on your spreadsheet.

Steps to Add X-Axis Labels

 * 1) Activate the chart window and choose Edit Series from the Chart menu.
 * 2) Select Series1 from the Series list box. If you have defined Series1 as your own name, select from the Series list box until Plot Order reads as 1.
 * 3) Place the cursor in the X Labels text box and enter the series labels in the format shown below:

&quot;January&quot;,&quot;February&quot;,&quot;March&quot;
 * 1) The numbers will automatically be entered as a text array. An equal sign and a set of braces will be added to the entry. The new categories will now be included in the chart. The X Label text box from the Edit Series dialog box will now read as follows:

={&quot;January&quot;,&quot;February&quot;,&quot;March&quot;}