Microsoft KB Archive/214033

= Pie Chart Shows Incorrect Percentage Value in Excel =

Article ID: 214033

Article Last Modified on 1/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Excel 2003
 * Microsoft Excel 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel X for Mac
 * Microsoft Graph 2002
 * Microsoft Graph 2000
 * Microsoft Graph 97

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This article was previously published under Q214033





SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Graph, when you display percentages in a pie chart, an incorrect percentage may be displayed for the largest number in the series.



CAUSE
Because of the way Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Graph round numbers, the percentages often add up to 101 percent instead of 100 percent. When this happens, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Graph subtract 1 percent from the largest number to force the total percentage to equal 100 percent.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, follow these steps:
 * 1) Create a pie chart in Microsoft Excel.
 * 2) On the Chart menu, click Chart Options.
 * 3) On the Data Labels tab, click Show percent, and then click OK.
 * 4) Back in the chart, click any label.
 * 5) On the Format menu, click Selected Data Labels.
 * 6) Click the Number tab. In the Decimal places box, type 2, and then click OK.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
Incorrect percentages can also occur when you use percentages in your data (even when your percentages equal 100.00 percent). The sample data in the range A1:B10 that follows produces an incorrect data label. The value 34.2 percent is displayed as 33.2 percent when the data label is set to Show percent (step 3 of 4 in the Chart Wizard) or Show label and percent. When the data label is set to Show value, the value appears correctly.

  A1: Name       B1: Sales A2: Ford      B2: 24.7% A3: GM        B3: 34.2% A4: VW        B4:  0.6% A5: Chrysler  B5: 13.3% A6: Toyota    B6:  8.0% A7: Honda     B7:  6.0% A8: Other     B8:  6.0% A9: Mazda     B9:  2.6% A10: Nissan   B10:  4.6%

Additional query words: Graph XL2000 XL2002 XL2003 XL97 XL98 Mac

Keywords: kbchart kbbug kbpending KB214033

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