Microsoft KB Archive/122332

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL5: Can't Select Empty Series with Some Chart Types
Last reviewed: November 8, 1996

Article ID: Q122332

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS
In general, you can select a data series by clicking it with the mouse or by selecting one data series and then using the up or down arrow keys to cycle through the other data series. However, for certain chart types, an empty data series cannot be selected in this manner.

The following chart types do not allow you to select an empty data series:

Line Radar XY (scatter) Pie Note that this behavior is different from earlier versions of Microsoft Excel.

RESOLUTION
In order to select an empty data series, use the following workaround:

 Activate the chart and choose Chart Type from the Format menu.  Select a chart type that will allow you to select an empty data series. The following chart types will allow the selection of empty data series: Bar Column Doughnut Area  Select the series by clicking on the chart and then using the up and down arrows to toggle to the series to be edited. Edit the selected series by either editing directly in the formula bar, or by choosing Selected Data Series from the Format menu. From the Format menu, choose Chart Type and select the original chart type.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post more information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.