Microsoft KB Archive/125762

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

XL5: Cannot Format or Select Chart Gridlines
Last reviewed: September 12, 1996

Article ID: Q125762

The information in this article applies to:


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

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel, when you format a combination chart, and you have transposed two or more of the elements of the combination (changed the chart type of the series), you may not be able to select the gridlines.

If you run a Visual Basic procedure to select the gridlines on a chart under the above conditions using, for example, the following line of code

ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Select you receive the following error message:

Run-time error '1004':

Select method of Gridlines class failed

CAUSE
This behavior occurs after you transpose the elements of a combination chart, and it applies only to selecting the gridlines.

Note that you can still remove the gridlines if you do not want them by choosing Gridlines from the Insert menu and clearing the check boxes for those lines that you do not want. Note also that you are still able to select the other chart elements when this behavior occurs.

WORKAROUNDS
To work around this behavior, format the gridlines on your chart before you edit any of the other chart elements.

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 new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION
Normally, you can select gridlines on a chart after you create the chart or after you insert the gridlines. To select gridlines on a chart, activate the chart and click one of the gridlines.