how do i format the plot area in excel for mac

Then enter the number of the category in the chart (with 1 indicating the leftmost category) after which the vertical axis is to cross or by clicking the At Maximum option button to have the vertical axis cross after the very last category on the right edge of the charts frame.

The most direct way is to right-click the chart element (title, plot area, legend, data series, and so forth) in the chart itself.

Doing so displays a mini-bar with options such as Fill, Outline, and (in the case of chart titles), Style.

You can then use the drop-down galleries and menus attached to these buttons to connect the selected chart element.

The easiest way to do this is by right-clicking the element in the chart and then selecting the Format option at the bottom of the shortcut menu that appears.

This Format option, like the task pane that opens on the right side of the worksheet window, is followed by the name of the element selected so that when the Chart Title is selected, this menu option is called Format Chart Title, and the task pane that opens when you select this option is labeled Format Chart Title.

Each group, when selected, then displays its own cluster of buttons and each button, when selected has its own collection of formatting options, often displayed only when expanded by clicking the option name.

To select another element for formatting, simply select its name from this drop-down list.

Excel then selects that element in the chart and switches to its Format task pane so that you have access to all its groups of formatting options.

The Title Options group is automatically selected as is the Fill Line button (with the paint can icon).

Next to the Line Fill button is the Effects button (with the pentagon icon).

This button has four groups of options associated with it: Shadow, Glow, Soft Edges, and 3-D Format.

More likely when formatting most chart titles, you will want to use the commands found in the Text Options group to actually change the look of the title text.

The horizontal x -axis is also referred to as the category axis and the vertical y -axis as the value axis except in the case of XY (Scatter) charts, where the horizontal x -axis is also a value axis just like the vertical y -axis because this type of chart plots two sets of values against each other.

The most common ways you will want to modify the category axis of a chart is to modify the interval between its tick marks and where it crosses the value axis in the chart.

The most common ways you will want to modify a value axis of a chart is to change the scale that it uses and assign a new number formatting to its units.

Excel opens the Format Axis task pane with the Axis Options group selected, displaying its four command buttons: Fill Line, Effects, Size Properties, and Axis Options.

You then select the Axis Options button (with the clustered column data series icon) to display its four groups of options: Axis Options, Tick Marks, Labels, and Number.

The image below shows the formatting options available when you expand this and the vertical (value) or y -axis is selected in the sample chart.

Use the Minimum option to reset the point where the axis begins perhaps 4,000 instead of the default of 0 by clicking its Fixed option button and then entering a value higher than 0.0 in its text box.

Use the Maximum to determine the highest point displayed on the vertical axis by clicking its Fixed option button and then entering the new maximum value in its text box note that data values in the chart greater than the value you specify here simply arent displayed in the chart.

Use the Major option to modify the distance between major horizontal tick marks (assuming theyre displayed) in the chart by clicking its Fixed option button and then entering the number of the new distance in its text box.

Use the Minor option to modify the distance between minor horizontal tick marks (assuming theyre displayed) in the chart by clicking its Fixed option button and then entering the number of the new distance in its text box.

Enter a new number in its text box if you want the logarithmic scale to use a base other than 10.

How Do I Format The Plot Area In Excel For Mac