Formatting Axis Labels

In this section:

Reference:

Vertical and horizontal axes are based on the orientation of the graph. For example, in a vertical graph, the horizontal axis refers to the X axis and the vertical axis refers to the Y axis. In a horizontal graph, the horizontal axis refers to the Y axis and the vertical axis refers to the X axis. This is important to consider, since options could change depending on the orientation of the graph.

A chart can contain the following types of axis labels:

Format Axis Dialog Box

Whether you access axis options from the ribbon, or the shortcut menu, you are presented with the Format Axis dialog box of options for formatting for both vertical and horizontal axes. The Format Axis dialog box contains the following tabs:

Reference: Format Vertical Axis Dialog Box

You use the Format Vertical Axis dialog box to specify formatting options for the vertical axis in your chart.

Use the Scale tab to modify scale properties.

The Scale tab is shown in the following image.

Format Axis Dialog Box Scale Tab

The Scale tab contains the following options:

  • Automatic Minimum. Supplies the minimum value on the Y-axis scale automatically. To use manual scaling, clear this option. You can then set the minimum value by entering a number into the Value text box.
    • Value. Type the minimum value in this text box if you have not selected Automatic Minimum.
  • Automatic Maximum. Supplies the maximum value on the Y-axis scale automatically. To use manual scaling, clear this option. You can then set the maximum value by entering a number into the Value text box.
    • Value. Type the maximum value in this text box if you have not selected Automatic Maximum.
  • Automatic Grid Step. Calculates the number of major grid steps automatically. To use manual scaling, clear this option. You can then set the value by typing the number into the Value text box.
    • Value. Type the value in this text box if you have not selected Automatic Grid Step.
  • Logarithmic Scale. Controls whether or not the Y-axis scale progresses logarithmically instead of linearly. This option is disabled by default. When selected, the logarithmic base is set to 10.0.
  • Include zero on scale. Controls whether or not a zero (0) value appears on the scale. This option is enabled by default.

Use the Title tab to show or hide the axis title, and create and style the title for the axis.

The Title tab contains the following options:

  • Show title. Select this check box to show the axis title (default) or clear the check box to hide the axis title.
  • Text. Type a title for the axis in the Text field.
  • Style text. Opens the Style dialog box, where you can style the text.

Use the Labels tab to format the layout of the axis labels.

The Labels tab contains the following options:

  • Show Labels. Displays labels next to the axis. This is enabled by default. Clear this option to suppress labels.
    • Axis side. Contains a list of position options for the labels on the axis. The options are Left (default), Right, or Both.
    • Style labels. Opens the Style dialog box, where you can style text.
    • Format Labels. Contains a list of preset formats that can be applied to the labels.
    • Custom Format. Allows you to use a custom format. This option is activated when Use Pattern /100 and Use Pattern are selected as the format labels.

The Format Labels drop-down menu provides a list of preset formats that you can apply to labels. When you select a custom format, it must be defined using a custom format pattern. See the following table for a list and description of the characters that you can use in a custom format.

Character

Description

#

Is a digit.

0 (zero)

Shows as absent.

. (period)

Is a placeholder for a decimal separator.

, (comma)

Is a placeholder for a grouping separator.

; (semicolon)

Separates formats.

- (dash)

Is the default negative prefix.

% (percent)

Divides by 100 and shows as a percentage.

x

Determines that any other characters can be used in the prefix or suffix.

‘ (apostrophe)

Is used to quote special characters in a prefix or suffix.

Use the Advanced tab to modify additional axis properties.

The Advanced tab contains the following options:

  • Exclude Minimum Label. Excludes the label with the lowest axis value from the chart.
  • Exclude Maximum Label. Excludes the label with the highest axis value from the chart.
  • Descending Axis. Draws the axis in descending order.
  • Show axis line. Controls the display of the axis baseline.
    • Line Style. Opens the Line Style dialog box, where you can edit the color, weight, and style of the axis line.
  • Show zero line. Controls the display of the zero line.
    • Line Style. Opens the Line Style dialog box, where you can edit the color, weight, and style of the zero line.
  • Custom Baseline. Controls the display of the custom baseline.
    • Value. Type a value for the custom baseline.
    • Line Style. Opens the Line Style dialog box, where you can edit the color, weight, and style of the custom baseline.

For instructions on how to open this dialog box, see the procedures in Using Axis Properties.

Reference: Format Horizontal Axis Dialog Box

You use the Format Horizontal Axis dialog box to specify formatting options for the horizontal axis in your chart.

The General tab contains the Show axis line check box, which controls the display of the axis line. When this check box is selected, you can style the axis line.

The General tab is shown in the following image.

The General tab contains the following options:

  • Show axis line. Enables the display of the axis line.
    • Line Style. Opens the Line Style dialog box, where you can edit the color, weight, and style of the axis line.

Use the Title tab to create and style the title for the axis.

The Title tab contains the following options:

  • Text. Type a title for the axis in the Text field.
  • Style. Opens the Style dialog box, where you can style the text.

Use the Labels tab to format the layout of the axis labels.

The Labels tab contains the following options:

  • Show Labels. Displays labels next to the axis. This is enabled by default. Clear this option to suppress labels.
    • Axis side. Contains a list of position options for the labels on the axis. The options are Left (default), Right, or Both.
    • Style labels. Opens the Style dialog box, where you can style text.
  • Stagger Labels. Sets the labels to appear staggered.
  • Concatenate Labels. Concatenates the labels in your chart. This is enabled by default.

Use the Advanced tab to modify additional axis properties.

The Advanced tab contains the following options:

  • Exclude Minimum Label. Excludes the label with the lowest axis value from the chart.
  • Exclude Maximum Label. Excludes the label with the highest axis value from the chart.
  • Reverse Groups. Reverses the order of the display of the groups on the horizontal axis.

For instructions on how to open this dialog box, see the procedures in Using Axis Properties.

Secondary Axes Options

Formatting options are available for secondary axes in dual-axis charts. For example, in a vertical dual-axis chart, the secondary vertical axis refers to the Y2 axis.

The Format Secondary Axis dialog box contains the following tabs for both vertical and horizontal axes:

Axis Elements Shortcut Menu

When you right-click an axis label or title in a chart in Live Preview, a menu of options opens. The options for the right-click axis label elements are described in the following table.

Element

Option

Description

Axis Title

Delete

Deletes the axis title from the chart and updates the Live Preview accordingly.

Change Title

Enables you to change the axis title.

Style Title

Enables you to apply styling to the axis title, using the Style dialog box. For more information, see Style Dialog Box.

Horizontal Labels

Delete

Deletes labels from the chart and updates the Live Preview accordingly.

Stagger

Controls the positioning of the labels. The On value positions the labels in a zigzag pattern. The Off default value positions the labels in a straight row.

Rotate

Rotates the labels a specified number of degrees.

Style Labels

Enables you to apply styling to the labels, using the Style dialog box. For more information, see Style Dialog Box.

More Axis Options

Opens the Format Axis dialog box. For more information, see Formatting Axis Labels.

Vertical Labels

Delete

Deletes labels from the chart and updates the Live Preview accordingly.

Rotate

Rotates the labels a specified number of degrees.

Format Labels

Formats the labels according to the value that you specify.

Style Labels

Enables you to apply styling to the labels, using the Style dialog box. For more information, see Style Dialog Box.

More Axis Options

Opens the Format Axis dialog box. For more information, see Formatting Axis Labels.

Using Axis Properties

How to:

The following sections contain procedures for customizing an axis. The procedures are organized by the tab and group in which their associated options appear on the ribbon.

Axis labels appear by default.

Procedure: How to Delete Axis Labels

  1. Create a chart.
  2. You can delete axis labels in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and clear the Show Labels option.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, and click Delete.

    The axis labels are deleted from the chart.

Procedure: How to Stagger Axis Labels

Note: You can only apply a staggered effect to horizontal axis labels.

  1. Create a chart with at least one axis label on display.
  2. Access the Stagger option in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to Horizontal Axis, and click Stagger Labels.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, point to Stagger and select On.

    The axis labels are staggered.

Procedure: How to Rotate Axis Labels

  1. Create a chart with axis labels.
  2. Access the Rotate option in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, point to Rotate Labels, and then click the degree to which you want to rotate the axis labels.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label on the chart, point to Rotate, and then click the degree to which you want to rotate the axis labels.

    The axis labels are rotated.

Procedure: How to Format Axis Labels

  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Access the list of axis label options in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and click More Axis Options to open the Format Axis dialog box. Open the Labels tab, and from the Labels option drop-down menu, select the formatting option that you want.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label, point to Format Labels, and click the formatting option that you want.

    The axis labels are formatted accordingly.

Procedure: How to Manually Set the Scale of an Axis

  1. Create a chart.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and click More Axis Options.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis value on the chart, and click More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the Scale tab, clear the Automatic Minimum option and enter your own minimum value in the Value text box.
  4. Clear the Automatic Maximum option, and enter your own maximum value in the Value text box.
  5. Clear the Automatic Grid Step option, and enter your own grid step value in the Value text box.
  6. Optionally, you can select the Logarithmic Scale option. You can also clear the Include zero on scale option if you do not want zero to appear on the axis.
  7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

    The axis scale is set accordingly.

Procedure: How to Add an Axis Title

  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and click More Axis Options.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label, and click More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the Title tab, type the axis title in the Text field.
  4. Click the Style text icon to open the Style dialog box, where you can style the text.

    The axis title is styled accordingly.

    Note: Right-click the axis title to delete, change, or style the axis title.

Procedure: How to Set Advanced Axis Properties

  1. Create a chart with an axis label.
  2. Open the Format Axis dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Ribbon: On the Format tab, in the Labels group, open the Axes drop-down menu, point to the axis that you are working with, and click More Axis Options.
    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click an axis label, and click More Axis Options.

    The Format Axis dialog box opens.

  3. On the Advanced tab, set the following options:
    • Exclude Minimum Label
    • Exclude Maximum Label
    • Descending Axis
    • Show axis line
    • Show zero line
    • Custom Baseline (Value)

    You can edit the color, weight, and style of all the lines that you set in the Line Style dialog box.

  4. Click OK.

    The axis advanced options are set accordingly.