Data Series

A data series is a chart component that is a data array. A chart is based on a set of data series.

Data series are shown graphically on the chart, for example, as a set of colored columns.

The chart data series, for which name is defined, is marked with a single color and the icon specified in the legend.

NOTE. By default, no more than 99 series can be displayed on a chart. If the greater number of series is selected, the first 99 series is displayed, the rest is hidden. To change the maximum number of series displayed on a chart, use registry settings.

To quickly set up data series format, use the Data Series side panel tab.

The following chart series settings are available:

Set up series display and order.
Set up borders and fill.
Set up data labels, and other options.

To determine advanced setup of data series format, use the Data Series Format dialog box.

Depending on a chart type, the following settings are available:

Quick Setup of Data Series

The Data Series tab is located on the side panel and is used to set up data series format.

Make sure that the side panel is displayed language.
Select the chart in the working area.
Select the Format button on the side panel and go to the Data Series tab.

On initial chart setup, the Default series is selected on the tab. This series is not displayed in the legend and enables the user to determine settings, which are applied for all existing series and for new added series. A waterfall chart displays the series, for which it was built.

NOTE. The set of settings available for the Default series depends on chart type.

To set up a particular series, select it in the drop-down list in the beginning of the tab and to set up all series, select the Default series. Note that settings determined for the Default series do not overlap settings determined manually for a particular series.

To apply the Default series settings for all series, including series with custom settings, click the For All button.

Data labels contain information on series or specific data points and make the chart easier to understand.

To display labels for the selected series, select the Data Labels checkbox on the side panel or via the context menu.

For details about data label setup see the Data Labels section.

To save settings of a specific series format to data source, use the Fore file.

For example, if the user removes a data series with the settings saved to data source from a chart, and then adds it again, the previously defined settings are applied to the data series.

Chart legend can also be used to manage data series display on the chart:

To hide a data series in the legend, click the series icon. The data series will be removed from the chart plot area and the legend icon is highlighted with gray.
To unhide the data series in the chart legend, click the series icon. The data series appears in the chart plot area.

Changing of series order in a chart is available for all chart types, except for waterfall chart.

Specify series order in the chart in the Order box. Specify the value using the keyboard or value editor. Series numbering starts with zero. The specified series order sets the order of their displaying in the legend taking into account the configured series order on overlay.

Showing or hiding a series in a legend is available for all chart types, except for waterfall chart.

To show a series in the legend as a labeled icon, select the Show in Legend checkbox. When the checkbox is deselected, the series is not shown in the legend.

To change series type for a mixed or radar chart series, select an available type in the Series Type drop-down list:

Line. The series is shown as a line.
Column. The series is shown as a column. This option is available only for mixed charts.

Area. The series is shown as a colored area.

See below an example of mixed chart with different settings defined for one of the data series (line, column and area respectively):

The following series types are available for stepped charts:

Stepped Line. The series is shown as a broken line.
Stepped Area. The series is shown as a colored area.

See below examples of a stepped chart, that has the Stepped Line type set for the 2005 and 2006 series, and Stepped Area type set for the 2007 series:

Line smoothing is used to eliminate curve effect occurred on plotting a chart (linear, scatter) with connecting lines, radar chart and for a series of the Line type in mixed chart).

To set up smoothing of chart linear series, select the Smooth Line checkbox.

For detailed description of data series setup see the General Settings of Data Series section.

Data series fill can be changed for all series types, except for line type.

In the web application. Select the Fill checkbox. Select fill type in the Type drop-down list:

None. Series fill is not used.
Automatic. Monochrome fill. Color is selected automatically.
Solid Fill. Monochrome fill. To select fill color, use drop-down palette.
Linear Gradient. Linear gradient fill. To select gradient basic color, use drop-down palette.

In the desktop application. Select the required series fill type in the Fill drop-down list. If fill is set for the Default series, firstly select the Fill checkbox and then start setup.
A different array of parameters is shown for each fill type. The following fill types are available depending on the chart type:

None. Series fill is not used.
Automatic. Monochrome fill. Color is selected automatically.
Solid Fill. Monochrome fill. To select fill color, use drop-down palette. If required, specify fill transparency percentage in the Transparency box.

NOTE. In waterfall charts, fill color corresponds to color scheme. A drop-down palette is not available.

Gradient Fill. Two-color gradient fill. To select start and end gradient colors, use drop-down palettes. If required, specify tilt angle and transparency percent for the gradient in the Angle and Transparency boxes.

NOTE. End color for waterfall charts is selected in the drop-down palette, and start color corresponds to color scheme.

Heterogeneous Fill. Linear gradient fill. To select gradient basic color, use drop-down palette. If required, set fill transparency percent in the Transparency box. A drop-down palette is not available for waterfall charts, basic gradient color corresponds to color scheme.

NOTE. On setting transparency of solid or heterogeneous fill, take into account that 100% corresponds to full transparency (data chart background becomes invisible), 0% corresponds to full opacity.

Data series border can be changed for all series types except for line type.

To show data series border, select the Border checkbox and determine settings of border color and width. The desktop application also enables the user to set up line type for data series border.

NOTE. In the web application, use the Line parameters group to set up series of radar charts, area charts and the Area series in a mixed chart.

See below examples of a histograms without using (left) and with using (right) data series border:

A step is a broken line that connects two neighbor values in the series.

It is available only for a stepped chart.

To change step position relative to data series point, select the required position in the Step drop-down list: left, center or right.

Below is the example of a stepped chart with the following settings: the 2005 series has the Left step position (from point B to point A); the 2006 series has the Center step position (from point B to point C and point A); the 2007 series has the Right step position (from point A to point B).

NOTE. Step position can also be set up on the Chart side panel tab.

This option is available for series of linear, radar, stepped chart and for the Line series in a mixed chart.

To show data series line, select the Line checkbox and determine settings of series line color and width. The desktop application also enables the user to set up line type for data series.

This option is available for all chart types, except for radar, pie chart and histogram with fluctuation intervals.

A secondary axis is an additional value axis that may contain:

Values of data series that strongly differ from other series' values.
Series values presented on the chart as a different data type.

To plot a series in accordance with the scale of secondary value axis, select the Plot on Secondary Axis checkbox. After selecting the checkbox, the side panel shows the Value Axis (Secondary) tab where the user can determine secondary axis settings.

A marker is a specific value of data array shown as a point or a shape. Markers that correspond to the same data series have identical formatting settings.

It is available for series of line chart, scatter chart, radar chart, stock exchange chart, box chart, histogram with fluctuation intervals, for series of the Line type in mixed chart and for series of the Stepped Line type in stepped chart.

To change marker type for the selected series:

Select the Marker checkbox on the Data Series tab. In the drop-down list select the required marker type and define its additional parameters: size, fill and border.
Click the Markers button in the View group on the Chart ribbon tab and select a marker type in the drop-down menu.

After executing one of the operations all markers of the selected series change its type to the specified one.

The following types of markers are available:

Square. Markers are shown as squares.
Diamond. Markers are shown as diamonds.
Triangle. Markers are shown as upward triangles.
Inverse Triangle. Markers are shown as inverse triangles.
Circle. Markers are shown as circles.
Line. Markers are shown as dashes.

To hide series marker:

Deselect the Marker checkbox on the Data Series side panel tab.
Click the Markers button in the View group of the Chart ribbon tab and select in the drop-down menu.

After executing one of the operations all markers of the selected series are hidden.

To change the tilt of the Triangle and Inverse Triangle markers depending on series values changed, select the Auto Rotate checkbox on the Data Series side panel tab. If the checkbox is deselected, markers are located vertically, if the checkbox is selected, markers change their direction at a tangent to the chart series line.

Below is an example of a line chart, which series s1, s2 have the Triangle marker type, the series s3, s4 have the Inverse Triangle marker type. The Auto Rotate option is enabled for markers of the series s2 and s4:

Advanced marker setup is available in the desktop application.