How To Sort Legend In Excel Pivot Chart: Easy Guide

Do you want to organize your data visually in an Excel pivot chart and enhance your data analysis skills? Are you struggling to find a way to sort the legend in your chart in a specific order?

Sorting the legend in an Excel pivot chart can be a challenge, especially when you want to display the legend items in ascending order. The default settings in Excel may not provide a direct option for sorting the legend. However, there are alternative methods you can use to achieve the desired result.

In this article, we will explore different techniques to help you easily sort the legend in an Excel pivot chart. Whether you’re dealing with a stacked bar chart or a regular chart, we have you covered.

Let’s dive in and discover how you can take control of your Excel pivot chart legend and effectively organize your data visually.

Changing the Plotting Order in Excel Pivot Charts

To create more meaningful visualizations in Excel Pivot Charts, it is essential to have control over the plotting order of data series. By changing the plotting order, you can emphasize certain categories or values, enhancing the clarity and impact of your charts. In this section, we will explore different methods for changing the plotting order in Excel Pivot Charts, giving you the flexibility to present your data exactly as you desire.

Manipulating Chart Elements

One way to change the plotting order in an Excel Pivot Chart is by manipulating the chart elements. This allows you to reverse the plotting order of categories or values, ensuring your chart accurately represents the information you want to convey.

To reverse the plotting order, you can click on the respective horizontal (category) axis or vertical (value) axis. By clicking on the axis, you can access the formatting options specific to that element. Alternatively, you can use the Chart Elements box, located in the Format tab of the Chart Tools, to select the axis you want to modify.

After selecting the desired axis, navigate to the Axis Options category. Here, you will find checkboxes labeled “Categories in reverse order” and “Values in reverse order.” By checking the appropriate box, you can instantly reverse the plotting order of your data series, bringing the most critical information to the forefront.

Please note that the option to reverse values is not available for radar charts. However, for other types of charts, such as bar charts or line charts, this approach can be highly effective in presenting data in a logical and impactful manner.

Illustrative Example

To further illustrate the process of changing the plotting order in an Excel Pivot Chart, consider the following example:

In the initial order, the chart would display the categories as A, B, C, with their corresponding values. However, by using the methods described above, you can reverse the plotting order, resulting in Category C, B, A, with their respective values. This simple adjustment can provide a different perspective on the data, highlighting specific categories or values that may be of particular interest.

Reversing the Plotting Order in 3-D Charts

If you’re working with a 3-D chart in Excel, you have the ability to reverse the plotting order of data series to enhance your visual representation. This can be achieved by adjusting the depth axis, allowing you to control how the data series are displayed in the chart. By manipulating the depth axis, you can ensure that smaller data markers are not obstructed by larger ones, providing a clearer and more accurate representation of your data.

To reverse the plotting order of data series in a 3-D chart, follow these steps:

1. Select the depth axis in your 3-D chart.
2. Access the Format Selection options either directly or through the Chart Elements box in the Format tab.
3. In the Axis Options category, you’ll find the “Series in reverse order” checkbox.
4. Enable the “Series in reverse order” checkbox to reverse the plotting order of the data series.

By enabling the “Series in reverse order” option, the data series in your 3-D chart will be displayed in reverse order, providing a different perspective and potentially revealing new insights in your data analysis.

Example:

Let’s consider an example where we have a 3-D chart representing the sales performance of different product categories over time. Without reversing the plotting order, the larger sales figures may overshadow the smaller ones, making it difficult to identify trends and patterns.

In the above example, by reversing the plotting order of the data series using the depth axis, we can present the data in a more visually impactful way, with each product category clearly distinguishable. This allows for a more accurate comparison and analysis of the sales performance across different categories.

Summary:

Reversing the plotting order in 3-D charts is a useful technique for enhancing the visual representation of data series. By adjusting the depth axis and enabling the “Series in reverse order” option, you can ensure that smaller data markers are not obstructed by larger ones, providing a clearer and more accurate depiction of your data. This technique allows for better analysis and interpretation of complex data sets, enabling you to uncover valuable insights and make data-driven decisions.

Changing the Plotting Order of Data Series in Excel Charts

If you want to change the plotting order of data series in a regular chart in Excel, you can utilize the Select Data feature. This allows you to control the order in which data series appear on the chart axis, providing greater flexibility in visualizing and analyzing your data.

Step 1: Accessing the Select Data Feature

To begin, click on the chart you want to modify. This will activate the Chart Tools tab at the top of the Excel window. Within the Chart Tools, navigate to the Design tab.

Step 2: Finding the Select Data Button

Once you are on the Design tab, locate the Data group. In this group, you will find the Select Data button. Click on it to open the Select Data Source dialog box.

Step 3: Selecting the Data Series

Within the Select Data Source dialog box, you can select the specific data series you want to change the order of. The left-hand side of the dialog box displays the existing data series, while the right-hand side shows the current order.

Step 4: Rearranging the Data Series

Using the Move Up and Move Down arrows on the right-hand side of the dialog box, you can rearrange the position of the data series. By moving a series up or down, you can change its plotting order on the chart.

Step 5: Confirming the Changes

Once you have rearranged the data series to achieve the desired plotting order, click the OK button to apply the changes to your chart. The chart will update accordingly, reflecting the new sequence of data series.

By utilizing the Select Data feature in Excel, you can easily change the plotting order of data series in your charts. This enables you to effectively present and analyze your data, highlighting the desired information and insights.

Resolving Issues with Legend Order in Excel Pivot Charts

If you’ve encountered problems with the legend order while working with a stacked bar chart in an Excel PivotChart, there are several solutions to help you resolve this issue. One approach is to ensure that the Ward number columns in the PivotTable are organized in alphabetical order. By rearranging the order of the columns manually, you can achieve the desired ordering for both the PivotTable columns and the legend items.

Alternatively, you can explore different chart types within Excel that may provide the desired behavior for the legend order. For instance, utilizing a line chart instead of a stacked bar chart could help you achieve the desired result. It’s important to note that Excel may not have a direct setting to control the legend order specifically for stacked bar charts.

By implementing these workarounds, such as arranging the PivotTable columns and experimenting with different chart types, you can successfully resolve the legend order issue in Excel PivotCharts. These solutions allow you to organize your data visually and ensure that the legend order aligns with your analytical needs, providing you with a more efficient and effective data analysis experience.

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.