Changing Series Colors on a Surface Chart (82015)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q82015
This article also applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0|4.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0a|4.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 4.0c|4.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0c|5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95 7.0a|7.0a

SUMMARY

In the programs listed at the beginning of this article, you cannot select individual series in a surface chart. Therefore, it is not possible to change or edit the color of a series in a surface chart.

NOTE: This behavior is limited to surface charts in Microsoft Excel.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, change the formats for the legend keys that correspond to the series in the surface chart. To do this, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

To change the color of the legend key manually, follow these steps:

  1. Switch to the chart that you want to edit.
  2. Click the legend.
  3. Click the legend key for the series that you want to edit.

    NOTE: The legend key is the object in the legend that displays the color and pattern for the series. The legend entry includes the object and the text.
  4. On the Format menu, click Selected Legend Key.

    NOTE: If Selected Legend Key does not appear on the Format menu, repeat step 3.
  5. Make the changes you want and click OK.

Method 2

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. To change the color of the legend key programmatically, use the following syntax: 

   ActiveChart.Legend.LegendEntries(1).LegendKey.Interior.ColorIndex = 5


Note that 1 represents the first series in the chart and 5 represents the color to change the series to (blue). These numbers must be integers.

NOTE: There is no workaround for this behavior in Microsoft Excel 4.0.

REFERENCES

For more information about changing colors of data series in charts, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   Colors, in charts


and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Change colors, patterns, lines, fills, and borders in charts" topic.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2005
Keywords:kbcode kbinfo KB82015
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