Some category labels are missing or are too small to read on Excel charts (834579)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you view a Microsoft Excel chart that contains labels on the Category Axis, one of the following issues may occur:
  • Some of the labels may be missing (such as every other label).
  • The labels may be too small to read.
  • The labels may be run together (overlap).

CAUSE

This issue may occur if one or more of the following conditions are true:
  • The frequency of the major units on the Category Axis is not set to display every major unit.
  • The font size is too small for you to read the labels on the Category Axis of your Excel chart.
  • The font size is too large for Excel to display all the labels correctly on the Category Axis of your Excel chart.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, change the major unit and change the font size of the labels for the Category Axis in your Excel chart. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Start Excel and open your workbook that contains the Excel chart.
  2. Right-click the Category Axis that is contained in the Excel chart, and then click Format Axis.
  3. In the Format Axis dialog box, do one or both of the following, and then click OK to close the Format Axis dialog box:
    • On the Scale tab, click to clear the Major unit check box, and then change the major unit to 1.
    • On the Font tab, select a different Font Size to use for the labels in the Category Axis.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/2/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB834579 kbAudEndUser
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