When creating these charts using Excel, it’s important to ensure that the chart is as clear and easy to understand as possible for your audience. One way to do this is by changing the series names in the chart.
By default, Excel will use the column or row header as the series name, which may not be very descriptive or helpful for your readers or viewers. Changing the series name to something more specific or relevant can make it easier for them to understand what the chart represents.
For example, if you are creating a chart showing the sales figures of different products, you might want to change the series names to reflect the name of each product, rather than just using “Sales1,” “Sales2,” and so on. This will make it easier for your audience to quickly identify which series represents which product.
Changing the series name can also help to enhance the readability of the chart, particularly when there are multiple series being displayed. By giving each series a clear and distinct name, you can help your audience more easily differentiate between them.
Finally, changing the series name can help facilitate analysis of the chart data. If you are working with complex charts or large datasets, renaming the series to reflect their unique characteristics or properties can help you more easily identify patterns, trends, and relationships in the data.
Overall, changing series names in Excel can help improve the clarity, readability, and analysis of your charts, making them more effective tools for communicating your message or data to your audience.
How to Change Series Name in Excel Formula with These Simple Steps
When you create a chart in Excel using a formula, the series name will usually default to “Series 1,” “Series 2,” and so on. However, you may prefer to give your series a more descriptive name to help make your chart easier to understand.
Here are the steps to change the series name in an Excel formula:
- Click on the chart to select it.
- Click on the data series that you want to rename. This will highlight the series on the chart and open up the “Format Data Series” pane on the right-hand side of the screen.
- In the “Format Data Series” pane, click on the “Series Options” tab.
- In the “Series Options” tab, you’ll see a field for “Series Name.” Simply type in the new name that you want to give to the series.
- Hit “Enter” or click on any blank space in the workbook to save the changes.
For example, let’s say you have a chart that shows the sales data for different products over time, and your series is currently named “Series 1”. You can change this to a more descriptive name like “Product A Sales” by following the steps above.
Step-by-Step Guide: Changing Series Names in Excel on Mac
If you’re using a Mac to create your Excel charts, changing the series names is a bit different than on a PC. Here are the steps:
- Click on the chart to select it.
- Click on the data series that you want to rename. This will highlight the series on the chart and open up the “Format Data Series” pane on the right-hand side of the screen.
- In the “Format Data Series” pane, click on the “Series Options” tab.
- In the “Series Options” tab, you’ll see a field for “Series Name.” Simply type in the new name that you want to give to the series.
- Hit “Enter” or click on any blank space in the workbook to save the changes.
For example, let’s say you have a chart that shows the sales data for different products over time, and your series is currently named “Series 1”. You can change this to a more descriptive name like “Product A Sales” by following the steps above.
How to Change Series Name in Excel Scatter Plot
Changing the series names in an Excel scatter plot follows the same basic process as changing the names in other types of charts. Here are the steps:
- Click on the chart to select it.
- Click on the data series that you want to rename. This will highlight the series on the chart and open up the “Format Data Series” pane on the right-hand side of the screen.
- In the “Format Data Series” pane, click on the “Series Options” tab.
- In the “Series Options” tab, you’ll see a field for “Series Name.” Simply type in the new name that you want to give to the series.
- Hit “Enter” or click on any blank space in the workbook to save the changes.
For example, let’s say you have a scatter plot that shows the relationship between temperature and ice cream sales. You have two data series: one for temperature and one for sales. By default, these series will be named “Series 1” and “Series 2”. You can change these to more descriptive names like “Temperature” and “Sales” by following the steps above.
Changing Series Names in Excel on iPad
If you’re using an iPad to create your Excel charts, changing the series names is a bit different than on a PC or Mac. Here are the steps to follow:
- Select the chart by tapping on it.
- Tap the “Format” button that appears at the top of the screen when the chart is selected.
- Scroll down until you see the “Chart Elements” section and tap it.
- Tap the arrow next to “Legend” to expand this section.
- Tap the series name that you want to change.
- Type in the new name that you want to give to the series.
- Tap outside of the “Format” pane to save the changes.
For example, let’s say you have a chart that shows the sales data for different products over time, and your series is currently named “Series 1”. You can change this to a more descriptive name like “Product A Sales” by following the steps above.
Rename Your Chart in Excel 365: A Quick and Easy Guide
If you want to give your chart a more descriptive name in Excel 365, it’s a quick and easy process. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the chart you want to rename to select it.
- In the “Design” tab that appears, click on the “Chart Title” button.
- Choose “Above Chart” or “Centered Overlay Title” from the dropdown menu.
- Type in the new title you want to give to the chart.
- Hit “Enter” or click anywhere outside of the title box to save the changes.
For example, let’s say you have a chart that shows the total revenue for your business over the last year. By default, the chart will be named “Chart Title”. You can change this to a more descriptive name like “Revenue by Month” by following the steps above.
Excel Power Users Rejoice: Keyboard Shortcuts for Renaming Chart Series
If you’re a power user of Excel, you may find it helpful to use keyboard shortcuts to rename chart series quickly and easily. Here are some shortcuts you can use:
- F2: Select a series and press F2 to edit the name directly in the chart.
- Ctrl + 1: Select a series and press Ctrl + 1 to open the “Format Data Series” pane, where you can modify the name.
- Alt + JN: Select a series and press Alt + JN to open the “Select Data Source” dialog box, where you can modify the name.
For example, let’s say you have a scatter chart that displays the relationship between two variables: X and Y. To rename the series for variable X
