XL: How to Reverse the Axis on a Bar Chart

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for the Power Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

When you create a bar chart with the ChartWizard, the category labels are arranged from bottom (the first label) to top (the last label) instead of from top to bottom as expected. This order of arrangement occurs because labels are plotted from the zero reference point (usually the lower-left corner of the chart).

MORE INFORMATION

To place the first label on the top of the chart, use the following appropriate steps to flip the chart from top to bottom:

Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

1. Click the bar chart to select it.

2. Double-click the category axis (vertical axis) to display the Format Axis dialog box.

3. Click the Scale tab, and select the Categories In Reverse Order check box.

Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0

1. Double-click the bar chart to select it.

2. Double-click Axis 2 (vertical axis) to display the Format Axis dialog box.

3. Click the Scale tab, and select the Categories In Reverse Order check box.

To retain the x-axis labels at the bottom of the chart in the above example, select the Value (Y) Axis Crosses At Maximum Category check box.