XL97: Chart Data Range Disappears After Changing Series Panel

Last reviewed: February 12, 1998
Article ID: Q161929

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you modify any entry on the Series panel of the Source Data dialog, then go back to the Data Range panel, the range reference in the Data range box that was previously there disappears and the following message appears within the dialog:

   The Chart Data Range is too complex to be displayed. If a new
   Data Range is selected, it will replace all of the series on
   the Series Panel.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

You are building a chart using the Chart Wizard and have made modifications on the Series panel of Chart Wizard - Step 2 of 4.
```
    -or-
```
You choose Chart, Source Data, to bring up the Source Data property sheet for a chart that already exists, and make modifications on the Series panel.

This behavior occurs because of the overlapping nature of the Data Range and Series panels in the Source Data property sheet. The Data Range field on the Data Range panel is simply a concise range value that can include series names, series values, and category (x) axis labels. Each of these series attributes can be individually modified on the Series panel, despite what range is initially selected when building the chart. Since the Data Range and Series panels are merely different representations of the same plot data, and since the Series panel allows for more detailed modification of the series represented in the chart, changes to either panel can override values on the other panel.

As a result, any modifications made on the Series panel do not automatically roll up to the Data Range panel, but instead cause the Data Range field to appear empty, even though it really isn't.

NOTE: Even if you add a name to a series on the Series panel, then return to the Data Range panel, the Data Range value still appears empty, even though the modification you made might not have affected the values that make up the Data Range.

RESOLUTION

You can ignore the fact that the Data Range field appears empty on the Data Range panel, since it does not affect the outcome of the chart. All values that are present on the Series panel effectively determine the Data Range value, in any case.

NOTE: If a Data Range value is reentered after changes are made to any field on the Series panel, it will replace all of the series defined on the Series Panel, and allow you to reestablish whether your series are in rows or columns.

STATUS

This is by design in Microsoft Excel 97.

REFERENCES

For more information about changing the cell range used to create a chart, go to the Excel 97 Help menu option, choose Contents and Index, select the Index tab, and type the following text:

   charts, source

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Change the cell range used to create a chart" topic.

KBCategory: kbusage kbprb
KBSubcategory: xlchart
Additional reference words: XL97 tab blank clears
Keywords : xlchart kbualink97
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb

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Last reviewed: February 12, 1998
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