GET.CHART.ITEM() Returns Unexpected Results with 3-D Chart

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 3.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, the macro functions GET.CHART.ITEM(), FORMAT.MOVE(), and FORMAT.SIZE() may not produce the expected results if you use them to position and size items on a 3-D chart.

MORE INFORMATION

The GET.CHART.ITEM() macro function returns the vertical and horizontal position of a point on a chart item.

The FORMAT.MOVE() and FORMAT.SIZE() functions allow you to move and size chart items relative to the positions of other chart items.

The GET.CHART.ITEM() function does not return the z-axis position of a point on a chart. As a result, if you are working with a 3-D chart with a right angle view, the horizontal and vertical coordinates may not be returned as expected. For 3-D charts in a non-right angle view, the coordinates will be returned correctly.

In the case of a 3-D column chart, the vertical coordinate returned for a given column will be the vertical coordinate of the x-axis rather than the coordinate for the top of the column. The vertical axis in this chart type is the z-axis. Since GET.CHART.ITEM() cannot return the z-axis position, the coordinate for the bottom of the plot area is returned instead. In the case of a 3-D bar chart, the horizontal coordinate will be that of the left edge of the plot area.

When you use GET.CHART.ITEM() to obtain the coordinates for attached text or an object on a 3-D chart (such as unattached text or an arrow), Microsoft Excel returns the coordinates as expected in relation to the boundaries of the chart window. You can then move the unattached items with FORMAT.SIZE() and FORMAT.MOVE(). However, since these functions do not return the z-axis position, you will not be able to use them in a macro to move attached text of 3-D chart objects in relation to a specific data point.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 161-162, 165-166, and 194-195

"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 3.0, pages 84-85, 87-88, and 105-106