XL: How to Create a User-Defined Chart Format

In Microsoft Excel, you can produce charts with a consistent look by creating a user-defined chart format. This article describes how to create a sample chart, how to use that sample chart as the basis for a user-defined chart format, and how to apply that user-defined format to another sample chart.

To Create a Sample Chart

1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data:

      A1: Beth    B1: 95
      A2: Joe     B2: 90
      A3: Mary    B3: 85
      A4: John    B4: 80
   					

2. Select cells A1:B4, and press F11.
3. Format the chart.
   1. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.
   2. Click the Standard Types tab.
   3. Click Pie, and then click OK.
   4. On the Chart menu, click Chart Options.
   5. Click the Titles tab.
   6. In the Chart title box, type
      My User-Defined Chart
      and click OK.

Creating a User-Defined Chart Format Based on the Sample Chart

1. Switch to the chart sheet that contains the sample chart.
2. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.
3. Click the Custom Types tab.
4. Under Select from, click User-defined and click Add.
5. In the Name box, type the following:
   My Custom Chart
6. In the Description box, type a brief description (optional) and click OK.

Applying a User-Defined Chart Format to Another Chart

1. In a new worksheet, enter the following data:

      A1: David    B1: 95
      A2: Jenny    B2: 90
      A3: Tom      B3: 85
      A4: Linda    B4: 80
   					

2. Select cells A1:B4, and then press F11.
   
   You should see a new chart sheet with a two-dimensional column chart. This chart sheet should be the active sheet in the workbook.
3. On the Chart menu, click Chart Type.
4. On the Custom Types tab, click User-defined.
5. In the Chart type box, click My Custom Chart, and click OK.
   
   The chart should be formatted with the formatting of the user- defined chart.

Some formats are not saved with custom user-defined charts. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: