Pivot chart colors change when data is refreshed

[Shermanscs]

I have a bar chart and I would like specific colors for my bars based on the metric they represent. For example, I am tracking support calls & I want green, yellow or red bars based on the calls being handled within a certain amount of time (red=overdue, yellow=due this week, green=due over 2 weeks). I created the chart and overrode the colors by clicking on each bar and formatting the data point to a specific color. But when I refresh the data, my bar chart colors randomly change. Some stay the same, others change colors. I am running excel 2010. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[JamesW]

Hi,

Welcome to the board.

This is a known 'bug', take a look here for help:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q215904

 

[RoryA]

In 2010 the bars should not change colour so perhaps you actually have different series being displayed.

 

[JamesW]

Oops, didn't see 2010

 

[Shermanscs]

Thanks for the quick reply!!
Not sure what you mean by having a different series displayed. If I click on a specific bar and change it from automatic color to solid fill, then pick a specific color & save the workbook, I would expect that bar to always be that color, even upon data refreshed...

 

[RoryA]

That's what should happen - are you using an .xls or .xlsx format workbook?

 

[Shermanscs]

Xlsx - complete disclosure here.... It is actually a chart created from power pivot as the underlying data source, but I didn't think that would matter.

 

[RoryA]

That may be the issue then - I've not yet had occasion to use PowerPivot and charts.