Stacked bar chart, bar presentation problem

[bob2012]

I was asked to update some procedures for creating a chart in Excel. The original work was done in pre-Windows 2010 Office (one or two versions back). I successfully recreated the work in Office for Mac 2011. We were unable to recreate the chart as needed, in (Win) Office 2007 or 2010. I sent the file created in the Mac version to the Win user, and it is not showing up correctly.

Three columns: date; duration (indicating event lengths, e.g., "1.5" hours); and start time, using a numerical format (e.g., "13.5" represents 1:30pm). The data in the three columns are selected, and a new (horizontal) stacked bar chart is created.

On the chart, right-click on the X axis (session dates) > format axis.
The default had set the major unit set as seven days, which could help
Right click on the Y axis (open hours) format axis.
- Modify the scale:
- Minimum: 8 (indicating 8am)
- Maximum: 20
- Major unit: 1

In Mac Office, when I click on the part of the chart representing the bars, choose Format Data Series, choose Fill, then choose a Pattern, I'm presented with the events distributed over time (with gaps between events left blank), like this, as I want:

--- ----- ------
-- ----- ---- ----

However, when I run the same basic process in Win, or when I open the chart that looks as I want in OS X in Win, I instead see:

----------------------
------------------------

There might be a hint in the original instructions (which also used the now gone Chart Wizard):

"On the Chart, right click on the purple (the front) part of the bars and select format data series. In the pattern tab, check none for Border and none for Area, then OK. The purple bar should disappear on the chart."

I don't see "Area" in the current Mac or Win version.

Any ideas on this?

thanks,

Bob

 

[bob2012]

It turns out I was formatting the wrong data series. I did find success, and will report back here if I'm able to clarify the process.

 

[bob2012]

There were one or two things critical to making this work. One was to change the order of my Series (using Move Down). The other may or may not be necessary, but I used a solid color instead of Automatic.

In case it helps anyone else out:

Click "Series1", then click Edit. In the Series name box, enter "Duration". Click Close.

Change "Series2" to "Start time". Click Close.

Right click on a bar representative of: Series: "Duration". The series information will show when you hover over it. Here is an example:

Choose: Format: Data Series...

Fill > Solid Fill. Choose a color that is the same or very similar to the existing color. Click Close.

Right click on a bar representative of: Series: "Start time". The series information will show when you hover over it. Here is an example:

Choose: Format: Data Series...

Format as: No fill, Border Color: no line, no shadow. Click Close.

Right click on the y axis (numbers), and Format Axis...
- Minimum: 8 (indicating 8am in the morning)
- Maximum: 20 (24 hour time for 10pm; or adjust to a different end time, based on the room's schedule).
- Major unit: 1

Click Close.

Right click the chart and Select Data…, Legend Entries (Series) select Duration, and Move Down.