How to change legend name in excel
Legend is an important component in Excel charts that helps in identifying different series or categories within a data plot. By default, Excel assigns a generic name to each legend entry, but what if you want to change it to something more meaningful or descriptive? In this guide, we will show you exactly how to change legend name in Excel, step-by-step.
Changing the legend name in Excel can be done in just a few simple steps. Whether you are creating a chart from scratch or modifying an existing chart, Excel offers a hassle-free way to customize legend names according to your requirements.
To change the legend name in Excel:
- Select the chart you want to edit by clicking on it.
- Navigate to the Design tab on the Excel ribbon.
- Locate and click on the Select Data button in the Data group.
- A Select Data Source dialog box will appear. In the Legend Entries (Series) section, select the legend name you want to change by clicking on it.
- Edit the Series name in the Edit Series dialog box that appears.
- Click OK to save your changes.
That’s it! You have successfully changed the legend name in your Excel chart. Repeat these steps for any other legend names you want to modify.
Customizing legend names in Excel is a great way to enhance the clarity and interpretability of your charts. It allows you to give meaningful labels to each legend entry, making it easier for your audience to understand the data being displayed. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly and easily change legend names in Excel according to your specific requirements.
Step-by-step guide to changing legend name in Excel
Step 1: Open Microsoft Excel and open the spreadsheet or create a new one where you want to change the legend name.
Step 2: Locate the chart which contains the legend you want to change. Click on the chart to select it.
Step 3: Once the chart is selected, you should see a “Chart Tools” menu appear in the Excel ribbon at the top. Click on the “Design” tab in the menu.
Step 4: Under the “Design” tab, you will find an option called “Chart Layouts” where you can choose different layout styles for your chart. Click on the “Chart Layouts” option.
Step 5: After clicking “Chart Layouts,” a drop-down menu will appear. In the drop-down menu, you will see various options for changing different aspects of your chart. Look for the option called “Chart Title” and click on it.
Step 6: By clicking “Chart Title,” you will see a sub-menu with options for positioning and formatting the legend. In this sub-menu, choose the option called “More Title Options”.
Step 7: Once “More Title Options” is selected, a new window will appear where you can make more specific changes to the title and other elements of the chart. In the window, navigate to the “Values and Axis” tab.
Step 8: In the “Values and Axis” tab, you will find a field called “Legend Name.” Enter a new name for the legend in this field.
Step 9: After entering the desired name for the legend, click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 10: Your legend name should now be updated in the chart. Review the chart to ensure that the legend name has been changed correctly.
By following these simple steps, you can easily change the legend name in your Excel chart and customize it to suit your needs.
Open your Excel file
To change the legend name in Excel, start by opening your Excel file. You can do this by double-clicking on the file icon or by opening Excel and selecting “Open” from the File menu. Once your file is open, locate the chart or graph that contains the legend you want to change. This may be in a separate sheet or embedded within the current sheet.
If the chart or graph is in a separate sheet, click on the tab at the bottom of the Excel window to navigate to that sheet. If the chart or graph is embedded within the current sheet, you can click directly on it to select it.
Select the chart that contains the legend
To change the legend name in an Excel chart, you will first need to select the chart that contains the legend. This can be done by clicking on the chart once to activate it.
Once the chart is selected, you will notice a number of options and tabs appear at the top of the Excel window. Look for the “Chart Tools” or “Design” tab, and click on it. This tab should appear when the chart is selected.
Next, explore the options under the “Chart Tools” or “Design” tab to find the “Edit” or “Move” group. Generally, the option to change the legend name can be found within this group, but it may vary depending on the version of Excel you are using.
Click on the option related to the legend name. It could be called “Legend,” “Legend Options,” or something similar. Once you find the option, a dialog box will usually appear that allows you to edit the legend name.
Pro Tip: If you cannot find the option to change the legend name under the “Chart Tools” or “Design” tab, try right-clicking on the legend itself within the chart. This may bring up a context menu with an option to edit the legend name.
After editing the legend name in the dialog box, click “OK” or a similar button to save your changes. The legend name in your Excel chart should now be updated accordingly.
Remember to save your spreadsheet to keep the changes you made to the legend name in your Excel chart.
Access the Format Legend pane
To change the legend name in Excel, you can access the Format Legend pane which allows you to modify various aspects of the legend. Here’s how you can access the Format Legend pane:
- Select the chart that contains the legend whose name you want to change.
- Click on the “Chart Elements” button, usually located above the upper-right corner of the chart.
- From the drop-down menu, select the “Legend” option. This will display a sub-menu.
- Click on the “More Options” button at the bottom of the sub-menu. This will open the Format Legend pane.
Once you have accessed the Format Legend pane, you can proceed to change the legend name:
Using the Edit box
The Format Legend pane consists of various options to modify the legend. To change the legend name using the Edit box, follow these steps:
- In the Format Legend pane, find the “Name” section and locate the “Legend Name” field.
- Click inside the “Legend Name” field and enter the desired name for the legend.
- You can also use formula-based dynamic legend names by starting the name with an equal sign (=) and using cell references or worksheet functions.
Once you have entered the desired name or formula-based legend name, Excel will automatically update the legend name in the chart.
Using the chart data range
Alternatively, you can change the legend name by editing the chart data range:
- In the Format Legend pane, under the “Name” section, click on the “Select Data” button.
- In the “Edit Series” dialog box, find the series whose legend name you want to change and select it from the list.
- In the “Series Name” field, enter the desired name for the legend.
- Click “OK” to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
By following these steps, you can easily change the legend name in Excel and customize it according to your specific needs.
Change the legend name
Excel allows you to customize the legend name in a chart to provide a more meaningful and descriptive label. Here’s how you can change the legend name:
- Select the chart that contains the legend.
- Right-click on the chart and choose “Select Data” from the drop-down menu.
- In the “Select Data Source” dialog box, click on the series name that you want to change the legend name for.
- Click on the “Edit” button.
- In the “Edit Series” dialog box, enter the new name for the legend in the “Series name” field.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
- Repeat these steps for any other series names you want to change.
By following these steps, you can easily change the legend name in your Excel chart to better suit your needs.
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