Options tab

The Options tab is a tab of the Format Data Series dialog.

For all chart types except Surface and Quadrant charts, the Format Data Series dialog has an Options tab.

The options of the Options tab vary according to chart type and, in some cases, sub-type. In some cases, an option is applicable to only one chart type.

Angle of first slice: In, for example, Pie, Doughnut and Radar charts, you can rotate the chart by a specified angle.
Chart depth: In charts with a three-dimensional effect, you can specify the apparent depth of the chart. The depths of the data series adjust to the depth of the chart. In Cylinder charts, for example, this can change the shape of the data series.
Connection lines: The Connection lines option is available in two-dimensional stacked charts and in Bar of Pie and Pie of Pie charts. In stacked charts, the same categories of data in different stacks are connected by lines.; In Bar of Pie and Pie of Pie charts, a secondary chart is displayed next to the main Pie chart. The secondary chart is based on a subset of the primary chart's data. In the primary chart, the data series which form the subset are combined into one. Connection lines connect the secondary chart to the combined data series in the main chart.; You can specify the line style and color of the connection lines. In Design Mode, double-click a connection line to display the Format Series Lines dialog.
Cut series by: In Bar of Pie and Pie of Pie charts, the secondary chart is based on a subset of the primary chart's data. In the primary chart, the data series which form the subset are combined into one pie slice.; By default, Position is selected in the 'Cut series by list' and the secondary chart is based on the last two values in the data series. You can specify a different number of values to use.; If you select Value in the 'Cut series by' list, you can specify that the secondary chart is based on values smaller than a value which you specify.; If you select Percent in the 'Cut series by list' , you can specify that the secondary chart is based on those values which form less than a specified percentage of the total values.; For the Value and Percentage options, if the data does not contain the value that you specify, the secondary chart is not displayed.
Distance: In, for example, a column chart, each category can include several data series. You can specify the distance between the categories. To specify the distance between the data series within a category, specify a positive value in the Overlap field.; In Pie of Pie and Bar of Pie charts, Distance specifies the distance between the primary and secondary charts.
Drop lines: Drop lines are a visual aid available in, for example, Line charts, Profile charts and Stock charts. In these charts, the data points of each data series all lie on the same planes, and so can be joined by straight lines. A drop line runs through the data points and intersects with the Category axis. If there is only one data series, the line connects each data point to the Category axis.; You can specify the line style and color of the drop lines. In Design Mode, double-click a connection line to display the Format Drop Lines dialog.
Fit bubble size to: The bubbles in a Portfolio chart have a default size. You can increase or decrease their size by a percentage of the default. The relative sizes of all the bubbles remain the same.
Gap depth: In charts with a three-dimensional effect, you can specify the apparent gap between the data series and the back wall and front edge of the plot area.; See Formatting the Plot and Chart areas.
High-low lines and Up-down bars: High-low lines are vertical lines which represent the difference between the highest and lowest values in a category. They are displayed by default in stock charts. In two of the stock chart subtypes (Volume, Open, Low, Close and Open, High, Low, Close) up-down bars are added to the high-low lines. This gives each data series the appearance of a candle and wick - from which stock charts get their alternative name - Candlestick charts. Different fill-colors of the bars indicate whether the stock closed higher or lower than the opening price.; Unlike Drop lines, High-low lines do not intersect with the Category axis.; You can specify the line style and color of the high-low lines and up-down bars. In Design Mode, double-click a line or bar to display the Format High-Low Lines, Format Up Bars or Format Down Bars dialog as appropriate.; High-low lines and up-down bars are also available in, for example, Line charts and Profile charts.; See Chart types
Histogram classes: You can specify the number of classes or 'bins' into which the data is divided. In a histogram, the number of data points that fall into each class are counted.
Label of the radar axis: In Radar charts, you can specify whether the axes are labeled. By default, labels are displayed.; You can specify the font and alignment of radar labels. In Design Mode, double-click a label to open the Format Radar Label dialog.
Move line up first: This option applies to Steps charts. By default, the steps are midway between the categories on the Category axis. For example, if in the first quarter of a financial year, an interest rate is 1% and in the second quarter it is 1.5% the step is between the 1% and 1.5% markers on the Category axis. If you clear the Move line up first check box, the step is at the 1.5% marker.
Overlap: By default, the data series in a bar chart, for example, are adjacent to each other. In the Overlap field, you can specify a positive or negative number. A negative number causes the data series to overlap. A positive number creates a gap between the data series. The values that you specify affect all data series in a chart.; The Overlap option is not available in, for example, line charts.
Positive and negative deviation areas: You must specify this option individually on the two data series which will bound the deviation areas. By default, the sample data displayed in Design Mode has three data series. Ensure that you specify this option on the two data series that will be displayed.; You can format the positive and negative deviation areas. In Design Mode, double-click the area to format. The Format Up Areas or Format Down Areas dialog is displayed as appropriate. The options of the dialog are described here: The Pattern tab.
Show negative bubbles: By default, if a value which specifies the radius of a bubble is negative, the bubble is displayed with a border and a white fill. Clear the Show negative bubbles check box, to prevent the display of bubbles with negative radii.
Size of doughnut hole: By default, the hole in a doughnut chart is 50% of the size of the doughnut. You can specify a different percentage, from 10% to 90%.
Size of second plot area: In Pie of Pie and Bar of Pie charts, a secondary chart is displayed next to the primary chart. You can change the relative sizes of the primary and secondary charts by specifying the size of the second plot area.
Size represents: Bubble size can represent the areas of the bubbles or their diameters.; The diameter of a circle is in proportion to its radius, but its area is in proportion to the square of its radius. This can have implications for how users interpret the bubble sizes. It can be useful to inform users which scaling option has been applied.
Value ranges: Value ranges can be used in, for example, Tachometer charts, to specify the color to which each data series points, and the ranges of values which the colors represent.; If you select the Automatic option for value ranges, the chart displays red, green and yellow areas of the same size.
Vary colors by point: In, for example, bar charts with a single data series, all bars are displayed in the same color. Select Vary colors by point to apply a different color to each bar.

Interactive and animated charts

Some charts types can be interactive. For example, chart shapes are highlighted and tooltips are displayed in response to movement of the mouse.

Interactive charts can also be animated. For example, when a column chart loads, the columns rise from zero to their correct heights.

You can enable interactivity and animation for individual data series or for an entire chart.

To enable interactivity and animation options for a chart, select the Interactive and Animated options on the Other Options tab of the Chart Options dialog.

To enable interactivity and animation options for a data series, select the Interactive and Animated options on the Options tab of the Format Data Series dialog.

Whether interactivity and animation are supported depends on the chart type and on which fill is selected in the Pattern tab. With the exception of line and profile charts, at least one of the data series must have a fill selected from the Gradients and other options dialog.

This table shows the chart types that support interactivity and animation:


Chart Type	Animation	Unsupported Chart Variants
Column	Columns rise from zero to correct height.	3D
Bar	Bars extend from zero to correct length.	3D
Pie	On loading, the segments fan out. After loading, the segments expand while the cursor is over them.	Pie of Pie, Bar of Pie, Tiled Pie, 3D
Line and Profile	The lines begin as straight lines then warp into shape.	Smooth lines, 3D
Doughnut	On loading, the data series expand to form the rings of the chart. After loading, the segments of the rings expand while the cursor is over them.
Portfolio	On loading, the bubbles of the chart expand from single pixels to their full size.

These fill types are supported:

Automatic
Solid fill
Images
Linear gradients
Radial gradients (if Internet Explorer is used, it must be version 9+)

These elements and options are always displayed statically:

Plot area, grid, chart axes and their labels, chart title
Drop lines, high-low lines, up-down bars, deviation areas, and steps for line charts
Error indicators
Chart legend
Value ranges
Vary colors by point is only supported by Line charts.
Cutting
Rounded gradient borders
Shadow
Invert if negative.

These options are not supported:

Scaling of gradients
Vertical labels
Gradient borders.