To change the order of bars in an Excel bar chart, the most common and effective method is to sort the underlying data table from which the chart is generated. Excel charts are dynamic, meaning they automatically update when the source data changes, including the order of rows.
Changing Bar Chart Order by Sorting Data
The primary way to reorder your bar chart is by sorting the data range used for the chart. Here’s how you can do it:
- Select Your Data Table: Start by highlighting the cells in your spreadsheet that contain the data your bar chart is based on. This typically includes the labels for the bars (e.g., categories, names) and the corresponding numerical values.
- Access the Data Tab: Navigate to the "Data" tab on the Excel ribbon.
- Use the Sort Function: In the "Sort & Filter" group, click the "Sort" icon. This will open the Sort dialog box.
- Configure Your Sort:
- Choose the column you want to sort by from the "Sort by" dropdown. To change the order of the bars, you'll typically sort based on either the category labels or the numerical values.
- Select the "Order" (e.g., Smallest to Largest, Largest to Smallest, A to Z, Z to A).
- Example from Reference: As the reference states, to arrange your bar chart from greatest to least, you would sort the column containing the numerical values (like "# of votes") from Largest to Smallest.
- Apply the Sort: Click "OK" in the Sort dialog box.
Once you apply the sort, your data table will reorder, and your bar chart will automatically update to reflect the new sequence of your data, thus changing the order of the bars.
Why Sorting Data Works
Excel charts maintain a direct link to their source data. When you sort the rows in your data range, the chart redraws itself based on the new sequence of information. Sorting the numerical column changes the order of the bars based on their values, while sorting the category column changes the order based on the labels.
Example Data Table
Consider this simple data before sorting:
| Item | # of Votes |
|---|---|
| Option B | 50 |
| Option A | 120 |
| Option C | 80 |
A bar chart based on this might show bars in the order: Option B, Option A, Option C.
After sorting by "# of Votes" from Largest to Smallest, the data becomes:
| Item | # of Votes |
|---|---|
| Option A | 120 |
| Option C | 80 |
| Option B | 50 |
Now, the bar chart will automatically update to show bars in the order: Option A, Option C, Option B, effectively arranging them from greatest to least value.
By sorting your source data, you gain direct control over how your bar chart is displayed, allowing you to arrange bars alphabetically, by value, or in any custom order your data allows.
