OmniDocWhere are the Excel chart tools? How to use the Design and Format tabs
Explain when the Excel chart tool tab appears and what to do if it cannot be found. It also explains one by one what the design and format tabs control, as well as several entrances to format the data series.
Key points of this article
- The chart tool is a contextual tab that will only appear in the ribbon when the chart is selected, not a permanent menu.
- Design tab manages the structure and data of the chart, such as adding chart elements, quick layout, chart style, selecting data, and changing chart type.
- Format tab manages the appearance, locate the element through the "Current Selection" drop-down box, and then open the format pane to adjust the details.
- To set the format of a data series, you can right-click the data series, double-click it, or operate in the format tab. The three entrances have the same effect.
- When the tab cannot be found, first confirm that the chart object is selected instead of the picture, and then check whether the ribbon is collapsed.
You inserted a chart in Excel and wanted to change the color of the data series, but found that the corresponding button could not be found in the tabs at the top. So I searched for "Where is the excel chart tool", and the results said that it was on the right side of the settings, and that I was looking for the layout label. These statements are actually referring to the same set of things: chart tool tabs. It is not a menu that is always displayed, but a set of functions that appear only after selecting the chart.
This article is written for readers who already know how to insert charts, but don’t know how to find chart tools and what each tab does. After reading, you will be able to determine why the tab does not appear, know what operations the design and format tabs are responsible for, and follow the steps to format the data series.
Where are the charting tools? One sentence conclusion
Chart Tools is a contextual tab of Excel, which is only displayed when you select a chart object. It is located on the right side of the General tab, with the logo of "Chart Tools", and contains two tabs, "Design" and "Format" below. Click on a cell outside the chart and it will disappear. If you cannot find it, please check it item by item according to the table below.
| your situation | Recommended practices | reason |
|---|---|---|
| No chart tools visible at the top | Click on an empty area of the chart to select it | Chart tools are contextual tabs and are not displayed when the chart is not selected. |
| I clicked on the chart, but there is still no tab. | Make sure it is a chart object and not a picture pasted in | The picture does not have the editing function of the chart object and will not trigger this tab. |
| There are few buttons in the ribbon and the text is squeezed out | Enlarge the Excel window or make it wider | When the window is narrow, part of the content in the ribbon will be hidden |
| The entire ribbon is folded, leaving only the labels | Double-click the current tab name, or press Ctrl+F1 | Both operations can switch the expansion and collapse of the ribbon. |
| Want to change the color or border of the data series | Switch to the Format tab, or right-click the data series directly | Appearance settings are concentrated in the format tab, and series formats can also be entered from the right-click entry. |
What two tabs does the chart tool contain?
The chart tool is divided into two tabs: Design and Format. The division of labor is very clear: Design is responsible for the structure and data of the chart, and Format is responsible for the appearance of the chart.
Design Tab: Tube Structure and Data
Commonly used functions in the Design tab include:
- Add chart elements: add or remove components such as titles, data labels, legends, coordinate axes, grid lines, etc.
- Quick Layout: Apply preset element combinations with one click, suitable for quickly getting a standard layout.
- Chart Style: Change the color scheme and effects as a whole. It is a direct entrance to basic chart presets.
- Switch rows/columns: Swap the rows and columns of data and change the direction in which the chart is divided into series.
- Select Data: Modify the data range referenced by the chart, add or delete series.
- Change Chart Type: Switch between column chart, line chart, pie chart, etc.
- Move Chart: Move the chart to the current worksheet or a separate new worksheet.
Format Tab: Tube Appearance
The Format tab is more focused on detailed adjustments:
- Current Selection: A drop-down box lists each element in the chart, such as a data series, axis, or title. Select the target here first, then the subsequent settings will be applied to it.
- Format Pane: After opening in the Format tab, the Format Pane will appear on the right side of the window, where you can adjust fill, border, shadow, etc.
- Shape style, WordArt style: Quickly apply styles to chart elements.
- Arrangement, Size: Adjust the hierarchical relationship and size of the chart and other objects.
In earlier versions of Excel (such as 2007, 2010), there is also a tab dedicated to chart layout and label settings. Most of its functionality has now been merged into "Add Chart Elements" and "Quick Layout" in the Design tab, as well as related settings in the Format tab, so not finding the old tab doesn't mean the functionality is gone.
Common misunderstandings and areas of confusion
Misunderstanding 1: Chart tool is an independent menu
Many people think that it is always displayed alongside the permanent tabs such as Start and Insert. It's actually contextual tabs that appear on demand. As long as the chart is selected, it will appear; if it is not selected, it will not appear. So learning to select the chart first is more important than looking for buttons everywhere.
Misconception 2: The functions of design and format are interchangeable
Design manages "what is there and how to organize it", such as adding or removing titles, changing chart types, and changing data ranges; format manages "what it looks like", such as the color and line thickness of a certain column. If you want to change the color but find it repeatedly in the design, it is usually because the target is not within the scope of the design. Just switch to the Format tab.
Misunderstanding 3: Failure to select data series means the function is broken
When the data series is very thin or the chart elements overlap, it is easy to select the wrong object by clicking directly. At this time, use the "Current Selection" drop-down box on the Format tab to select, and the result will be more reliable.
# Core comparison
There are three common entrances for setting data series format, with the same effect and slightly different scenarios:
| Entrance | Suitable for the scene | Matters needing attention |
|---|---|---|
| Right-click the data series and select set data series format | It has been able to target the series in the point on the diagram. | The click position should be accurate and the gap between the columns is easy to be empty. |
| Double-click the data series | Want to quickly open the formatting pane | Double-clicking the wrong touch will open the pane and affect other operations |
| Current selection in the formatting tab | The elements of the chart overlap or the series are so thin that it is difficult to click directly. | You need to confirm that the target series is selected in the drop-down box. |
# how to use it
If you want to change the color of a data series, you can follow these steps:
- Click the chart in Excel, and the design and formatting tab under the chart tool appears at the top.
two. Switch to the formatting tab and select the data series you want to modify in the current selection drop-down box.
- Open the formatting pane in the formatting tab and adjust the fill color or border in the right pane.
If the raw data of the chart is hidden in PDF, such as the statistical table in the appendix of a 30-page paper, you can organize the table into Excel before drawing. The PDF editor of the OmniDoc desktop client supports exporting PDF to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and then creating charts in Excel after export. If the PDF is a scanned copy, you can use OCR to identify the text and check whether the numbers are accurate before export. The desktop client can be downloaded from download.omnidoc.top.
# which method is suitable for you?
- only want to unify color matching or layout : give priority to the chart style and quick layout of the Design tab, which can be completed in a few steps. - want to adjust a column or line : select the target with "current selection" in the formatting tab, and then enter the formatting pane. - the data range has changed : modify the reference range with the selected data in the design tab without redrawing. - want to change the chart type *: use to change the chart type in the design tab to retain the original data and most of the settings.
# frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why is the Chart tools tab not displayed?
A common reason is that the chart is not selected. Just click in the blank space of the chart. If it is still not displayed, check to see if the object is a picture, or if the ribbon is folded away.
2. What if I don't see the old version of the layout class tab?
In newer versions of Excel, the older layout class tabs have been incorporated into both the design and formatting tabs. The required features can be found in "add Chart elements" and "Quick layout" in the design.
3. How do I turn off or put away the chart tool?
Uncheck the chart, click any cell in the worksheet, and the chart tool will automatically hide. If you want to wrap up the entire ribbon, you can double-click the name of the current tab or press Ctrl+F1.
4. Where is the basic chart preset set?
In the chart style and quick layout of the Design tab, you can apply presets directly. If you want to keep a set of settings for later use, you need to confirm whether there is an option to save as a template according to your version of Excel. You can try it on a test chart before doing so.
# Summary
The Chart tool is a contextual tab that appears after the chart is selected, designing tube structure and data, and formatting tube appearance. If you can't find it, make sure that the chart object is selected, and then check if the ribbon is folded away. After mastering the division of labor between the two tabs, it is much faster to modify the chart.
