How to Make a Series the Same Color Across Multiple Charts in Excel 2010

The color of a common data series may be changed so that it is the same across multiple charts in Excel 2010.

When creating charts in Excel 2010, common data series across different charts in a spreadsheet should be the same color to provide a level of continuity. Excel has controls that allow you to change the colors of individual bars in graphs and charts. While the colors may not be changed all at once, you can use the formatting tools in Excel 2010 to make data series the same color across several charts.

Instructions

1. Launch Excel and open the spreadsheet that contains the charts for which you want to create a common color for a data series. Click the chart to display the “Chart Tools” menu in the ribbon.

2. Click one of the data series in a chart for which you want to create a common color. Click the “Format” tab and locate the “Current Selection” section. Click the “Chart Elements” menu and select the “Data Series” option. Click the “Format Selection” button, which will open a separate window.

3. Click the “Patterns” tab and click a color in the “Area” section. The series will automatically take on the selected color. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the same data series in each chart, selecting the same color each time.

References

• Microsoft Office: Change the Format of a Selected Chart Element