Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 17, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Hao is running into a problem where his Y-axis titles are having the last 4 or 5 characters truncated, seemingly without rhyme or reason. In his case, the problem seems to be related somehow to the Analysis ToolPak, since the truncation doesn't occur until it is installed. Since he can't disable the Analysis ToolPak (he needs it to complete his calculations), Hao is wondering if others have run into the same problem and how they fixed it.
It seems that you're not the only one who has run into the problem, nor are you the only one who would love a solution. There doesn't seem to be a solution right now, but several subscribers provided workarounds that they use.
One possible workaround is to simply "pad" the end of the Y-axis title so that it contains inconsequential characters you don't mind having chopped off. For instance, you could add a few spaces at the end of the title, followed by a period. Or, you could try non-breaking spaces (without the period) by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Space Bar. If you pad the title with printable characters, you can format those characters so that they are the same color as the background.
It appears that the space allotted for the axis title by Excel is proportional to the size of the chart itself. This means that you may need to play with the chart size and see if enlarging it allows more of the axis title to be displayed. Some subscribers also reported success by adjusting the font size used for the axis title. For font sizes up to 26 or 28 points, the title would display correctly on a single line, but again this depended on the size of the chart itself.
Some people also got good results by adding a few spaces at the beginning of the axis title text. (Yes, at the beginning.) Why this works is unclear, other than it may force Excel to act as if there are spaces at the end, even though you didn't add any, in order to center the text in the available title space.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3126) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
Wouldn't it be great to have your huge charts print out on multiple pieces of paper that you could then piece together? ...
Discover MoreGetting a chart looking its best on a black-and-white printer can be a challenge. This tip examines different ways you ...
Discover MoreOne type of chart that Excel allows you to create is one that occupies an entire worksheet. When it comes time to print ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments