Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Changing Chart Location.

Changing Chart Type

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 29, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


When you create a chart in Excel, the chart can be either embedded as an object within an worksheet, or you can add the chart as its own worksheet. Each type of chart has its advantages, and at some time you might want to change a particular chart from one type to the other. In order to do this, follow these steps:

  1. Select the chart you want to change. If working with a chart object, then you should see a series of handles around the perimeter of the chart. If working with a chart sheet, the chart sheet should be displayed.
  2. Choose the Location option from the Chart menu. Excel displays the Chart Location dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The Chart Location dialog box.

  4. Choose whether you want the chart displayed as a sheet or as an object.
  5. If you choose that you want the chart displayed as an object, use the drop-down list to select the worksheet on which the chart object should appear.
  6. Click on OK.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3030) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Changing Chart Location.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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