Excel 2007: Default Chart Template

[Jeff]

Hello;

I posted this back in July in the wrong forum ("General Questions"); since I
didn't get a response, and the problem persists, I'll post it in this forum.

When our lab computers were running XP and Office 2003, I could easily set
up the default chart type to XY Scatter, with a few extra modifications, so
that all students would create the same type of chart. Now that we have Vista
and Office 2007, the process does not seem to work properly.

I created a template for an XY Scatter chart ("Scatter with only Markers"),
added a title and axis labels, formatted gridlines and the data marker type.
When I try to use this chart type for a simple 2-column data set, the graph
that's created appears to have two sets of data plotted, instead of one set.
Looking at the data source reveals what is happening: "Series 1" and "Series
2" are created; "Series 1" has the first data column selected for the
"Series Y Values", and "Series 2" has the second data column selected for
"Series Y Values". No entry is included for "Series X Values" for either data
series.

Of course, the correct option should be to have the first column for the
"Series X Values", the second for the "Series Y values". The weird thing is
that I can choose a "standard" XY Scatter chart to create the graph, then
change the Chart Type to my saved template, and the graph appears correctly!
That is the workaround I'm currently using, which works but is a tad clunky.

This seems like a bug to me. Has anyone else run into this problem? Thanks.

 

[ShaneDevenshire]

Hi,

I believe that 2007 templates work differently then in 2003.
1. First, create your chart in whatever style you want
2. Save the chart as a template - with the chart selected choose Chart
Tools, Design, Save As Template, name that chart and save it. Maybe call it
Default, but that is not necessary.
3. Now choose Chart Tools, Design, Change Chart Type
4. Pick the Templates folder and select your chart on the right
5. Click Set as Default Chart




Thanks,
Shane Devenshire

 

[Jeff]

Hello Shane;

Having my chart template set as the default isn't the issue. The problem is
that when creating a chart using this custom template, the data is plotted
incorrectly. The data is correctly plotted when a chart is created using a
built-in template, then applying my custom template, requiring an additional
step.

-Jeff