Tip of the week # 462
16 October 2015

Add additional data to an existing chart (Microsoft Excel) ^*

After you create a chart in Excel (F11, anyone?) you might need to add new, additional data to the existing graph. As always, there are various ways to do this. I personally feel Microsoft has over-complicated the Select Data option in the Data group on the Design tab. If the chart is stored on the same sheet as the data, you can simply drag the "sizing handles" to add the new data. But if the chart is on a separate chart sheet or you don't understand what I mean with or cannot see the sizing handles, you can copy the additional worksheet data into the chart.

Here's how:

1. On the worksheet, select the cells that contain the data that you want to add to the chart.
2. Copy, as normal. (CTRL + C?)
3. Select the chart or go to the chart sheet into which you want to paste the copied data.
4. Press ENTER or CTRL + V.

By the way, have you ever noticed that as soon as you copy something, Excel is telling you what to do on the Status Bar in the bottom left corner of the screen? Select destination and press ENTER or choose Paste.

^* Unless stated otherwise, these tips were written for Microsoft Office 2010.