Combination+Charts

To emphasize different types of information in a chart, you can combine two or more chart types in that chart. For example, you can combine a column chart with a line chart for an instant visual effect that might make the chart easier to understand. When the range of values for different data series (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) in your chart varies widely, or when you have mixed types of data, you can plot one or more data series from a different chart type on a secondary vertical (value) axis. In this article
 * [|Create a combination chart]
 * [|Save a chart as a template]

Create a combination chart
The following procedure will help you create a combination chart with results that are similar to those shown in our example combination chart graphic. For this chart, we used the example worksheet data. You can copy this data to your worksheet, or you can use your own data, as long as you use the same column headers and worksheet structure. How to copy the example worksheet data
 * 1) Copy the example worksheet data into a blank worksheet, or open the worksheet that contains the data that you want to plot in a combination chart.

Selecting an example from Help
 * 1) Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
 * 2) Select the example in the Help topic.
 * Note** Do not select the row or column headers.
 * 1) Press CTRL+C.
 * 2) In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

> || **Homes Sold** || **Average Price ll** ll > 1|| **Jan** || 280 || 410 || > 2|| **Feb** || 150 || 450 || > 3|| **Mar** || 220 || 430 || > 4|| **Apr** || 275 || 425 || > 5|| **May** || 155 || 410 || > 6|| **Jun** || 255 || 400 || This displays the **Chart Tools**, adding the **Design**, **Layout**, and **Format** tabs. [|Top of Page]
 * 1) Select the data that you want to plot in the combination chart.
 * 2) On the **Insert** tab, in the **Charts** group, click **Column**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654341033 caption="Charts group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **2-D Column**, click **Clustered Column**.
 * 4) In the chart, click the data series  (data series: Related data points that are plotted in a chart. Each data series in a chart has a unique color or pattern and is represented in the chart legend. You can plot one or more data series in a chart. Pie charts have only one data series.) that you want to display in a different chart type, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we selected the data series for **Average Price**.
 * 1) On the **Design** tab, in the **Type** group, click **Change Chart Type**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101940301033 caption="Type group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Note** If the whole chart changes to a line chart, you need to make sure that only one data series is selected before you change the chart type.
 * 1) Under **Line**, click **Line with Markers**, and then click **OK**.
 * 2) To plot the line on a secondary axis, do the following:
 * 3) In the chart, click the line that represents Average Price once to select the data series, or select it from a list of chart elements (**Layout** tab, **Current Selection** group, **Chart Elements** box).
 * 4) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Current Selection** group, click **Format Selection**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101949361033 caption="Current Selection group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 5) In the **Series Options** category, under **Plot Series On**, click **Secondary Axis**, and then click **Close**.
 * 6) Click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.) of the chart.
 * 7) On the **Design** tab, in the **Chart Styles** group, click the chart style that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102381541033 caption="Chart Styles group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used **Style 42**.
 * 1) To change the size of the chart, on the **Format** tab, in the **Size** group, select the shape size that you want in the **Shape Height** and **Shape Width** boxes, and then press ENTER.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used **5** for the shape height and **5** for the shape width.
 * Tip** You can also resize a chart by dragging one of the corners of the chart until the chart reaches the size that you want.
 * 1) To add, format, and position a chart title on the chart, click the chart area  (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then do the following:
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Chart Title**, and then click **Above Chart**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654001033 caption="Labels group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) In the chart, click the chart title, and then type the text that you want.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we typed **Recent Home Sales**.
 * 1) To reduce the size of the chart title, right-click the title, and then enter the size that you want in the **Size** box on the shortcut menu.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used **18**.
 * 1) To move the legend, do the following:
 * 2) Click the legend to select it.
 * 3) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Legend**, and then click the position that you want.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we clicked **Show Legend at Bottom**.
 * 1) To add vertical axis titles, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Layout** tab, in the **Labels** group, click **Axis Titles**, and then do the following:
 * Click **Primary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the title option that you want.
 * Click **Secondary Vertical Axis Title**, and then click the title option that you want.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we clicked **Rotated Title** for both axes.
 * 1) Click each axis title, and then type the text that you want for that title.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we typed **Number of homes** for the primary vertical axis title and **Average price per home in thousands** for the secondary axis title.
 * 1) To change the font size of the axis titles, click each axis title, and then click the size that you want in the **Font Size** box.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used **14** for the font size.
 * 1) To change the appearance of the markers that are displayed on the Average Price line, do the following:
 * 2) Right-click a marker, and then click **Format Data Series** on the shortcut menu.
 * 3) Click **Marker Options**, and then under **Marker Type**, click **Built-in**.
 * 4) In the **Type** box, click the marker type that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used a round marker type.
 * 1) Click the chart area of the chart.
 * 2) On the **Format** tab, in the **Shape Styles** group, click the **More** button [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100868781033 caption="Button image"]], and then click the effect that you want to use. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101653931033 caption="Shape Styles group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used the **Subtle Effect - Dark 1** for the chart area.
 * 1) If you want to use theme colors that are different from the default theme that is applied to your workbook, do the following:
 * 2) On the **Page Layout** tab, in the **Themes** group, click **Themes**. [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA101654451033 caption="Themes group on Excel Ribbon"]]
 * 3) Under **Built-in**, click the theme that you want to use.
 * Tip** For our combination chart, we used the **Office** theme.

Save a chart as a template
If you want to create another chart like the one that you just created, you can save the chart as a template that you can use as the basis for other similar charts. For more information about how to apply a chart template, see [|Create, apply, or remove a chart template]. menu
 * 1) Click the chart that you want to save as a template.
 * 2) On the **Design** tab, in the **Type** group, click **Save as Template**.
 * 3) In the **File name** box, type a name for the template.
 * Tip** Unless you specify a different folder, the template file (.crtx) will be saved in the **Charts** folder, and the template becomes available under **Templates** in both the **Insert Chart** dialog box (**Insert** tab, **Charts** group, Dialog Box Launcher [[image:http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA100985101033 caption="Button image"]]) and the **Change Chart Type** dialog box (**Design** tab, **Type** group, **Change Chart Type**).
 * Note** A chart template contains chart formatting and stores the colors that are in use when you save the chart as a template. When you use a chart template to create a chart in another workbook, the new chart uses the colors of the chart template — not the colors of the document theme that is currently applied to the workbook. To use the document theme colors instead of the chart template colors, right-click the chart area (chart area: The entire chart and all its elements.), and then click **Reset to Match Style** on the shortcut