Microsoft Excel 
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WORKING WITH AN EMBEDDED CHART 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 
Try This Yourself: 
Same 
File Continue using the 
previous file with this 
exercise, or open the file 
E1317 Charting_2.xlsx... 
 
Point to the border of the 
chart and click once to 
select the chart as an 
object 
The border of the chart will 
thicken to indicate that the 
chart is selected, the 
range of data used for the 
chart will be coloured, the 
ribbon will show  
chart-specific tabs and 
commands, and additional 
tools will appear to the 
right of the chart… 
 
Click on the chart legend 
to make it the active object 
in the chart 
 
Click on the vertical axis 
to make it the active object 
 
Click on the horizontal 
axis to make it the active 
object 
 
Click on the border of the 
chart to make the overall 
chart the active object 
again – notice that the 
range of data has been 
coloured again  
 
Click in cell A1 to deselect 
the chart 
 
By default, new charts are placed in the active 
worksheet, which is usually the one that contains 
the data. Charts are placed over the top of the 
worksheet, embedded as objects. When you  
want to work with a chart you must select it – this 
can be done by clicking on the chart. The chart 
itself is made up of many objects and these too can 
be selected by clicking on them. 
For Your Reference… 
To select a chart and its objects: 
1. Click on the border of the chart to select an 
embedded chart 
2. Click on the various objects of a chart to 
select them 
Handy to Know… 
 Once an object is selected, be it a chart, a 
legend on the chart, or the like, you can right-
click on the object to see a shortcut menu 
specific to the selected object. 
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