Use and Edit Labels

Available from Version: - 

Operating System: Windows 

empower® Add-in: Chart Creation

Labels can be added for most objects in data charts and Gantt charts.

Some objects are added with a label by default. Other objects are added without a label by default.

Note

If a large number of labels is added to a chart, data labels are switched off automatically.

In most cases, you can enable the data labels via a notification bar. If there are too many labels, the data labels cannot be reenabled.

Edit Data Label Settings

Under the button Data Labels in the action bar, you can set general settings for the labels in your data chart (Figure 606, “Button Data Labels).

Figure 606. Button Data Labels

Button Data Labels

The available options depend on the chart type. For example, you can enable and disable column sums globally if your chart contains columns or bars.

In addition, you can make changes to the primary value axis labels.

If the chart also has a secondary value axis, the label settings for this axis can also be adjusted.

If the chart contains a horizontal value axis, you can also change the default settings for its labels.

If the chart contains a category axis, you can decide which information should be displayed in the label.

For some charts such as circle charts and Mekko charts, you have additional options.

To disable the data labels globally for your chart, switch the toggle button for Show Data Labels to Off (Figure 607, “Option Show Data Labels).

Figure 607. Option Show Data Labels

Option Show Data Labels

By default, all data labels have an automatic background.

To disable this automatic background, switch the toggle button for Automatic Background to Off (Figure 608, “Option Automatic Background).

Now, you can decide for each data label individually if you want to display the colored background or not.

Figure 608. Option Automatic Background

Option Automatic Background

By default, automatic leader lines are enabled for all data labels. These leader lines are added to your labels as soon as you move them from their default position and connect them to their data point (Figure 609, “Leader Lines in Chart”).

They are supposed to create a clear arrangement of data points and data labels, where data labels can always be mapped correctly to their data points.

Figure 609. Leader Lines in Chart

Leader Lines in Chart

To disable these automatic leader lines, switch the toggle button for Auto Leader Lines to Off (Figure 610, “Option Auto Leader Lines).

Figure 610. Option Auto Leader Lines

Option Auto Leader Lines

The text format for the data labels can also be set globally. To do so, expand the drop-down menu and choose a format (Figure 611, “Define Label Format”).

To create a custom data label format, click on the button Custom….

For further information regarding custom labels, see Custom Labels.

Figure 611. Define Label Format

Define Label Format

In charts such as column, bar or waterfall charts, column sums can be used to display the sum value of multiple data series.

To show column sums on all columns or bars in the chart, switch the toggle button for Show Column Sums to On (Figure 612, “Option Show Column Sums).

Figure 612. Option Show Column Sums

Option Show Column Sums

If your chart contains negative data points, you can display the column sums for those data points on the other end of the column or bar.

To do so, switch the toggle button for Show Negative Sums at Other End to On (Figure 613, “Option Show Negative Column Sums at Other End).

Figure 613. Option Show Negative Column Sums at Other End

Option Show Negative Column Sums at Other End

In circle charts, you can decide if you want to display the data labels inside or outside of the chart.

To display the data labels outside of the chart, switch the toggle button for Show Data Labels Outside to On (Figure 614, “Option Show Data Labels Outside).

Figure 614. Option Show Data Labels Outside

Option Show Data Labels Outside

For all value axes in a chart, you can choose a number format and the scale for the axis labels and all values that refer to the axis. These settings can be adjusted individually for each axis (Figure 615, “Axis Settings”).

To do so, expand the drop-down menus and choose your preferred options.

Figure 615. Axis Settings

Axis Settings

To use a custom number format, choose the option Custom Number Format.

A dialog box opens (Figure 616, “Dialog Box for Custom Number Format”).

Here, either type in your custom format into the input field or choose one from the list.

A preview is displayed above the input field.

Figure 616. Dialog Box for Custom Number Format

Dialog Box for Custom Number Format

The number format and scale are then applied to the axis labels and to the data points' data labels.

By default, the Excel format is applied on the labels.

If you want to revert all settings to go back to the initial default, choose the option Reset Data Labels (Figure 617, “Option Reset Data Labels).

A dialog box opens.

Figure 617. Option Reset Data Labels

Option Reset Data Labels

In this dialog box, you can choose which properties of the data labels should be reset (Figure 618, “Reset Data Labels”).

By default, the option Everything is selected.

To deselect an option, untick its checkbox.

To select an option, tick its checkbox.

To confirm your selection, click on the button OK.

Figure 618. Reset Data Labels

Reset Data Labels

Note

The data label settings in the action bar are only available for data charts.

Add and Edit Labels

To add a label to a Gantt chart object such as a milestone, select the object a click on the button Label (Figure 619, “Button Label – Enable”).

The label is added to the object.

To remove the label, click on the same button (Figure 620, “Button Label – Disable”).

Figure 619. Button Label – Enable

Button Label – Enable

Figure 620. Button Label – Disable

Button Label – Disable

To add label to a data chart object, select the object and click on the button Show Label (Figure 621, “Button Show Label).

To remove the label, click on the same button.

Alternatively, select the label itself and click on the button Delete in the open menu.

Figure 621. Button Show Label

Button Show Label

Labels can also be formatted individually. To do so, select the label.

To select all data labels in a data series, first select one data point in the series and then execute a second click on the same data point.

Alternatively, select a label and then press Ctrl + A. All labels in the same series will be selected.

If you press Ctrl + A a second time, all labels in all series will be selected.

If you press Ctrl + A a third time, all labels including sum and category labels will be selected.

To select multiple labels from different series, hold down Ctrl and select all labels you want to edit.

To select multiple labels in a specific area of the chart, click on the first label. Then press Shift and click on the last label. All labels within the rectangular span between the two selected labels will be selected.

After your selection, a menu opens.

Here, you can format the label according to your needs (Figure 622, “Formatting Options for Labels”).

You can adjust the font size and format the label in bold, underlined or in italics.

In addition, you can change the font color.

Figure 622. Formatting Options for Labels

Formatting Options for Labels

If a label is positioned outside of an object or outside of the chart's data area, it might become illegible.

To avoid this, enable the label background by clicking on the button Show Data Label Background (Figure 623, “Button Show Data Label Background).

Figure 623. Button Show Data Label Background

Button Show Data Label Background

The background will always be colored in the object's or data point's fill color (Figure 624, “Labels with Background”).

Figure 624. Labels with Background

Labels with Background

In data charts, this option is only available if the global setting Automatic Background has been disabled under the button Data Labels in the action bar.

In Gantt charts, this setting can only be enabled and disabled for individual objects.

Note

For data labels in data charts, you can make global settings. For further information, see Edit Data Label Settings.

Note

The date format cannot be changed for individual labels in Gantt charts. However, you can set a global date format.

For further information, see Define the Time Span.

Alternatively, you can enter a free text. To do so, double-click into the label's text field.

For further information regarding partial text formatting and free text, see Format Text Partially.

For data chart labels, you have additional options.

For example, you can change the text direction according to your needs.

To do so, select the label and then click on the button Change Text Direction (Figure 625, “Button Change Text Direction).

Then, choose an option.

Figure 625. Button Change Text Direction

Button Change Text Direction

In addition, a second menu opens on the left-hand side of the chart.

Here, you can define the label type for the individual label and make further adjustments to the labels' number formats.

To change the label type, choose an option from the list (Figure 626, “Data Label Menu” (1)).

If you want to use a custom label, click on the button Custom (Figure 626, “Data Label Menu” (2)).

For further information regarding custom labels, see Custom Labels.

If you have chosen a label type containing percentages, you can also define how many decimal places should be displayed (Figure 626, “Data Label Menu” (3)).

To do so, either enter the value into the input field or increase or decrease the value using the little arrow symbols.

In addition, you can choose a number format for the label (Figure 626, “Data Label Menu” (4)).

To do so, expand the drop-down menus and choose your preferred options.

Figure 626. Data Label Menu

Data Label Menu

To use a custom number format, choose the option Custom Number Format.

A dialog box opens (Figure 627, “Dialog Box for Custom Number Format”).

Here, either type in your custom format into the input field or choose one from the list.

A preview is displayed above the input field.

Figure 627. Dialog Box for Custom Number Format

Dialog Box for Custom Number Format

This number format is then applied to the data points' data labels.

By default, the Excel format is applied on the labels.

Note

New data point labels in a data series inherit the formatting of the majority of the data series' labels.

Move Labels

To move a label to another position, select the label and drag it to the new position.

To move all labels in a data series, keeping their relative arrangement, select one label and then execute a second click on the same label.

To move multiple labels, but not all labels in a series, press Ctrl and select all labels you want to move.

By default, the data label position is led by empower® and therefore automatically adjusts to its environment.

In order to move data labels exclusively horizontally and vertically, hold the key Shift while moving the element to the new position.

For example, this option can be used to move data labels in line charts exactly below the marker point (Figure 628, “Line Chart with Labels below Line”).

To move the label(s) freely, hold the key Ctrl while moving the label(s).

Figure 628. Line Chart with Labels below Line

Line Chart with Labels below Line

By default, an automatic leader line is added to a label if it is moved. This clarifies which object the label belongs to.

To disable this leader line for a single label, select the label and then click on the button Automatic Leader Line (Figure 629, “Button Automatic Leader Line).

To disable the automatic leader lines for all labels in the chart, see Edit Data Label Settings for data charts and see Edit Gantt Chart Properties for Gantt charts.

Figure 629. Button Automatic Leader Line

Button Automatic Leader Line

If you use custom positioned labels, default positioned labels will evade.

Labels always try to evade in x axis direction, not in y axis direction.

Note

All information and instructions above also apply to line and arrow labels.

Note

If you change the chart in any way, the relative distance and position of the data label to its data point will remain the same.

Note

If a chart has a lot of data and all the labels are enabled, the labels will automatically try to avoid each other.

However, it might occur that not all labels can be placed without overlapping. In this case, a message appears in the chart.

Custom Labels

If you choose to create a custom text format for data labels, axis labels or any other label, a dialog box opens.

In this dialog box, you can combine values, percentages, coordinates and other text elements to create your own text format.

To add one of these elements, click on the button Add and choose your preferred option (Figure 630, “Button Add).

Each text element can only be added once, except for the free text element.

Figure 630. Button Add

Button Add

To display all details for all text elements, click on the button Expand All (Figure 631, “Expand and Collapse Settings” (1)).

To hide the details for all text elements, click on the button Collapse All (Figure 631, “Expand and Collapse Settings” (2)).

Figure 631. Expand and Collapse Settings

Expand and Collapse Settings

The order of the elements in the list define which element will be displayed first. To change this order and move one of the text elements up or down, use the little arrow symbols (Figure 632, “Rearrange Element Order”).

Figure 632. Rearrange Element Order

Rearrange Element Order

For values, you can decide if you want to use absolute values or not (Figure 633, “Settings for Value Element”).

Figure 633. Settings for Value Element

Settings for Value Element

For coordinates, you can also decide if you want to use absolute values or not (Figure 634, “Settings for Coordinates Element”).

Figure 634. Settings for Coordinates Element

Settings for Coordinates Element

For percentages, you can decide how many decimal places you want to display (Figure 635, “Settings for Percentage Element”).

To do so, increase or decrease the number using the little arrow symbols.

Alternatively, type in a value into the input field.

In the drop-down menu for Reference, choose which series the label should refer to. Alternatively, you can choose the option Relative.

Hover over the question mark symbol next to this setting.

Figure 635. Settings for Percentage Element

Settings for Percentage Element

If choose the option Series, the series name as defined in the mini Excel will be displayed (Figure 636, “Settings for Series Element”).

Figure 636. Settings for Series Element

Settings for Series Element

If you choose the option Category, the category name as defined in the mini Excel will be displayed (Figure 637, “Settings for Category Element”).

Figure 637. Settings for Category Element

Settings for Category Element

If you choose the option Excel Label, the label as defined in the mini Excel will be displayed (Figure 638, “Settings for Excel Label Element”).

This option is only available for scatter and bubble charts.

In data labels for bubble charts, you can also add the bubble size as a text element.

Figure 638. Settings for Excel Label Element

Settings for Excel Label Element

To display any of the text elements surrounded by brackets, tick the checkbox for Brackets for the respective text element. You can then also decide which type of brackets you want to use.

If you display more than one text element, you can decide which separator you want to use between the two text elements.

To do so, expand the drop-down menu for Separator and choose an option (Figure 639, “Define Separator”).

Figure 639. Define Separator

Define Separator

To use a custom separator, choose the option Custom… (Figure 640, “Define Custom Separator”).

Then, type in the separator you want to use into the input field.

Figure 640. Define Custom Separator

Define Custom Separator

On the top of the dialog box, you can view a preview and see what the axis text will look like according to your current setting (Figure 641, “Finalize Custom Text Format” (1)).

To delete one of the text elements from your text format, click on the X symbol (Figure 641, “Finalize Custom Text Format” (2)).

If you have finished, click on the button OK (Figure 641, “Finalize Custom Text Format” (3)).

Figure 641. Finalize Custom Text Format

Finalize Custom Text Format

Note

The selection of options and settings depends on the label type you are editing. For example, the options for regular data labels differ from the options for arrow labels.

Note

Custom labels are only available in data charts.

Note

For further information regarding partial text formatting and free text in labels, see Format Text Partially.

Format Text Partially

If you want to have more complex labels, you can format those labels partially or add pre- and postfixes.

Doing so, you can color parts of a label, add text to a label, change the font size for parts of the label and format parts of a label in bold, italics etc.

In addition, you can apply hyperlinks on labels or parts of labels in Gantt charts.

The automatically generated label texts, e.g. dates or values, can only be formatted as a whole.

If required, they can be deleted completely.

Figure 642. Automatic Label Part

Automatic Label Part

To enter free formatting mode, either double-click on the label or select the label and click on the button Modify Label Freely in the menu.

Figure 643. Button Modify Label Freely

Button Modify Label Freely

To add text to a label, navigate to the respective position inside the label and type in your text.

To insert line breaks, press Enter.

Figure 644. Label with Free Text

Label with Free Text

To format parts of the label, select the part you want to format and use the PowerPoint built-in features to format the text.

You can use as many different formatting options inside a label as you want.

Figure 645. Label with Partial Formatting

Label with Partial Formatting

For labels in Gantt charts, you can also apply hyperlinks in free formatting mode.

To apply a hyperlink on the label or part of the label, select the text and right-click on it.

Then, choose the option Link. A dialog box opens.

You can either add a link to a website or to another file or slide.

If you have finished, click on the button OK.

You can also add multiple hyperlinks to a single label.

If you now hover over the link, a tooltip showing the link information appears.

To follow the link, press Ctrl and click on the link.

Figure 646. Label with Hyperlink

Label with Hyperlink

Important

To change a label's position or text alignment settings, leave free formatting mode and use the empower® Features in the menu.

If you make changes using PowerPoint built-in features, those changes might be revoked after leaving free formatting mode.

Important

If you edit a Gantt chart which is linked to Excel, all changes such as added chart objects, added label texts and text changes are revoked after the next Excel link update. If you only edit the formatting inside a label, these changes are not revoked.

If you want to keep your changes, either make the changes in the linked Excel file or break the Excel link.

Note

The time axis labels in Gantt charts cannot be formatted freely.

Note

Hyperlinks cannot be used with data charts.

Note

Your textual changes inside the labels are also reflected in the mini Excel. Formatting changes are not displayed in the mini Excel.

If you have the mini Excel open, you cannot use free formatting mode.

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