How can I change the alignment of all the numbers in a PowerPoint chart, i.e., the numbers (values) that are above the columns? I know how to change one individually, but how do you change the alignment (for example, from 0 degrees to 45 degrees) of all the values in just one or two steps?

PowerPoint MVP Echo Swinford provides a solution.

1. The values are called data labels. Click the chart area so that they're not selected.

2. Then click one data label *once* so that you see black squares around *all* the data labels in a data series.

3. Now right-click and choose Format Data Labels. If the right-click is difficult and makes you select just the one individual data label, then choose Format on the menu at the top of the screen and from there, choose Selected Data Labels.

4. Then head to the alignment tab and type in 45.

Echo, thank you for allowing me to reproduce this content here.

Tip: You can find tons of hard-to-find chart related ideas on Echo's chart page...

Tuesday, June 21, 2005