Adjust Chart Gap Width in PowerPoint 2011 for Mac

The Gap width within a chart is the space between two series points, as shown with red arrows within Figure 1 below. In Figure 1 you can see the gap width between columns that represent a category -- this by default is set to 150% of the width of individual Data Series (columns).

Figure 1: Chart with default gap width

Usually the gap width is automatically calculated based on the chart data and the Plot Area. The space between two series' points will be very narrow if there are many data series, or very wide when there are few data series. Even then, there is scope for some change in the gap width -- you can quickly increase or decrease this width. Follow these steps to explore more:

Select the chart that you want to change the gap width for. If you don't have a chart, insert a new chart.
Now, carefully right-click (or Ctrl+click) any of the Data Series -- from the resultant menu, select the Format Data Series option, as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Format Data Series option
This summons the Format Data Series dialog box, as shown in Figure 3. Within the side bar, select Options. Here you will find the Gap width option (highlighted in red within Figure 3).

Figure 3: Format Data Series dialog box
You can either directly type the required gap width value within the box provided, or click the up/down arrow buttons next to the box to increase/decrease the value by 1% per click. Decrease the value for smaller gap width and increase it for larger gap width. In Figure 4 the chart has the gap width set to zero whereas the chart within Figure 5 has the gap width set to 250%. Compare Figures 1, 4, and 5.

Most certainly, you will want your gap width to be something in between the two extremes shown in Figures 4 and 5!

Figure 4: Chart has the gap width set to zero

Figure 5: Chart has the gap width set to 250%
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