Excel Clustered Column Chart Conundrum

Many, many, many Excel users post this problem in user forums.  And this one always throws me for a loop and takes me time to solve it.  So I thought I would send it out to all the Excel enthusiasts to see if you can fix this Excel Chart.

The Problem:

1) Copy this Data into an Excel Worksheet

A B C
1 Tea Coffee
2 Jan 300 1000000
3 Feb 700 5000000
4 Mar 300 5000000

 

2) Highlight the Data and Create a 2-D Clustered Column Chartimage





However, my data series are not of the same scale, so, I decide to create 2 vertical axis’ so that the scales are distinct for the two data series.  So then I go to the next step.

 

3) Move the tall orange columns to the secondary axis.image

OOPS!  This is not the chart I wanted Sad smile.  Why is my Excel charts now an Excel Stacked Colum Chart?  I just want the two columns in my chart to be separated on 2 different vertical axis.  How can I fix it?

 

This is the chart I really wanted:image

How would you make this 2-D Clustered Column Chart with two vertical axis scales?

Copy the data from above and give it a try.  Let me know how you would create this chart in the comments below.  Regardless, comeback tomorrow and see how we can handle this using Excel Charts.

Steve=True





6 COMMENTS

  1. 1 Add two blank sets of data to left of Coffee
    2 Create secondary axis with Coffee
    3 In the legend bar delete Test1 and Test2
    Workbook on the way




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  3. Hi Steve!
    I’ve just sent you a mail regarding the solution. The desired result can be achieved by inserting two blank columns between the series,keeping the ‘Tea’ & ‘Blank1’ series in Primary vertical Axis and ‘Blank2’ & ‘Coffee’ series in Secondary Vertical Axis. After a little bit of tweaking with ‘Gap Width’ & ‘Series Overlapping’, we can have the chart.

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