Excel Tip of the Day
Rotate a pie chart to emphasize specific data
We recently told you how to draw attention to a particular data element by pulling an individual slice out of a pie chart. Another way to highlight a pie chart item is to rotate the chart so that the appropriate slice is prominently displayed. This can be especially handy when working with a 3D pie chart. For instance, let's say that a 3D pie chart has many category slices. The slice that you want to draw attention to is located at the top of the chart, which from a 3D perspective, is the farthest away from the user. Even if the slice is pulled out from the rest of the pie, its apparent distance may seem to minimize the data's importance. However, if you rotate the pie so that the exploded slice is at the front of the chart, users know exactly what they should focus on.
To rotate a pie chart, click on any of the pie slices. Then, choose Format | Selected Data Series (or possibly Selected Data Point) from the menu bar. Next, click on the Options tab. Increase the value in the Angle Of First Slice spin box, using the preview pane to examine the effect that the setting will have on the chart. When you're satisfied with the result, click OK.
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