Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Creating Charts in VBA.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 22, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Excel is very handy at creating charts from data in a worksheet. What if you want to create a chart directly from VBA, without using any data in a worksheet? You can do this by "fooling" Excel into thinking it is working with information from a worksheet, and then providing your own. The following macro illustrates this concept:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Sub MakeChart()
'Add a new chart
Charts.Add
'Set the dummy data range for the chart
ActiveChart.SetSourceData Sheets("Sheet1").Range("a1:d4"), _
PlotBy:=xlColumns
'Manually set the values for the data series
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Formula = _
"=SERIES(""First Data"",{""a"",""b"",""c"",""d""},{2,3,4,5},1)"
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(2).Formula = _
"=SERIES(""Second Data"",{""a"",""b"",""c"",""d""},{6,7,8,9},2)"
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(3).Formula = _
"=SERIES(""Third Data"",{""a"",""b"",""c"",""d""},{10,11,12,13},3)"
End Sub
The comments in this example explain what is going on for each step. When setting the dummy data range, the SetSourceData method assumes the range is on a worksheet named Sheet1. If you don't have such a sheet in your workbook, you need to alter the command accordingly.
Later, when manually setting the values for the data series, the SERIES command is used to specify the label for the series (First Data, Second Data, and Third Data), the array of category labels (a, b, c, and d in all series), the array of values for the series, and a number specifying which series number this represents.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10347) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Creating Charts in VBA.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
When creating a chart based on data in a worksheet, you may want to sort the information in the chart without rearranging ...
Discover MoreWhen formatting a chart, you select elements and then change the properties of those elements until everything looks just ...
Discover MoreExcel allows you to create custom chart formats that go beyond the standard formats provided in the program. These custom ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments