Excel – Grouping Excel graph categories

microsoft excel

Is there a way to group categories in an Excel graph or provide color distinctions? I have searched around and while their are ways to group categories in 2D graphs, I have not found an example the uses a z-axis. In the example below, the desired group separation is shown in the red, orange, and turquoise polygon's. If there is not a way to separate the groups to provide distinction, is there a way to change the bar colors to provide category group separate designations?

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Conclusion:

If you only have a single series of data, you may "Vary colors by point" per http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/vary-the-colors-of-same-series-data-markers-in-a-chart-HP010007429.aspx#BM2. This does not work if you have a graph with more than one series whether 3D or not.

The option I have found is to double-click each data-point (in this case bar) and manually change the color.

Best Answer

Short answer is to create 3 different series of data.

Sample (not yours but enough to hopefully get you started)

column    A    B    C
Data 1    1
Data 2    2
Data 3    3
Data 4         2
Data 5         3
Data 6         4
Data 7              3
Data 8              4
Data 9              5

Now you can color the series' different colors, and not have to color each individual point.

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