Delightful Data Labels (2024)

You’ve sorted your data, created your chart, and then added your data labels, but jeepers,
what a mess!

Delightful Data Labels (2)
Instead of an informative illustration you have something that looks overwhelming and impossible to read. If only you could display the data in $ millions.

At eSlide we see this situation often, and like most things in PowerPoint there are many ways to approach it… some are helpful while others lead to problems. In this post we’ll give you some simple solutions that will keep your chart working as it should, and looking like you want.

First the BAD… It is possible to click into the individual data labels and manually retype each, but this will prevent the labels from updating with changes to your chart’s data sheet in the future. Luckily, there’s a correct way to get the data to be more legible.

In this example, the fix is a quick one. Select the vertical (value) axis, then RIGHT-CLICK and choose FORMAT AXIS. In this dialog choose AXIS OPTIONS in the left column.

In the middle of this dialog is a pull-down called DISPLAY UNITS. Simply select MILLIONS in that pull-down and hit CLOSE.

Viola! The axis and all of the data labels in the chart have become easier to read.

Aha, you say, that’s great for charts with an axis but what about Pie Charts? (cue scary music).. Since there is no axis, there is no “display units” function to be found. Never fear! Even in charts like these there’s a solution.

First, select the data labels then RIGHT-CLICK and choose FORMAT DATA LABELS. Click on the NUMBER option. In the middle is a FORMAT CODE box. Type in the following: $#,##0.0,,

The commas at the end represent the display units – so one comma would display in thousands, 3 would display in billions, etc. After typing in the format code box, click the ADD button, hit CLOSE and you’re done.If you want an M, indicating Millions, to appear at the end of the labels, enter this in the FORMAT CODE box: $#,##0.0,,”M”. Anything in the quotes will display as text after your data.

The best part is that if your data changes, the numbers will update, formatting included!

For more tips like this, check back on our blog frequently, or subscribe to the eSlide newsletter
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Delightful Data Labels (2024)

FAQs

What are data labels? ›

Data labels are tags or fields that explain or give more information about a sample point, usually associated with an output.

How to make data labels in millions? ›

If you want an M, indicating Millions, to appear at the end of the labels, enter this in the FORMAT CODE box: $#,##0.0,,”M”. Anything in the quotes will display as text after your data. The best part is that if your data changes, the numbers will update, formatting included!

What is the best chart to show overlapping data? ›

Use a Venn diagram to show the overlapping of data.

In web analytics, we can use a Venn diagram to determine whether or not a website has got attribution problems.

How do you make data labels? ›

Add data labels to a chart

Click the data series or chart. To label one data point, after clicking the series, click that data point. In the upper right corner, next to the chart, click Add Chart Element > Data Labels. To change the location, click the arrow, and choose an option.

What are the 4 types of labels? ›

In product labeling, four specific types of labels serve distinct purposes. These categories include Brand labels, Informative labels, Descriptive labels, and Grade labels.

Which are examples of data labeling? ›

Labeled data is carefully annotated with meaningful tags, or labels, that classify the data's elements or outcomes. For example, in a dataset of emails, each email might be labeled as "spam" or "not spam." These labels then provide a clear guide for a machine learning algorithm to learn from.

How do you increase the size of data labels? ›

Click the data label and drag it to the size you want. Tip: You can set other size (Excel and PowerPoint) and alignment options in Size & Properties (Layout & Properties in Outlook or Word). Double-click the data label and then click Size & Properties.

What is the best chart to show two sets of data? ›

A Dual Axis Bar and Line Chart is one of the best graphs for comparing two sets of data for a presentation. The visualization design uses two axes to easily illustrate the relationships between two variables with different magnitudes and scales of measurement.

What is the best visual to show progress? ›

Line Graph

A line graph reveals trends or progress over time, and you can use it to show many different categories of data. You should use it when you track a continuous data set.

What is waterfall data? ›

A waterfall chart shows a running total as values are added or subtracted. It's useful for understanding how an initial value (for example, net income) is affected by a series of positive and negative values. The columns are color coded so you can quickly tell positive from negative numbers.

Which chart type is best for showing trends over time? ›

Line charts are probably the most common type of chart used to display trends over time. They consist of a series of data points connected by a line. For example, imagine you want to see the fluctuations in temperature. You might see a line chart showing a particular stock's value over several days or months.

How do I add a legend to a data label? ›

On the Design tab, in the Data group, click Select Data. In the Select Data Source dialog box, in the Legend Entries (Series) box, select the legend entry that you want to change. Click Edit. Tip: To add a new legend entry, click Add, or to remove a legend entry, click Remove.

What is the purpose of data labeling? ›

In machine learning, data labeling is the process of identifying raw data (images, text files, videos, etc.) and adding one or more meaningful and informative labels to provide context so that a machine learning model can learn from it.

What type of data is labels? ›

The label data type is a primitive data type represented by the number 5 in the database dictionary. Labels are used to define exits.

What is data label in HTML? ›

<label>: The Label element. The <label> HTML element represents a caption for an item in a user interface.

What is the difference between data label and data marker? ›

For example, in a line graph, each point on the line is a data marker representing a single data value located in a worksheet cell. Data Label: Provides information about individual data markers, such as the value being graphed either as a number or as a percent.

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