How to use a macro to add labels to data points in an xy scatter chart or in a bubble chart in Excel (213750)

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• The first column contains the data labels.
• The second column contains the x values for the xy (scatter) chart.
• The third and subsequent columns contain the y values for the xy (scatter) chart.

NOTE: Although the example provided contains only one column of data for y values, you can use more than one series of data.

To use the macros in this article, create a chart using the following data:

   A1: Labels       B1: X Values   C1: Y Values
   A2: DataPoint1   B2: 12          C2: 5
   A3: DataPoint2   B3:  9          C3: 7
   A4: DataPoint3   B4:  5          C4: 3
   A5: DataPoint4   B5:  4          C5: 8
   A6: DataPoint5   B6:  1          C6: 4

NOTE: The table should not contain empty columns, and the column that contains the data labels should not be separated from the column that contains the x values. The labels and values must be laid out in exactly the format described in this article. (The upper-left cell does not have to be cell A1.)

To attach text labels to data points in an xy (scatter) chart, follow these steps:

1. On the worksheet that contains the sample data, select the cell range B1:C6, and then click Chart on the Insert menu.
2. In the Chart Wizard - Step 1 of 4 - Chart Type dialog box, click the Standard Types tab. Under Chart type, click XY (Scatter), and then click Next.
3. In the Chart Wizard - Step 2 of 4 - Chart Source Data dialog box, click the Data Range tab. Under Series in, click Columns, and then click Next.
4. In the Chart Wizard - Step 3 of 4 - Chart Options dialog box, click Next.
5. In the Chart Wizard - Step 4 of 4 -Chart Location dialog box, click the As new sheet option, and then click Finish.
6. Press ALT+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.
7. On the Insert menu, click Module.
8. Type the following sample code in the module sheet:

   Sub AttachLabelsToPoints()
   
      'Dimension variables.
      Dim Counter As Integer, ChartName As String, xVals As String
   
      ' Disable screen updating while the subroutine is run.
      Application.ScreenUpdating = False
   
      'Store the formula for the first series in "xVals".
      xVals = ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Formula
   
      'Extract the range for the data from xVals.
      xVals = Mid(xVals, InStr(InStr(xVals, ","), xVals, _
         Mid(Left(xVals, InStr(xVals, "!") - 1), 9)))
      xVals = Left(xVals, InStr(InStr(xVals, "!"), xVals, ",") - 1)
      Do While Left(xVals, 1) = ","
         xVals = Mid(xVals, 2)
      Loop
   
      'Attach a label to each data point in the chart.
      For Counter = 1 To Range(xVals).Cells.Count
        ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Points(Counter).HasDataLabel = _
            True
         ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(1).Points(Counter).DataLabel.Text = _
            Range(xVals).Cells(Counter, 1).Offset(0, -1).Value
      Next Counter
   
   End Sub

9. Press ALT+Q to return to Microsoft Excel.
10. Switch to the chart sheet.
11. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros. Click AttachLabelsToPoints, and then click Run to run the macro.
    
    The macro attaches the labels in cells A2:A6 to the data points on the chart.