Hi Leslie -

Are you using a clustered column chart or a stacked column chart? Or a
combination chart?

When I change the plot order, each series retains its formatting. If the
series is moved earlier in the plot order, it moves lower in the stack
or further to the left in the cluster. The legend entry moves accordingly.

Note that in combination charts, each chart type has its own layer it
stays within (and the same section of the legend). Area series are
always behind other types, Scatter series are always in front, and the
others lie at intermediate places. You can only rearrange like series
within their level (and legend section).

- Jon
-------
Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
_______

Leslie wrote:

I am trying to take advantage of the ability to change the plot order
of a series in a chart which has multiple series.

To test that ability, I opened a new workbook and filled in sheet 1
as follows: I put a-c in A2:A4; x-z in B11; and 1-9 in B24.

I then used the chart wizard to create charts which: were clustered
or stacked; had their series in rows or columns; and were embedded in
sheet 1 or appeared in chart 1.

In any of the permutations just mentioned, selecting a series and
then changing its plot order by editing the series formula which
appeared in the formula bar caused the series concerned to switch
places with one or both of the other series, just as expected.

Then I switched to my "real" chart, which is on a separate
chartsheet.

It has some columns consisting of a single series and some consisting
of multiple series.

When I tried to switch the place of series in a multiple series
column by editing their plot orders in their series formulas, all
worked as expected.

However, when I tried by the same method to switch the places of two
single series columns, although the plot orders were changed, the
places of the columns weren't.

They remained as before.

In case it is thought relevant, I add that the columns I tried to
switch were both plotted against the same axes.

Was the outcome I've just described inevitable (perhaps a consequence
of the fact that the chart has both single series and multiple series
columns?) or is there something which can be done to make the editing
of the plot orders of the single series columns effective?