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Setting the Default Chart Type in Microsoft Excel
When you create a chart, by default Excel always tries to give you a boring old column chart. If you primarily create pie charts it can be really annoying having to change the chart type every time you create one. This blog shows you how to set Excel to always create the type of chart that you want.

Posted by Andrew Gould on 10 November 2011

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Setting the Default Chart Type in Microsoft Excel

The default chart type in Microsoft Excel is a column chart.  If you produce pie charts exclusively you'll be annoyed with the process of creating a chart and then having to constantly change the chart type to your preferred type, especially if you use the F11 keyboard shortcut to create your charts.  Fortunately, you can change the default chart to any type that you like, including custom charts that you have created!

You can change the default chart type as many times as you like, so don't worry about messing up any Excel settings.

Changing the Default Chart Type in Excel 2003

To start with you need to have created a chart.  The quickest way by far to do this is to select some data and then press F11 on the keyboard.  Once you've done this:

  1. From the menu select: Chart -> Chart Type...
  2. Complete the dialog box as shown below:
Changing the default chart type in Excel 2003

3. Choose the category of chart you want.

 
  1. On the message box that appears, confirm that you want to change the default chart type by clicking Yes.
  2. Click OK.

From now on, whenever you create a new chart using the F11 keyboard shortcut you will automatically receive the chart type you have chosen.

Changing the Default Chart Type in Excel 2007 and 2010

To start with you need to have created a chart.  The quickest way by far to do this is to select some data and then press F11 on the keyboard.  Once you've done this:

  1. From the Ribbon select: Design -> Change Chart Type
  2. Complete the dialog box as shown below:
Changing the default chart type in Excel 2007

3. Choose the category of chart you want.

 
  1. Click OK to finish changing the default chart type.

Our Excel training courses also cover how to create and format charts in Excel, and a great deal more besides!

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