Customize a pie chart

We have added our data to the chart. Now let’s customize the chart, so it has the details and style we want.

First, to show the value of each pie section, we’ll add data labels to the pieces. Let’s click the chart to select it.

Then, we look for these icons.

I’ll click the top one, Chart Elements, and in CHART ELEMENTS, point to Data Labels.

The Data Labels preview on the chart, showing an Order Amount in each section.

Let’s check the Data Labels box to display the labels.

Then, I’ll click the arrow next to Data Labels and point to other options for label position.

Here’s Center, Inside End — which appears to be the default — Outside End, Best Fit, and Data Callout, which includes the Salesperson’s name and shows a percentage instead of a dollar amount.

I’ll click More Options to see what those are.

Under LABEL OPTIONS, I select what I want the label to show.

Right now, Value is selected, so the labels show the dollar values I entered, when I created the chart.

To add a dollar symbol to these values, I can scroll down in the pane and click NUMBER.

Under Category, I’ll click the arrow and choose Currency.

That adds the dollar symbol and decimal places to the label.

On second thought, I like the idea of showing percentages.

So, I’ll click Undo, go back to LABEL OPTIONS, check Percentage, and uncheck Value.

In the labels, the dollar amounts are replaced with percentages.

I’d also like to show the Salesperson’s name. So, in the pane, I’ll check Category Name.

A name and percentage now show in the data label.

I’ll click X to close the pane.

I like the labels, though the ones at the top are crowded under the title.

To fix that, I can rotate the pie slices. I’ll right-click the chart, and click Format Data Series.

For the angle of the first slice, I’ll click the up arrow and change the angle from 0 degrees to 80 degrees.

It rotates the pieces to the right and moves the labels away from the title. I’ll close the pane.

Now, another thing I could do with the smallest pie sections is pull them out, like a detail.

Here’s what I mean: I’ll right-click the chart and click Change Series Chart Type.

Then, from the types available, I’ll click this one, Pie of Pie, and click OK.

In the Pie of Pie Chart, the three smallest pieces have been pulled out and enlarged, and their combined percentage shows in the main pie.

I need to make the labels easier to see, though.

Let’s try a different style. I’ll click the Chart Styles icon and look for a style with white text, seeing a preview when I point to a thumbnail.

This one works well, I’ll click it.

Last, I’ll add an effect to just one piece, the one labeled Other.

I’ll click on the pie to select all the pieces, then I’ll double-click the Otherpiece to select just that piece, and open the Format Data Point pane.

In the pane, I’ll click Effects, SHADOW, Presets and choose a shadowed preset, such as Inside Center.

Now, the piece with the pie detail has special formatting.

Let’s close the pane and click Slide Show to see how the chart looks. I like it!

Up next: Insert a linked Excel pie chart.