Sort Bar Chart in Descending Order in Excel

Understanding Bar Chart Sorting in Excel

Excel's method of plotting higher values further from the origin and lower values closer to the origin often results in bar charts appearing upside down when the data is transposed from a table.

Option A: Re-sort the Table

To sort a bar chart in descending order, you can re-sort the source table data. This approach changes the visual representation in the chart to match the new order of the table.

Option B: Re-sort Within the Chart

Alternatively, re-sort the bars directly in the Excel chart. This can be achieved using the 'Select Data' option or by adjusting the series formula in Excel for Mac.

Using Excel for Windows Features

Excel for Windows users can sort their data series in descending order using the built-in data source dialog feature, ensuring the bars are displayed according to the preferred order.

Ann K. Emery's Preferred Method

Data visualization expert Ann K. Emery recommends using the 'Categories in Reverse Order' button to re-sort bar charts, especially when dealing with issues of reversed sorting upon data transposition.

Additional Sorting Techniques

For more customized sorting, consider adding helper cells with numeric rankings or utilizing small multiples for individual variable charts. The 'Format Axis' dialog box can also be used to adjust the horizontal axis for sorting purposes.

Common Use Cases

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  Use case 1: Quickly identifying the top-performing sales representatives to allocate bonuses
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  Use case 2: Displaying the most populated cities in a region from highest to lowest
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  Use case 3: Ranking products based on customer reviews for strategic marketing
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  Use case 4: Organizing monthly expenses to prioritize cost-cutting measures
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  Use case 5: Showcasing the most attended events of the year for sponsorship decisions

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