Remove Chart Data Labels With Specific Value
There may be times when you would like to de-clutter your data labels so that smaller or zero values are removed from your Excel Chart. In this article, you will find a few examples of how you can accomplish this with VBA code.
The two methodologies covered are:
- Utilizing Custom Number Format rules
- Deleting the Data Label
Remove Data Labels Equal To Zero
Hide Zeroes With Custom Number Format Rule
This VBA code modifies the custom number format rule for the selected chart’s data labels so that zero values are hidden.
Sub RemoveDataLabels_ByNumberFormat()
'PURPOSE: Hide Data Labels With Values Equal To Zero
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com
'Is A Chart Currently Selected?
If ActiveChart Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "No Chart Selected. Aborting..."
Exit Sub
End If
'Adjust Data Label Number Format
ActiveChart.FullSeriesCollection(1).DataLabels.NumberFormat = "0;-0;;"
End SubRemove Zeroes By Deleting Chart Label
This VBA code will loop through all your chart’s data points and delete any data labels that are equal to zero.
Sub RemoveDataLabels_ByDeletion()
'PURPOSE: Delete Data Labels With a Values of 0
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com
Dim srs As Series
Dim x As Long
Dim Threshold As Double
'Set Threshold
Threshold = 0
'Is A Chart Currently Selected?
If ActiveChart Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "No Chart Selected. Aborting..."
Exit Sub
End If
'Reapply Data Labels (Refreshing)
ActiveChart.ApplyDataLabels _
ShowValue:=True, _
AutoText:=True, _
LegendKey:=False, _
HasLeaderLines:=False, _
ShowSeriesName:=False, _
ShowCategoryName:=False, _
ShowPercentage:=False, _
ShowBubbleSize:=False
'Loop through each data label and text for threshold
For Each srs In ActiveChart.SeriesCollection
For x = 1 To UBound(srs.Values)
If Abs(srs.Values(x)) = Threshold Then
srs.Points(x).DataLabel.Delete
End If
Next x
Next srs
End SubRemove Data Labels Less Than A Value
Hide With Custom Number Format Rule
This VBA code modifies the custom number format rule for the selected chart’s data labels so that values that are less than 5 appear hidden from view.
Sub RemoveDataLabels_ByNumberFormat()
'PURPOSE: Hide Data Labels With Values Less Than 5
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com
'Is A Chart Currently Selected?
If ActiveChart Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "No Chart Selected. Aborting..."
Exit Sub
End If
'Adjust Data Label Number Format
ActiveChart.FullSeriesCollection(1).DataLabels.NumberFormat = "[<5]" & Chr(34) & Chr(34) & ";$0"
End SubRemove By Deleting Chart Label
This VBA code will loop through all your chart’s data points and delete any data labels that are less than 5.
Sub RemoveDataLabels_ByDeletion()
'PURPOSE: Delete Data Labels With Values Less Than 5
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com
Dim srs As Series
Dim x As Long
Dim Threshold As Double
'Set Threshold
Threshold = 5
'Is A Chart Currently Selected?
If ActiveChart Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "No Chart Selected. Aborting..."
Exit Sub
End If
'Reapply Data Labels (Refreshing)
ActiveChart.ApplyDataLabels _
ShowValue:=True, _
AutoText:=True, _
LegendKey:=False, _
HasLeaderLines:=False, _
ShowSeriesName:=False, _
ShowCategoryName:=False, _
ShowPercentage:=False, _
ShowBubbleSize:=False
'Loop through each data label and text for threshold
For Each srs In ActiveChart.SeriesCollection
For x = 1 To UBound(srs.Values)
If Abs(srs.Values(x)) < Threshold Then
srs.Points(x).DataLabel.Delete
End If
Next x
Next srs
End SubUsing VBA Code Found On The Internet
Now that you’ve found some VBA code that could potentially solve your Excel automation problem, what do you do with it? If you don’t necessarily want to learn how to code VBA and are just looking for the fastest way to implement this code into your spreadsheet, I wrote an article (with video) that explains how to get the VBA code you’ve found running on your spreadsheet.
Getting Started Automating Excel
Are you new to VBA and not sure where to begin? Check out my quickstart guide to learning VBA. This article won’t overwhelm you with fancy coding jargon, as it provides you with a simplistic and straightforward approach to the basic things I wish I knew when trying to teach myself how to automate tasks in Excel with VBA Macros.
Also, if you haven’t checked out Excel’s latest automation feature called Power Query, I have put together a beginner’s guide for automating with Excel’s Power Query feature as well! This little-known built-in Excel feature allows you to merge and clean data automatically with little to no coding!
How Do I Modify This To Fit My Specific Needs?
Chances are this post did not give you the exact answer you were looking for. We all have different situations and it’s impossible to account for every particular need one might have. That’s why I want to share with you: My Guide to Getting the Solution to your Problems FAST! In this article, I explain the best strategies I have come up with over the years to get quick answers to complex problems in Excel, PowerPoint, VBA, you name it!
I highly recommend that you check this guide out before asking me or anyone else in the comments section to solve your specific problem. I can guarantee that 9 times out of 10, one of my strategies will get you the answer(s) you are needing faster than it will take me to get back to you with a possible solution. I try my best to help everyone out, but sometimes I don’t have time to fit everyone’s questions in (there never seem to be quite enough hours in the day!).
I wish you the best of luck and I hope this tutorial gets you heading in the right direction!
After 10+ years of creating macros and developing add-ins, I've compiled all the hacks I wish I had known years ago!
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Chris Newman
Chris is a finance professional and Excel MVP recognized by Microsoft since 2016. With his expertise, he founded TheSpreadsheetGuru blog to help fellow Excel users, where he shares his vast creative solutions & expertise. In addition, he has developed over 7 widely-used Excel Add-ins that have been embraced by individuals and companies worldwide.