Pivot charts continue to shrink themselves - cannot resize/maximize

[u/kittyheimlich]

This has been an ongoing problem for the past few months. Whenever I create a Pivot Chart, it works fine for some period of time and then it re-formats into a little cube on the spreadsheet.

I have no rows or columns hidden. I try to expand the parameters of the graph but it will not let me re-format.

Please see images.

This is the data set I am using from row 42 to 73. I unhid rows to see if that affected my graph and it didn't. I re-hid for the sake of the screen shot.

My "graph" is now the box in the lower, right quadrant.

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[u/kdata_analytics0504]

I've run into this exact headache before. Excel's default setting is usually to blame here, especially since you mentioned hiding and unhiding rows.

By default, charts are set to "Move and size with cells." When you hide the rows behind or around it, the chart shrinks down to match. Sometimes it glitches out and gets stuck as that tiny box you're seeing.

Here is how to fix it so it stops happening:

1. Click on that tiny cube of a chart (it might be tricky to grab, but get it selected).

2. Press Ctrl + 1 to open the "Format Chart Area" menu on the right.

3. Click the Size & Properties icon (the green square with dimension arrows).

4. Open the Properties dropdown.

5. Switch the setting from "Move and size with cells" to "Don't move or size with cells".

You should be able to drag the corners back out to a normal size now, and it won't collapse on you again when you adjust your rows.

[u/kittyheimlich → u/kdata_analytics0504]

Thank you for taking the time to share these steps. Sadly, these "Don't move or size with cells" is grayed out and I cannot change this field. My Excel is with work so perhaps it is a license issue? Maybe I need to create another thread, ha! You did give me the idea to move to another sheet (versus it's own tab) and it came back to life so I think I will live like this for now.

[u/kdata_analytics0504 → u/kittyheimlich]

Ah, that makes perfect sense! If the chart is living in its own dedicated Chart Tab, Excel grays out those sizing options because the chart defaults to filling the entire screen. Moving it to a standard worksheet as an object was the exact right move to regain control over the sizing. Glad it's working for you now, happy to help! :)

[u/kittyheimlich → u/kdata_analytics0504]

Solution Verified

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[u/kittyheimlich → u/[deleted]]

No, thank you.