Fix an Excel Chart Series That Ignores the Date Filter
Question details
The user needs to make an Excel 2016 chart respect a filtered date range for all series, so that an interest-rate series does not continue displaying the full data period while the GDP series updates correctly.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has a multi-series Excel 2016 chart, applies a date filter, and expects both the GDP and interest-rate series to display only the filtered period.
- Observed behavior
- One series respects the filtered date range, but another series ignores the filter and continues displaying the full data period.
Open the workbook in Excel 2016 or WPS Office Spreadsheet and identify the chart series names in the Select Data dialog before changing any range references.
Align the problem chart series to the filtered date range in Select Data
Use this solution when one chart series updates with the date filter but another series still plots the complete data period.
Excel charts treat each series as an independent data set. If only one series references a fixed range or a different date column, it will ignore the filter that affects the other series.
Click the chart, go to Chart Tools > Design > Select Data, or right-click the chart and choose Select Data.
In the Legend Entries (Series) list, select the affected interest-rate series and click Edit.
Confirm that the series X-values point to the same date column as the GDP series, and that the Y-values cover only the filtered rows or the Excel Table column.
Click OK to close the dialogs, reapply the date filter, and verify that the chart now updates the interest-rate series correctly.
Use an Excel Table as the chart source so filters apply consistently
Best when chart data is in a regular contiguous range and you want the chart to expand and filter automatically.
Check hidden and filtered-out cell display settings
Use this when the chart includes hidden rows, collapsed groups, or filtered-out data that should not be plotted.
Fix the Excel chart date filter by editing series ranges in WPS Office Spreadsheet
Open the affected Excel workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheet, edit the chart series so both series use the same filtered date range, and save the workbook as .xlsx. WPS Office keeps your chart formatting and Excel compatibility.
- 1. Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office Spreadsheet, click File > Open, and select the affected Excel 2016 workbook.
- 2. Select the chart and open Select Data: Click the chart, then right-click it and choose Select Data from the context menu.
- 3. Edit the interest-rate series range: In the Legend Entries (Series) list, select the interest-rate series, click Edit, and set its X-values and Y-values to the same filtered date range as the GDP series.
- 4. Check hidden and empty cell settings: Click Hidden and Empty Cells and confirm that Show data in hidden rows and columns is set according to the filter behavior you want.
- 5. Save the corrected workbook: Click File > Save As, choose Excel Workbook (*.xlsx), and reopen the file in Excel 2016 to verify the date filter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does one Excel chart series ignore a date filter while another respects it?
Usually the ignoring series references a fixed range or a different date column. Open Select Data, edit that series, and confirm its X-values and Y-values point to the same filtered date range as the series that works.
Where do I check whether a chart shows data from hidden rows or columns?
Right-click the chart, choose Select Data, click Hidden and Empty Cells, and review the Show data in hidden rows and columns setting.
Can I edit an Excel chart series source range in WPS Office?
Yes. Open the .xlsx workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheet, right-click the chart, choose Select Data, edit the affected series, and save the file as an Excel Workbook.
Will saving from WPS Office change my Excel 2016 chart?
No. WPS Office preserves Excel chart formatting and .xlsx compatibility when you save the workbook, so you can reopen it in Excel 2016 with the corrected series ranges.
