Fix Excel Chart Gaps Option Disabled for Empty Cells
Question details
The user wants to configure empty chart cells to display as gaps, but the setting is unavailable or greyed out.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to show gaps for missing data or future months in an Excel chart.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Gaps' setting for empty chart cells is disabled for several stacked and area chart types.
Verify your current chart type by right-clicking your chart and selecting 'Change Chart Type', as some specialized charts do not support the gaps feature by design.
Change to a Regular Line Chart
The Gaps option is disabled by design for Stacked Line and Stacked Area charts. Switching to a standard Line chart enables the feature.
Excel does not support displaying gaps in stacked charts because it disrupts the cumulative plotting logic. To show a line only through the current month with gaps for future months, you must use a regular unstacked chart.
Right-click your existing chart and select 'Change Chart Type' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'Line' category and choose the standard 'Line' chart (avoid Stacked Line or 100% Stacked Line), then click 'OK'.
Click on your chart, go to the 'Chart Design' tab on the ribbon, and click 'Select Data'.
Click the 'Hidden and Empty Cells' button in the bottom left corner of the dialog box, select 'Gaps', and click 'OK'.
Use the NA() Function to Prevent Plotting
If you must keep your current chart type or are using formulas that return blank text, you can force Excel to ignore empty cells by using the NA() formula.
Create and Customize Charts Smoothly with WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Spreadsheet provides a highly compatible and user-friendly interface for handling data visualizations. Easily manage how empty cells and hidden data are displayed without dealing with confusing disabled options.
- 1. Insert a Chart: Open your data in WPS Spreadsheet, select your data range, and go to the 'Insert' tab to choose a standard Line chart.
- 2. Select Data Source: Right-click the newly inserted chart and choose 'Select Data' from the context menu.
- 3. Configure Empty Cells: Click 'Hidden and Empty Cells' in the dialog box and select 'Show empty cells as: Gaps' to apply the setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'Show empty cells as gaps' option greyed out?
Excel disables this option for specific chart types like Stacked Line, 100% Stacked Line, Stacked Area, and 100% Stacked Area charts. It only works with standard unstacked charts like a regular Line or Scatter chart.
How do I stop my Excel line chart from dropping to zero?
If your data source contains formulas returning blank text (""), Excel treats them as zeros. To fix this, change your formula to return NA() instead, for example: =IF(B2="", NA(), B2).
Can I show gaps in a Stacked Area chart?
No, Excel does not support displaying gaps in Stacked Area or Stacked Line charts. You must either change the chart type to a regular Line/Area chart or restructure your data to avoid blank cells entirely.
