This is really driving me mad - I've got to produce a number of column charts and so I've created the first one which I then want to copy and change the source data range for each new chart. Although the source data is identically formatted and arranged for each chart, the chart colours change and the legend goes wonky with a colour square left hanging without a description. Very grateful for your advice on this.

Have you tried to define your own type of chart?

You can do that by following the following steps:

Right click on the chart which is correctly fomatted and choose "Chart Type"

Go to the "Custom Types" tab and tick the "User-defined" box.

This should give you an option to add your chart format and save it by giving it a custom name.

After this is done you can go to the new chart which you want to formt, right click choose shart type, cutom types, tick user-defined and choose the one you saved.

This should sort out your formatting issues.

I just followed your instructions & the same formatting problems still occur when I select the custom chart type that I saved - I just don't understand it - the other data is identically arranged, it's just in a different part of the worksheet. Sorry - any other suggestions? Thanks, Simon

I only have one other suggestion, but not sure if it will make a difference.

Try to create a new chart, do not copy the one which is correct. I would do this by just clicking on the shortcut on the toolbar. From there right click on the chart and choose range you want to include in the specific chart. After that choose your custom chart and see if it makes a difference.

Not sure if doing it the other way arround would make a difference but it is worth a try.....

This crossed my mind as well... and it still doesn't work! I can't believe how useless Excel is - surely this must cause problems to large numbers of users?

Humble apologies are due to yourself & Microsoft - I've just realised that the second data table contained a column narrowed to the point of invisibility which was messing up the chart! Thanks for your help, Simon.