About graph elements

It is essential to keep in mind when you customize a graph that a graph is a grouped object that is related to its data. Never ungroup the graph; if you do, you cannot change the graph. To edit a graph, you select the parts you want to edit without ungrouping the graph, using either the direct-selection tool or the group-selection tool.

It is also important to understand how elements of a graph are related. The entire graph with its legends is one group. All the sets of data are a subgroup of the graph; in turn, each set of data with its legend box is a subgroup of all the sets of data. Each value is a subgroup of its set of data, and so on. Never ungroup or regroup objects that are within the group.

You can see the hierarchy of grouping within a graph by creating a column graph with two or more columns of data. The first column in the first cluster of columns is grouped with the first column in the next cluster of columns. In addition, the group of the first columns is grouped with the first legend.