By default, the charts link their number formats to the source data. If
they can't see the source data, the charts just use "General", which is
a major pain.

You can unlink the number formats of a chart's text elements. Double
click the element (an axis, perhaps). On the Number tab, uncheck the
little box that says Linked To Source.

If you have a lot of charts to do, you can always use a macro. I just
put together this pair. The first loops through all the charts (chart
sheets and embedded charts) in the active workbook, then calls the
second to unlink the axis labels and data labels.

Sub UntieNumberFormats()
    Dim sh As Object
    Dim cht As Chart
    Dim chob As ChartObject
    ' loop through all chart sheets
    For Each cht In ActiveWorkbook.Charts
        Untie cht
    Next
    ' loop through all chart objects on each sheet
    For Each sh In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
        For Each chob In sh.ChartObjects
            Untie chob.Chart
        Next
    Next
End Sub

Sub Untie(TheChart As Chart)
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim j As Integer
    Dim srs As Series
    ' unlink axis tick labels
    For i = 1 To 2
        For j = 1 To 2
            If TheChart.HasAxis(i, j) Then
                TheChart.Axes(i, j).TickLabels. _
                    NumberFormatLinked = False
            End If
        Next
    Next
    ' unlink series data labels
    For Each srs In TheChart.SeriesCollection
        srs.DataLabels.NumberFormatLinked = False
    Next
End Sub

- Jon
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Jon Peltier, Microsoft Excel MVP
Peltier Technical Services
Tutorials and Custom Solutions
http://PeltierTech.com/
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