Dynamic data labels for a stacked bar chart

[Typorator]

I've added data labels to custom designs on bar charts (using the "%00" variable) before, but I can't figure how to automatically add value labels to a STACKED bar chart.

This has been unanswered since 2013, but my question is the same: Illustrator - Get Data Labels on Front of Stacked Bar Charts

Any ideas?

[Monika Gause]

I wouldn't exactly call that other thread unanswered. Someone was just too lazy to report if it worked. You can use the documentation to create your own design and then go ahead with the graph as with the standard bar chart.

Looks like this:

[Typorator]

Thanks Monika,

I acheived what's in your illustration by first creating a"New Design" from a solid grey rectangle (plus guide & %01). That made all my stacks the same grey color but overlaid accurate values.

Because the Group Selection Tool selects the number/value along with the rectangle, I then shift-Direct-Selected each rectangle in order to distinguish the stacks with colors/effects.

Did you accomplish the above with a simpler method? My charts need to remain editable and I would go to great lengths NOT to have to click on each stack in each bar in each chart to re-apply effects each time the numbers are updated.

Thanks again for responding so quickly.

[Monika Gause]

So your issue is not creating the chart designs but rather that they don't stay when you edit the data?

You should have said that, because it's an ongoing issue with all kinds of chart styling (even just applying a color). It's been there since the dinosaurs and I wouldn't expect that issue to go away.

[Typorator]

The thought of starting from solid grey bars came after I posted the question. I was elated with what appeared to be a solution until the number color changed -- i.e. disappeared by matching the background bars -- when I used the Group Selection tool.

Just letting me know I should stop experimenting has been a great help. Thanks again.

[Monika Gause]

The trouble is that it sometimes works. For the screenshot I actually changed the values once and the design sticked. Other times I just change a color and nothing sticks when I change the values. It's unpredictable.

So if you need this for your design the only possiblity is to adapt your template files and your workflow in a way that you can work around pretty much anything.

When a design is already applied you can use the group selection tool to select a complete set of bars, you just have to click a number of times until all the parts of your design are selected.

[barbara_a]

Illustrator graphs have been in need of improvement for eons.

For me, it has helped to make things a bit more efficient to create graphic styles and paragraph styles that can be applied to the graphs whenever they change.

You can submit an enhancement request Feature Request/Bug Report Form The more people who make a request, the more likely graphs will improve. It's a long shot since Adobe has ignored the graphs feature for decades.

[Typorator]

Updating paragraph styles only updates SOME of the labels... and rather arbitrarily (eg, bars 2 and 5 only).

Illustrator has me on a truly tiresome shift-direct-select-tool-click treadmill.

[Monika Gause]

Use the group selection tool to select data groups.

To change the font you can select the complete diagram with the selection tool.

[barbara_a]

I feel your pain. Monika has some good suggestions.